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Cats/paw injury

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Expert: - 11/27/2009


Question
hi i have a cat with an jury to his rear right paw, its gotten swollen and bleds a little bit, he got it when he got out a few days ago, sometimes he limps and sometimes he just walks on it...i tried to clean it and it looks like he cut himself on something...should i take him to a vet or is this something that i may be able to fix at home??

Answer
Alberto,

My concern with this kitty's paw is that it might become seriously infected, the fact that you're still seeing any bleeding and it's swollen up could indicate that he's got something caught in there that you can't see or he may have a painful infection. Cats tend to be amazingly good at hiding the severity of illnesses or injuries until they're no longer able to do so, this is why it's not surprising to me that your little guy is still trying to walk on it without showing pain. I don't think that it's a bad idea to have a vet look at it since the kitty's probably going to need some prescription pain medicine (DO NOT give him people pain medicines, they're toxic to cats and can be fatal, there are effective medications that your vet can prescribe), antibiotics to treat the cut and ensure that his paw doesn't become seriously infected. I should warn you when the vet looks at the cut depending on the severity of it s/he may decide that your kitty needs a dressing on the paw to keep things as clean as possible - this would likely mean your baby would have to wear the plastic cone of shame for a few days until he's well on the road to healing. Be aware, since this injury is a few days old it's quite possible that your vet may have to sedate your kitty to properly clean his wound since cats aren't exactly known for co-operating with vet staff when they're in pain. If you're worried that you may not be able to afford the financial cost of vet care I do keep a binder of resources for pet parents in the US and Canada that may be willing to offer some sort of help towards the cost of your little man's vet bill. If you think you could use that information please feel free to contact me again, all that I ask is for you to provide me with the US state/Canadian province you're in so that I don't have to waste your time or mine by typing out pages of resources that won't apply to you. I wish you and your little guy the best of luck, if you have any further questions, concerns or you'd like me to clarify anything in this answer please feel free to contact me again and I will do my absolute best to help you out.

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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