Has my cat been shot?

[backwoodsman]

2 of our cats went missing last week, one is pregnant.

Our male went missing a while ago, and returned 3 days later with this wound, the vets didn't know what caused it.

Do you think it could be a low powered air rifle/pistol wound?

It was a quarter inch across, and ragged.

[TheThing]

I think it looks a bit big for an air rifle to have caused it.

[Mobile Chicane]

A bullet wound would be smaller than that. I'd say it's a bite from another animal which has become infected.

[digger the goat]

I concur. You wouldn't see an air rifle wound.
Fight and bite is the most likely.

[bexVN]

Burst abscess very common area to occur due to cat bites etc. It looks quite big, assume you are taking him to the vets.

Is he neutered?

[backwoodsman]

He's already been to the vets, and almost fixed.

It's just that the vet didn't know what it was, and now 2 of our others have gone missing.

[bexVN]

Burst abscess very common area to occur due to cat bites etc so that'd be my guess.Hope it's healing surprised your vets didn't know though?

Is he neutered?

[bexVN]

backwoodsman said:

He's already been to the vets, and almost fixed.

It's just that the vet didn't know what it was, and now 2 of our others have gone missing.

Yes sorry saw that after I posted, tried to correct my reply but not quick enough .

Sorry to hear you have missing pets . Any new cats in the area. Are all the cats spayed/ castrated if not may be a reason for them disappearing but is a worry.

[backwoodsman]

He is neutered.

But the girls are only 6 months old, and being very small cats, the vet had refused to do then until over a certain weight.

[bexVN]

backwoodsman said:

He is neutered.

But the girls are only 6 months old, and being very small cats, the vet had refused to do then until over a certain weight.

Is it the girls that are missing . They are still quite young to be looking for a mate but not impossible, maybe that's what they've done so hopefully they'll be back soon. What a worry for you

[Martin4x4]

Agree, it looks like a burst abscess surprised the vet didn't suggest this.

backwoodsman said:

He is neutered.

But the girls are only 6 months old, and being very small cats, the vet had refused to do then until over a certain weight.

That's pretty old fashioned view, modern veterinary practice is to neuter as early as 4months.

http://www.cats.org.uk/early-neutering

[bexVN]

Though not something we are keen on, more research being done as there are some negatives too very young neutering. I don't agree on the principal that general anaesthesia on such young animals should not be classed as routine.

[Craigyp79]

I came home one day to find our cat curled up on the doorstep with blood coming from somewhere, we took him to the vet who was sure that the wound, which was on his belly was a gunshot wound.

When he operated to see if there was shot in the wound he couldn't find anything, turns out the silly idiot had jumped down from our conservatory roof and missed the gate post he usually lands on (I found blood on it.)

So, some wounds can look like gunshot wounds when in fact they aren't.......