First aid for feral

[yayi]

A male QT- look -alike has been visiting the last few days. He is very friendly but because of my resident cats and dog, he usually flees the moment he hears or sees them.
Last night he came by with lots of scratches on his face and his front right leg was swollen. Looking close I noticed he had a gash (about 1 cm.) in the side. It wasn't bleeding but I think I could see meat. I need to apply some antiseptic but how? And if you can recommend any medicine I would really appreciate it.
He limps but he is still pretty quick in avoiding my pets.
Thanks!

 

[spotz]

Originally Posted by yayi

A male QT- look -alike has been visiting the last few days. He is very friendly but because of my resident cats and dog, he usually flees the moment he hears or sees them.
Last night he came by with lots of scratches on his face and his front right leg was swollen. Looking close I noticed he had a gash (about 1 cm.) in the side. It wasn't bleeding but I think I could see meat. I need to apply some antiseptic but how? And if you can recommend any medicine I would really appreciate it.
He limps but he is still pretty quick in avoiding my pets.
Thanks!

If it's that bad of a wound, it is probably a Cat Bite Abscess, most likely he will need veterinary attention to clean and close the wound.

Spotz

 

[kumbulu]

It sounds like he really needs vet treatment. You'll have to borrow a trap from your local humane society and trap him and take him off to the vet. In the mean-time, you can add a drop of GSE to his food. This will help him with the infection until he sees a vet.

 

[ldg]

It sounds like it's best to trap him and get him to a vet.

Administering medication can be a problem, even with our pets.

 

[yayi]

Thank you for the advise. He hasn't showed up but I am hopeful he'll be back. I will be ready for him. Wish me luck!

 

[yayi]

He came back only yesterday (never showed up since I posted this thread)and his leg and wound are healed. He is dirtier but okay. Can wounds like that get cured by themselves?

Anyway, another tabby feral suddenly showed up and the QT lookalike was ready to fight. Sheesh! They both ran away chasing one another. Well, I suppose this is a happy ending?

 

[hissy]

Just because the wound has closed does not mean the cat has healed. There could be an infection brewing under the skin and so watch him as close as you can for any signs of an abscess-

 

[tnr1]

Hey Yayi...are these cats fixed? If not..it would probably be a good idea to trap the cats and take them in to get fixed as well as have their wounds looked over.

Katie

 

[kittylover4ever]

I have to agree with everyone, please if you can, trap them and get them into the vet to get fixed and that wound looked at....you just never know.

 

[ldg]

This is not to say that neutered ferals won't fight, but the level of aggressiveness is greatly diminished. It is far less likely that they will fight if neutered. Chasing each other off isn't necessarily good. A neutered male will defend himself against an attack.

 

[yayi]

Hurray! I caught him and he is now in the vet. Apparently he had a fever and the wound was not healed as I thought. The fever is not high but the vet has put him on dextrose to rehydrate him and be able to give him antibiotics and antinflamatory meds. Well, I won't be adopting him but I will have him neutered (when he is really well) and then released. Thank you all very much!

 

[mamam]

Congratulations!