Expert: Jessica - 8/19/2010

Question
I have a stray tortie kitten about 4 months old she showed up 1 day on my patio because I have other cats out there.I think she may be wild she is very afraid of people, but not the other cats, she curls up with them but doesn't play at all. now she just lays there every once in a while I can pick her up but only for a minute.my question is could she be sick because flies are landing on her like 8 at a time and she doesn't try to get away from them at all.when i held her she doesn't have any wounds or seem to be in pain.when you put her down she runs and hides,you have to sneak up on her to hold her.what do I do about the flies..I feel so bad I don't know what to do or what is causing this I have kittens that are roughly the same age and they don't gather flies.She has been here for about 2 weeks now and this fly thing is new any ideas would be helpful.

Answer
Hi Leslie,

I'd be worried about her.  It sounds like she’s pretty lethargic compared to the other cats, not wanting to play and just sort of lying around all the time.  The fact that flies are gathering around on her sounds like perhaps she might have a foul odor on her coat, maybe suggesting that she isn’t grooming properly.  There is also the potential that she might have an abscess under the fur that you can’t see, since you’re unable to hold her for long.  These can be foul-smelling.  All of this is enough to warrant a vet visit.

What would make it a little more urgent to me is that this time of year, we worry about a condition called myiasis.  This is when maggots burrow into the flesh of an animal and eat away at it.  Maggots are not usually parasitic, but when an animal is sick or debilitated and isn’t taking good care of its coat and skin, the skin can become soiled or damaged.  It’s even worse if the kitty already has a wound, such as an abscess. If the pet lies down in an area where the flies have laid eggs, or the flies lay eggs directly on the fur or skin, maggots can get into the soiled or damaged skin and begin to eat away.  Cats have been killed this way.

Definitely scoop the little one up and get her to the vet for a good exam.  If nothing else, you could get her vaccinated.

Best wishes!

Jessica