What an earth is he up to?

[gotthearse]

So back story.. moved from a victorian terrace in the summer, had a tiny back yard and a lovely but crackers neighbour who fed every cat in the neighbourhood; cue a massive turf war and a tiny tiny territory for my boy. He was very miserable about it when we moved and had got depressed and chubby, he barely went out.

Now in a small country terrace of 5 houses on their own with a long winding garden and no other cats in the row. He's delighted. Overgrown fields out the back, all steep. He lost loads of weight in the summer as suddenly so active post move, but has chubbed up a bit now.

In the last couple of weeks he is constantly covered in scratches and scabs around his face neck and shoulders. I don't think its another cat he's too relaxed and unstressed, and dont think its brambles as so much has died back in the gardens. Could be brambles in the field but I'm not sure he'd be arsed. He likes hunting now, but isn't very good at it, he's maybe brought home 5 or 6 tiny rodents since June. What could he be scrapping with?? He's certainty patient and persistent. He held a two week vidgil over a bush in the summer as he thought there was something in there (never did find out). The cuts and scabs are slowly getting worse, he has about 5 at the mo.

[Fluffycloudland77]

That's odd. I think we need photos of his little face.

[Weedsnseeds1]

Is there any barbed wire in the area?

[1000hobnobs]

Is it definitely cuts and scratches and not some other skin infection? Ringworm for example forms scabby/scaly patches and requires treatment.

[Oldraver]

My old act used to fight rats...he rarely came off unscathed

[gotthearse]

Thanks, let me see if I can get a pic...

[Badcat666]

Might be rats. My little one used to hunt them and always came back with a few cuts and scratches on his face. He was a tiny thing though and the rats were bloody HUGE!

[gotthearse]

Bit naff as he's protesting but you get the drift :)

[gotthearse]

There's another gurt biggun under his chin

[Fluffycloudland77]

Asbo gets that sort of thing from fighting cats.

[CatBallou2]

Looks like fight wounds. Off to the vet with him for checks. My dearly departed Toby, once had a huge wound on his chest, ear & face scratches & vet said they were caused by fighting. He was a peace loving cat & very placid generally, but also very territorial, & would fight to protect his to the end. Don't forget cats can have very big territories, so your boy might now be defending his rather large area with everything he's got.