Someone give me some advice for an injured stray cat.

[LostInAnomie]

Recently I found a beautiful black stray cat in my yard. I have been feeding it and giving it water and I think I might keep it. Today, I noticed a cut near the base of its tail about as big around as a pencil eraser. I cant tell how deep it is because it is still a little skiddish about letting me poke around on it.

I put some hydrogen peroxide and neosporin on it hoping that it would keep infection from setting in but I am not sure it will be enough. I can't afford to take it to a vet, and I don't want to take it to the animal shelter because it would immediately be put to sleep.

Can anyone give me some advice?

[LynnTheDem]

1. You have to take kitty to a vet.

There are vets who charge little or nothing for those who can't afford it, call around and ask.

:hug:

[roguevalley]

3. is there a no kill shelter around? They might have a vet.

[Vanje]

2. Take his temp. Normal for cats is 100.5 -102F.

If he has a fever, it indicates that his injury is infected and he could benefit from antibiotic treatment.See your vet, or get some pennicillin or LA-200 at your friendly neighborhood rural feedstore.
If he dosnt have a fever, just keep a good watch on his injury.

[Robeson]

4. Call around to vets. Tell them your situation.....

...they love animals too. Its their job. The kitty needs to see a vet for that spot, and to get shots and be checked for any possible life threatening disease. Also, post this on the Pets Group thread, and you'll get many good responses much better than mine. I'll post over there for you to. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=243

[jukes]

5. LostInAnomie

ck your PM.

[TaleWgnDg]

6. If you cannot afford to take it to a vet, then how are you . . .

.
If you cannot afford to take it to a vet, then how are you . . . going to afford to give it good healthcare? For example, annual physical for the cat, rabies shot, examination of the cat´s body, from nose to tail; weighing the cat and taking its temperature; listening to the cats heart and lungs; checking for abnormal discharges from any bodily orifices, including eyes and nose; checking its teeth, gums and ears; inspecting for parasites and abscesses; feeling the cats internal organs. Plus, a stool sample will be tested for parasites, and any needed vaccinations or booster shots will then be administered. And, how about an ID chip?

Nah, if you cannot afford to take the cat to the vet when he's a stray with a visible injury, then why keep him when you probably cannot afford good overall healthcare of him?

Call around and find a good shelter. One that will see to his medical needs and find him a good home.

.

[Vanje]

7. Poor people need pets too.

Vet care has gotten expensive, particularly small animal practice.

You can do an awful lot of routine pet health care yourself.
You dont need a vet to weigh your cat.
You can examine your own cat from nose to tail.
You can take its temperature.
You can count heartbeat and resps.
Check for discharges
Check and clean teeth and gums.
Check for parasites(Look under cats tail, and examine litter box contents.) Most outdoor cats will need regular worming every 3 or 4 months. Get wormer over the counter at feedstores.
Most pharmacies and rural feed stores will sell annual vaccs for about 5 bucks,which you can administer yourself.
A vet must give rabies vacc. Many humane organizations will put on occaisional low cost rabies clinics, where a rabies shot will be administered for about 5 bucks.
Your cat does not need an ID microchip to live a happy healthy life.
I would hold back on getting microchips until they standardize the readers. As it is now, each manufacturer has its own reader that may not work on another brand chip.

You'll definately need a vet for spaying or neutering. There are low cost specialty spay and neuter clinics in many areas.

[Lorien]

8. Contact a local rescue group

try www.petfinder.com to find one in your area. I work for a rescue group, and often we'll put $200-400 worth of vet services into an animal that we adopt out for $95. I just did this for a neighbor who wanted to adopt a stray in our neighborhood. The cat received about $270 worth of vaccinations, exams, flea treatment and a microchip (the cat is already neutered-otherwise we would have done that too), but my neighbor will only pay $95 for him.