Hello,
I have adopted two stray/feral cats on my porch who have been living comfortably for a few years now. The first one, Toby, is probably 6 years old or so, and must certainly have been a lost/runaway because he is neutered and has many domesticated characteristics. The problem is many other stray cats often come around to try and scrounge food and sometimes fights break out. He is extremely docile towards other cats, but he will chase off aggressive/hostile ones. I think he may also get into occasional fights with dogs and racoons as well. We bring in the dry food now at night to deter raccoons. He is extremely large, but he is still just a cat, so i try and keep him out of trouble as much as possible.
Yesterday i heard a lot of barking and general annoying dog behavior outside, pretty typical of dog walkers around here, but i found later that Toby was injured by something. He has a rather gruesome looking cut on his head. The cut doesn't look especially deep or serious, but what worries me is how much hair he lost around the wound. The area is raised and swollen, but it looks like it is healing. I've been putting a bit of polysporin on it.
If he shows any signs of this being more than a flesh wound, he'll be taking a trip to the vet, but i am more worried about the potential for this to happen again. I've had issues in the past with stupid and irresponsible dog owners not walking their dogs with a leash or losing control of them, and having them go for the two porch cats. The hair loss is what confuses me. It doesn't look like something another cat could do, and it didnt happen at night so i doubt a racoon was involved. I was wondering if a dog could have caused this wound, or if maybe it was a car?
Thanks
I have adopted two stray/feral cats on my porch who have been living comfortably for a few years now. The first one, Toby, is probably 6 years old or so, and must certainly have been a lost/runaway because he is neutered and has many domesticated characteristics. The problem is many other stray cats often come around to try and scrounge food and sometimes fights break out. He is extremely docile towards other cats, but he will chase off aggressive/hostile ones. I think he may also get into occasional fights with dogs and racoons as well. We bring in the dry food now at night to deter raccoons. He is extremely large, but he is still just a cat, so i try and keep him out of trouble as much as possible.
Yesterday i heard a lot of barking and general annoying dog behavior outside, pretty typical of dog walkers around here, but i found later that Toby was injured by something. He has a rather gruesome looking cut on his head. The cut doesn't look especially deep or serious, but what worries me is how much hair he lost around the wound. The area is raised and swollen, but it looks like it is healing. I've been putting a bit of polysporin on it.
If he shows any signs of this being more than a flesh wound, he'll be taking a trip to the vet, but i am more worried about the potential for this to happen again. I've had issues in the past with stupid and irresponsible dog owners not walking their dogs with a leash or losing control of them, and having them go for the two porch cats. The hair loss is what confuses me. It doesn't look like something another cat could do, and it didnt happen at night so i doubt a racoon was involved. I was wondering if a dog could have caused this wound, or if maybe it was a car?
Thanks