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Cats/Smi-Ferrel Paw Injury

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Expert: - 2/26/2011


Question
Have cared for a male homeless cat for couple years now. He is passive, not vocal, avoids aggressive cats, so never injured until now.. Really GOOD affectionate tabby cat abt 4-5 + years old.
Last night, accidentally landed the chair leg i was sitting on, getting up , on his paw...and is swollen. He cannot walk on it..and growled if other homeless kitty comes near...or me!Me sister managed to put him on raised pet bed outside and over him  up...but now He is in hiding for now...regularly feed and shelter him in a insulated storage bin. He is very affectionate.

Sorry not sure extent of damage other than what i have presented here.

We had a another homeless one last summer had paw badly injured by bite or nail something similar, and gave em fish antibiotics..that did heal em..(he died all of a sudden last month on our porch).

Any help would really be appreciated!

Heartsick

Answer
Gary,

My recommendation would be to see about borrowing a humane live trap, baiting it with something super yummy that this kitty likes and hopefully catching him so that he can be taken to a vet to get the treatment he needs...He may have broken a bone or dislocated a joint if he's swollen and can't walk on his paw...Just be sure that you let the vet staff know ahead of time that he's semi feral so that they're prepared that he may not appreciate handling. Fish antibiotics aren't a good idea for cats since they don't come in the same concentrations, if your little guy needs a bit of medical treatment and finances are an issue it's possible that your local chapter of Alley Cat Allies would be willing to help provide necessary medical care and spay, neuter, vaccinate services for your kitties....The concern that I have since you mention that this little guy is quite affectionate is that he could be someone's lost pet so I would also have him scanned for a microchip and checked for a tattoo while he's at the vet just in case someone has been looking for him during the time that you've been caring for him. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me again - I'm more than happy to help in any way that I can.

Kind regards,

Ali

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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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