Expert: Ali - 11/1/2010

Question
i found a kitten with deeply torn skin. farmer said he found
it hanging by its skin in a fence and he cut it out. she is
maybe a month old a was eating a few bits of cat food but i
took her home and now shes not eating. there were maggots
crawling in her but no actual gash or cut signifying
underneath her skin. i treated it with peroxide then put
some witch hazel on it and some anitbiotic ointment so it
wouldnt be so dry. i dont want to take her to the vet if
unnessicary because id like to keep her and i cant afford
it. Help?!

Answer
Charlotte,

This baby really should see a vet, particularly since she's very young and her immune system is not even close to being mature enough to fight off any kind of infection. The history that you've provided in terms of maggots crawling on her is a worrying sign and the fact that you can't actually see a gash or cut means very little - it may have healed over into an abscess that could potentially have serious health consequences for this baby or even be fatal if it's left untreated. I understand that finances are difficult for many people in today's uncertain economy but this is a situation where it truly is necessary for this baby to see a vet ASAP.

In the meantime though - don't apply peroxide to her again, it's not the best choice for first aid in a situation like this, clipping the fur around any obvious injury is the first step followed by a wash with mild soap (you could use baby shampoo) and warm water. Be sure to rinse well since soap can irritate a cat's skin quite a bit if it's left on their body (and if they can reach the area to clean it off themselves you don't want them eating soap). Once the area is clean and dry then you can apply an antibiotic ointment if you can see an obvious injury. If you can't see anything obvious in this case it's quite possible that this babyhad some puncture wounds from barbed wire that have healed over into an abscess that will eventually become quite painful and swollen. An abscess should be treated by a veterinarian who can drain the abscess and clean the surrounding tissue thoroughly while the kitten is under anesthesia so that she feels no pain during the procedure. If your kitten does have an abscess she will need oral antibiotics to kill off any infection that the doctor isn't able to clear out when s/he cleans the abscess out and possibly oral pain medicine to ensure that she's not hurting while she heals.

I understand that you'd like to make this little girl a permanent member of your family and I may be able to help you do what you need to for her without having finances play such a big part in this whole situation. I keep a list of charities and other organizations such as vet clinics that offer subsidized treatment for animal companions who live with humans of limited financial means. If you're interested in getting the information for your area all that I ask in the name of saving you and I a lot of time is that you send me the general area you're writing from so that you don't have to read through every resource that I'm aware of throughout North America that may not necessarily be available to you in your area. If you're interested in the resources I've mentioned please get back to me ASAP so that I can help you and your kitten get the help she needs at a rate that you're able to financially afford as quickly as possible so that you and this baby can have a long, happy, healthy life together.