- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
- Messages
- 47
- Purraise
- 14
Happy to report that since my last write-in for help, my little feral guy has decided that living inside beats being outside!! Yeah! I forced him to stay inside during our last 17 inch snowfall two and a half weeks ago. He was unhappy and cried for days (my last post), but… he wanted out. Once it started to melt and was pretty much cleared enough, I let him go out. He stayed out a few hours and came right back. He’s been in the house 24/7 since that time… for almost 2 weeks now. Finally, after 4 long years. We couldn’t be happier.
So, here’s my problem – sorry if this is long, but there’s a couple of things going on. First, about a week ago, I felt something on the top of his neck that I thought could be a tick. He’s mostly good with my touching and picking at him so I was able to see that it wasn’t a tick, but couldn’t tell what it was. Over the next few days, it almost looked like a scratch, but then a few days later it looked bigger. Now it’s bigger and raised. Not raised like a bump or cyst, but more like a sore that’s scabbed over. It’s really hard for me to see it fully because he’ll let me poke only for a short time. Now I think I feel another one on the other side. Small like this one started out, but I’m pretty sure it’s there (or I could be making myself crazy). Then he started to shake his head… mostly after I pet him. It’s almost like he’s trying to shake off something from the top of his head/upper neck area or it could be his ears (?). It’s not all the time, but it’s new behavior and hard to believe that the shaking and the sore are not related. I don’t see any fleas on him at all, but I have noticed white flecks that I thought could be lice, but when I look at it/them under a magnifier, it really just looks like dry skin and not the shape described online. It’s not everywhere and not a lot, but it’s there.
Then about a week ago, he started to cry when he used the litter box. Not every time, but he does it. He’s been living in the house full-time for only a few weeks, but had been spending the nights with us since Thanksgiving. This crying is new and started about a week ago. I’m saying crying, but to be honest I don’t know exactly what that sounds like. I’m not too familiar with cats (he’s my first) and I’ve tried to find the sound online, but can’t quite get one that sounds like him. I would swear that it’s the same sound he makes when he see me in the morning, like he’s happy to see me (but maybe he’s trying to tell me that he doesn’t feel well?). If it matters, he is neutered. He doesn’t seem to be in pain, looks alright and is otherwise his normal self.
I’ve known I would have to get him to a doctor for a check-up sometime soon, but now I know I need to do it sooner, like next week. One of my questions is - is better to take him to the doctor or have a doctor come to the house? I’m not sure how I would get him in a carrier, but I would do whatever I need to for him and figure that out. There’s a doctor’s office (with good reviews) that has mobile service in my area and I thought that would be easier for him. Less traumatic. But then I thought that it would be worse. The house is now his safe place and if I have a doctor to the house, does that change and does he become afraid of the house? And me/us?
I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks so much.
So, here’s my problem – sorry if this is long, but there’s a couple of things going on. First, about a week ago, I felt something on the top of his neck that I thought could be a tick. He’s mostly good with my touching and picking at him so I was able to see that it wasn’t a tick, but couldn’t tell what it was. Over the next few days, it almost looked like a scratch, but then a few days later it looked bigger. Now it’s bigger and raised. Not raised like a bump or cyst, but more like a sore that’s scabbed over. It’s really hard for me to see it fully because he’ll let me poke only for a short time. Now I think I feel another one on the other side. Small like this one started out, but I’m pretty sure it’s there (or I could be making myself crazy). Then he started to shake his head… mostly after I pet him. It’s almost like he’s trying to shake off something from the top of his head/upper neck area or it could be his ears (?). It’s not all the time, but it’s new behavior and hard to believe that the shaking and the sore are not related. I don’t see any fleas on him at all, but I have noticed white flecks that I thought could be lice, but when I look at it/them under a magnifier, it really just looks like dry skin and not the shape described online. It’s not everywhere and not a lot, but it’s there.
Then about a week ago, he started to cry when he used the litter box. Not every time, but he does it. He’s been living in the house full-time for only a few weeks, but had been spending the nights with us since Thanksgiving. This crying is new and started about a week ago. I’m saying crying, but to be honest I don’t know exactly what that sounds like. I’m not too familiar with cats (he’s my first) and I’ve tried to find the sound online, but can’t quite get one that sounds like him. I would swear that it’s the same sound he makes when he see me in the morning, like he’s happy to see me (but maybe he’s trying to tell me that he doesn’t feel well?). If it matters, he is neutered. He doesn’t seem to be in pain, looks alright and is otherwise his normal self.
I’ve known I would have to get him to a doctor for a check-up sometime soon, but now I know I need to do it sooner, like next week. One of my questions is - is better to take him to the doctor or have a doctor come to the house? I’m not sure how I would get him in a carrier, but I would do whatever I need to for him and figure that out. There’s a doctor’s office (with good reviews) that has mobile service in my area and I thought that would be easier for him. Less traumatic. But then I thought that it would be worse. The house is now his safe place and if I have a doctor to the house, does that change and does he become afraid of the house? And me/us?
I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks so much.