This little scaredy cat got into the warehouse in which I work, and someone had to save her so I did. I recently asked about integrating her into my house with my 2y old cat.
So far, she's been quarantined in a separate room, she's got a bite on her foot I wasn't told about that looks partially healed, but still not great, and so I'll have to figure that out first. I have a cone on the way to stop her from licking at it until I can get her to the vet (who was supposed to email me yesterday...c'mon guys kitty need help!) Unclear if the bite came from one of the dogs inside the warehouse, or (lord I hope not, but...honestly I think so..), the raccoon she was spotted near a few days before she gained entry to the warehouse. I have a pic if anyone wants to see it, but it looks like a lil puncture wound (not exactly cute) so I'm only going to if someone requests 'cause they wanna help (as much help as that can be, need the vet for sure but advice is always welcome in the meantime!!)
She's terrified, but, that's probably normal? I mean, she's a wounded stray captured in a humane trap and then was fostered in a bathroom for a while until I got her in her own room. It's been like 26hr since I got her here, I'd be scared too. That said, she'll hiss and hiss but won't bite or scratch, when she hisses I'll pause and slow blink, then keep going, when I reach her she'll let me pet her, pick her up, starts purring and rubbing her face into the pets, y'know, cat stuff. So, pretty good? Idk! I've only adopted from humane rescues so far this is kiiiinda my first "found it in a dumpster" cat.
My tubby kitty, resident idiot... Idk if she's even noticed, despite the new kitten using her separate box (clearly "smells" involved there wafting under the door) and she definitely heard her meowing at me (begging for release into the wild) about 1h ago. Doesn't seem to care at all, who knows with this dingus! Maybe they'll become fast friends when they see each other, here's hoping!
Here's another pic, of her deciding I may not be so bad after all, of course she'll forget this next time I walk in...
I'm not a vet, I've just dealt with a lot of sick and wounded wild and domestic animals on a low budget. I've never used vetracyn so I can't vouch for it. Looking up the active ingredient, it wouldn't be my first choice on a worse wound but that one doesn't seem badly or at all infected, but it's really hard to tell from the photo. Since it's a spray, adhesion will be the larger issue. I don't know if she will be able to work off a bandage, despite the cone. I would apply it as often as directions and personal availability permit. Her constant licking keeping blood flowing may have actually helped prevent infection/necrosis. But she has proper care now and is very fortunate. I'm glad. The foster doesn't need to be fostering, from the sound of it.
You're doing a great job with limited resources, even if those limits only apply to veterinary knowledge, so kudos to you! Plus the simple display of kindness warms my heart. Wishing you and your new addition the very best. Decent food, shelter, care and love go a long way toward healing the most fearsome troubles. You're doing just fine.
Well you're more knowledgeable than I, so thank you! I'll try to take a better pic here in about an hour or so and I'll double reply to this so you can get the notification.
I'm not sure either, right now bandages stand no chance but I'm hoping the cone helps! Her little head may just fit right through the cone though, tbh. She's so tiny and skinny and needs all the food, I'm gonna feed her like an Italian grandmother for a bit. I'll look into getting some of the other stuff you recommended too and use that instead if I can! Will definitely apply as often as possible per directions and work schedule! Glad to hear the licking may have helped though! I had one (RIP, 2016, one of my all time favorite kitties) that hurt her paw barely, but made it worse by licking a hotspot into it, so I was worried about that! The "foster" is more of a maintenance guy that took her home for about a week tbh, they wanted to keep her in the warehouse to hunt mice after socializing her, but that was a terrible idea and he is bad at raising cats, so they finally gave up and let me take it (like I'd been suggesting) at that point. He wont be fostering in the future, but he's gonna get a dog and I don't think I can stop him, poor doggo, I hope he's better with them.
Thank you for the kind words of encouragement! She seems like she'll get there, I was watching her back so she'd be comfortable eating before posting this and she was taking breaks from the food to come back for pets, and even letting me pet her while she ate, but then ran and hid after a bit lol. Also she damn peed in her bed! Washing that blanket now lol, I don't think she knows "bed" yet. I'm just glad to hear maybe the wound isn't as bad as I feared. I'm still kinda worried about rabies, though, but she doesn't seem aggressive, even when she hisses you can tell her heart isn't in it (I think she wants friends but is slow to trust, hey, me too kitty! Lol), and it's been at least 10 days since we caught her, and clearly more than 10 since the bite (with the scars and regrown hair and all). I'm also worried for my not-new cat on that front with transmission, but I'm washing my hands and changing pants (because of the blood on my pants from her sitting on my lap with that foot) between cats.
Thank you for the other photo coming and the compliments.
Yes, the licking needs to stop, now and rabies is definitely a concern. Please be careful not to overfeed, that can be harmful as well, especially if she's malnourished. A little bit extra at regular feedings should suffice, pending veterinary care and advice. A tablespoon of canned goat milk twice a day shouldn't hurt, for calorie count but start with one, since it's pretty rich for malnourished tummies. You can keep a little in the fridge and freeze the rest in an ice cube tray covered with parchment or waxed paper and pop one out for daily servings.
Well she's still learning, and hopefully there's time enough for that. I think she's going to be fine, assuming there are no viral infections to contend with. Best to you!
Here's the best pic I could get, wasn't able to get it until this morning lol.
Thanks for the advice on the goat milk, I'll get her some for sure! And I'll be sure not to overfeed too. Yeah she's good, I was just ribbing her a little about wetting the bed lol, good thing she can't read! After I got it washed I put her in it and started petting her and she made biscuits in it, so I think she knows now lol. She's been box trained since she broke in though, cause y'know they naturally want to bury it and stuff, I think she just thought the bed was another box lol.
Thank you for the photo. Doesn't look so bad, afaict, but I would get her to the vet asap, for a qualified opinion and care, anyway. Sending you the very best. It's nice to share a world with good people. 😊
Thank you! Glad to hear you think it doesn't look too bad, for SURE going to the vet ASAP, need them shots too, and want to hear what they want me to do about any possibility of rabies which is apparently 10-45 day observation in quarantine but it can not show for like a year, so, idfk!
Thank you! I just hope she'll be OK, she's such a sweet little kitty, even with the hisses lol. I'm glad there's good people like yourself out there, as well!
She's going to be fine. I am not too concerned about rabies, going with probabilities.
Thank you too. Blessings!
This wound looks fine, healthy. Just cone head her for awhile. The vet will anyways likely.
My older cat knocked a pizza knife off the wall chasing a house fly in the kitchen which resulted in a pretty similar wound last year. Except he severed a tendon. Not fun. I learned to drawer all sharps since.
I found it best to spoon feed him wet food or he'd make a massive mess. Taking the cone off is easy for food time, but, well... Cat. Getting it back on isn't fun for anyone.
Just got back from the vet! No communicable diseases but still under rabies quarantine for a few days, got FelV and distemper vax, too young for rabies vax. Still gonna bring my tubby one in for updated shots, but mostly just for peace of mind since the new one's blood is good!
Vet didn't even give me a cone but I've purchased one, hope it fits! Honestly it almost seems like she hasn't been licking at it since she got here and is less stressed (even if she's still pretending to be mad, I can see through those crocodile hisses!) I'm worried she has minor tendon damage too because she flops around when I pet her, but she runs good and walks (quickly, away from me lol, but) good, and she can jump and climb and hang on my blinds, so maybe she just likes flopping for belly pets and snuggles lol.
Idk yet but I think she'll let me cone her, she only really fought the vet for the blood draw, but like I hate it too lol. She took the vaccine better than me though!
I'm quite surprised they didn't insist on a cone!
You're awesome for finding one on your own.
Me too! Tbh I used to have one from my other being spayed but I couldn't find it or she'd already have one on! The one I ordered won't be here for another day or so which honestly will give me time to observe it. She honestly may not need it, looks like she's kinda stopped licking it actually!
My other definitely knows she has company now, but I think she wants to be friends, we'll see after quarantine!
Honestly I'm surprised how much better it looks already just in ~72h from when I first saw it!
They're fragile little bastards but if it's not infected it's still basically a baby and heals like one :p
You're right she may not even need it. I mean you're obviously paying attention. I'm not worried.
Have a good life, all three of you or more.
Thank you from all three of us! You too!