Any vets around today - cat injured, advice sought

[page3]

Local vet's is now closed until Monday, so I'm asking here. I know, I know, you've probably got better things to do, but I would appreciate any help!

One of our cats has a big (say 2"-3") bald patch on the bottom (inside) part of his leg. All the fur has gone and it looks like clean bone/skin. You can pretty much see both leg bones. He don't appear to be in any pain, lets me prod it, it doesn't appear infected, he isn't limping and is jumping around without any indication of being remotely troubled by it.

Any ideas?

I'm tempted just to monitor it, and see if it gets better or worse over the next few days.

Edited by page3 on Saturday 13th December 16:15

[hornetrider]

If it's not in any pain/distress, take it in on Monday.

Edited by hornetrider on Saturday 13th December 16:19

[sunbeam_alpine]

How old is the cat?

Front or back leg?

Sudden loss, or over time?

Is it eating normally?

Edited by sunbeam_alpine on Saturday 13th December 16:22

[page3]

8 years old (probably, abandoned kitten)

back leg, inside.

eating, drinking fine. Has had some different food this week. Now switched back.

probably appeared in last week, but a difficult area to see so cannot be sure.

Might be result of fight with local cat

We're obviously concerned for the cat, but more importantly we have an 11 month old baby, so want to rule out flees/worms cannot see any flee evidence)

ps. Thanks all. Sorry for short reply, 11 month old trying to type too!

Edited by page3 on Saturday 13th December 16:31

Edited by page3 on Saturday 13th December 16:36

[coolcatmaz]

possible ring worm or mange off the local foxes.

Both contagious I may add.

[page3]

coolcatmaz said:

possible ring worm or mange off the local foxes.

Both contagious I may add.

any way to check for these, before visiting the vet Monday?

[Vipers]

My cat had a similar injury, vet said another cat had tried to catch it, god knows why. Needed stitches.

[sunbeam_alpine]

Possibly a reaction to ringworm OR fleas.

Could also be over-grooming due to stress - maybe it's jealous of the baby (Is it your first child?)

Could you post a picture?

P.S. Best to visit your vet to put your mind at rest.

[page3]

sunbeam_alpine said:

Could you post a picture?

please stand by...





He's just licked it, so it looks worse that it did before...

Edited by page3 on Saturday 13th December 16:57

[coolcatmaz]

Looks like he has caught himself on something TBH. I'd keep it clean and dry and take him to the vets on Monday and get it treated.

sooner though if it looks like it's getting infected or bothering him.

[Danger_Mouse]

coolcatmaz said:

Looks like he has caught himself on something TBH. I'd keep it clean and dry and take him to the vets on Monday and get it treated.

sooner though if it looks like it's getting infected or bothering him.

As you seem to know something about this, is it worth bandaging to stop any expose/licking?

[sunbeam_alpine]

Normally you should see some inflamation/irritation with fleas or roundworm, and your cat will worry at the whole area. Are there small red dots at the top of the exposed skin in the top photo? I've tried enlarging it here, but it goes a bit blurry.

[page3]

sunbeam_alpine said:

Normally you should see some inflamation/irritation with fleas or roundworm, and your cat will worry at the whole area. Are there small red dots at the top of the exposed skin in the top photo? I've tried enlarging it here, but it goes a bit blurry.

Not that I could see. I'll try another look, but he's getting suspicious. The skin was dry and less red but he had just licked it before I took the photo. He doesn't appear to be washing it especially often though - not that I've noticed anyway.

Again, thanks everyone for advice so far. Really appreciated.

[coolcatmaz]

Danger_Mouse said:

coolcatmaz said:

Looks like he has caught himself on something TBH. I'd keep it clean and dry and take him to the vets on Monday and get it treated.

sooner though if it looks like it's getting infected or bothering him.

As you seem to know something about this, is it worth bandaging to stop any expose/licking?

Is he worrying it a lot?

You can try putting a dressing on it and a bandage to keep it clean. If he's leaving it alone see how it goes and let the air get to it.

Cats like dogs, can over clean the area and actually make the area worse than it was, and cats mouths are full of bacteria as well.

[Vipers]

page3 said:

sunbeam_alpine said:

Could you post a picture?

please stand by...





He's just licked it, so it looks worse that it did before...

Edited by page3 on Saturday 13th December 16:57

Looks exactly what my cat had. If you read my earlier post, attacked by another cat my vet told me, needed stitches.

Edited by Vipers on Saturday 13th December 17:20

[sunbeam_alpine]

I agree with coolcatmaz - he's probably caught it on something. If the skin isn't broken I wouldn't cover it up.

Go to your vet on Monday.

[Thevet]

Forget all the ringworm/fleas crap, the injury looks like a tear or bite wound. I think from the pics that the damage is fully through the skin, and if so, would be better stitched. If you don't it will probably mend as nature designed, but may be a smelly uncomfortable mess for a week or two, still needing attention to clear up. As for your vet being shut til monday, DO NOT USE VETS THAT SHUT THEIR DOORS WHEN IT GETS DARK, find a practice that uses its own staff for out of hours cover, they will provide the emergency cover you need and they need your support in order to continue to offer full service. Your own vet is legally obliged to provide an out-of-hours cover, if it is too far away, leave and find another practice. Seriously, that injury should be looked at in oreder to assess it. I can't see the bones you mentioned, but that could just be the angle of the camera.

[page3]

Vipers said:

Looks exactly what my cat had. If you read my earlier post, attacked by another cat my vet told me, needed stitches.

Yep, read your post thanks. He had had fights with a particular local cat before, and always ends up being beaten up.

Definitely will call vet first thing Monday, unless it gets worse before.

Cat is sleeping now, not showing any signs of being bothered.

[xllifts]

Looks like when our cat caught himself on some barb wire. Its worth a trip to the vets on Monday for a shot of anti biotics just to help stop any nasties that may have got in. Its worth having a pot of anti septic/ dry wound powder in the cupboard for when they do things like this!

[page3]

Thevet said:

Forget all the ringworm/fleas crap, the injury looks like a tear or bite wound. I think from the pics that the damage is fully through the skin, and if so, would be better stitched. If you don't it will probably mend as nature designed, but may be a smelly uncomfortable mess for a week or two, still needing attention to clear up. As for your vet being shut til monday, DO NOT USE VETS THAT SHUT THEIR DOORS WHEN IT GETS DARK, find a practice that uses its own staff for out of hours cover, they will provide the emergency cover you need and they need your support in order to continue to offer full service. Your own vet is legally obliged to provide an out-of-hours cover, if it is too far away, leave and find another practice. Seriously, that injury should be looked at in oreder to assess it. I can't see the bones you mentioned, but that could just be the angle of the camera.

Advice taken.

There is an emergency number I can call, but to be honest I'm afraid of the expense involved (I believe it is £100+usual costs), unless it really is an emergency or cat is in pain. Hope that doesn't sound awful, but with the wife not working I really don't have the funds unless absolutely necessary.