Expert: Ali - 1/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: I think my cat has been in a fight as he has facial injuries but i can not get close enough to have a look at it. This happened on thursday night and when we saw him on friday he wasnt breathing properly and when we went near him he hissed and ran out and has not been back since. We have looked everywhere for him but can not find him and i do not know what to do? What shall I do?

ANSWER: Nikki,

It might be a good idea to try and find out where your cat is hiding. He was probably reacting aggressively due to fear and his serious injuries. I must say that I highly doubt that your cat got such severe injuries in a cat fight. I suspect that your cat may have been hit by a car or someone may have hit your cat in the face to cause the serious trauma that it would send him into a state of shock - it might also explain why he hissed and ran from you. Unfortunately there is a growing trend of acts of cruelty to animals being a part of gang initiations or ways to prove that young people are tougher/meaner/stronger than their peers. Sadly these acts of cruelty can be difficult to prosecute because it's hard to find witnesses that are willing to corroborate the medical evidence obtained by your veterinarian after such an incident. If you do find your cat and the vet agrees with my hunch I would recommend that you report this incident to your local animal cruelty investigators so that if a witness comes forward at a later date the animal cruelty charges can go ahead. I would recommend very strongly that you consider whether or not it's safe to continue allowing your cat outside unsupervised if you are able to find him and have his injuries treated by a vet. Whether or not your cat recovers fully he may develop some fear based aggressive tendencies so handle him with care. Fast/sudden movements may elicit a fight or flight response and whenever possible most cats will try to flee, but if your cat feels cornered he may lash out.

When you go looking for your cat try to entice him out with special treats like tuna, sardines or salmon. Carry a heavy towel or small blanket with you and you can drop it over your cat's face to calm him while you take him for medical treatment. You could also try checking local shelters and vet clinics to see if your cat has shown up as a stray, be prepared to provide a photo to prove that you are your cat's caregiver. If all else fails you could try using a humane live trap to catch your cat, bait it with tuna or some other special goody and wait out of sight nearby. When the trap closes you can toss a blanket over it to help keep your cat calm and get him immediate medical care.

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QUESTION: I have looked everywhere and is no where to be seen and he has not eaten since thursday.

Answer
Nikki,

I would recommend that you give tuna bribery a shot when it's quiet late at night, sometimes fearful or injured cats will be more likely to come out of hiding when things are dark and quiet. Keeping a large towel or small blanket handy will help to immobilize and calm your kitty when you do catch him. Making up lost posters with your cat's picture and your phone number on them to distribute around your neighborhood, to local shelters and rescue groups and vet clinics is a good idea because your kitty may turn up at a vet clinic or shelter as a stray and stray times vary in city shelters and rescue organizations. You could also use a humane live trap and bait it with tuna, the fact that your cat hasn't eaten since Thursday that you're aware of should make him easy to catch late at night. When the trap closes you should toss a blanket or heavy towel over it to keep your kitty calm while you make the trip to the vet clinic. Keep the word out about your kitty, it may be your only chance of finding him, make sure that neighbors know he's been injured and that he may be hiding in sheds, garages or under porches. Keep a recent picture of your kitty handy when you go door to door to check to see if your neighbors have seen your kitty. A photo of your cat may be required by shelters as proof of ownership if you want to reclaim your kitty. Don't give up hope, the only way that you will find your cat is to continue looking for him. Until you find your kitty you are in my thoughts and prayers, I know how tough it is to have a special, much loved kitty go missing. There's always hope, unless your cat is deceased you should be able to find him within a relatively short period of time. Cats are resilient and you may find him on your door step when you least expect it. If you suspect that your cat may have died as a result of his injuries it's worth asking shelters to look at their recent DOA lists, vet clinics and rescue groups often keep similar documentation in case someone is looking for a lost pet.