Comforting a cat!

[Jenda]

My little boy cat has been SAVAGELY beaten by the bastard tabby up the road. DP saw part of the attack and he didn't make it home for several hours afterwards. Came in very roughed up and sad. Hes eaten and can walk but hes obviously in pain and not letting us touch him because he's covered in bites i think. What can I do to make him feel better? Im making a little hot water bottle to put next to him (pathetic I know, but he's my baby!)

[MaBumble]

Oh the poor thing. If you can get him to the vets i would, the cuts could be deeper than you think and might get infected. A comfy box where he can hide and feel safe might help.

[Jenda]

Thank you, Ill see how he is tomorrow and if he's not right will take him in. he first time he got beaten up he got an abscess so Im aware how nasty cat bites can be. Can't see any blood from what I've seen of him.. but then he is black and very private! Poor chap.

[Jenda]

Oh, and good idea about the box. I might leave one out for him although he is going to be on his own with the sofa as we have no kids or other pets who can annoy him. Might bring his food bowl in so he doesn't have to walk around

[OpheliasWeepingWillow]

Does he have a place he likes to sleep regularly? Mine would always like a box and blanket or to be snuggled up on the bed when they were sad. Poor cat. I think just being calm, warm hot water bottle, blanket or similar comfort item and vet if seems worse in morning.

[tothemoon]

Poor pudding! My Indi has an on going turf war with an un neutered male up the road. He had bite puncture wounds in his neck! I find a nice bit of chicken and a kip on the end of my beds soothes him.
Hope he's feeling better soon!

[cynister]

Poor boy kitty! Do you have an old soft shirt you could place in the box, something with your scent? Perhaps that might be of a comfort to him..

[cozietoesie]

Poor lad. Lots of quiet, warmth, love/loving words and nice nosh. Also, get a tray for him (if he doesn't already have one) so that he can do his business inside for as long as he wants to. (He may decide to become a homebody for a bit.) If he does show signs of wanting to go out, go with him - at least at first.

Oh - and as you know - to the vet at the very least sign of ongoing trauma or if his serious depression doesn't clear up in a couple of days. A big scrap can leave them feeling drained for a bit but if that doesn't clear, there will likely be an infection working away somewhere. Cats mouths and claws are filthy and the tabby up the road could have got him badly. You might want to give the vet a phone about pain relied if he still looks to be suffering.

Best of luck with him. How is he this morning?

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh Jenda it's horrible isn't it. Sparkling Cat gets set upon by the ASbo cat up the road and it cost us £95 at the vets the last time. She was having a poo and got ambushed.

She was so stressed, she got cystitis.

[Jenda]

Thank you so much all,sorry I took a while to get back. Hes much better now, poor chap didn't move from his position on the sofa all night and then when he got down in the morning for brekkie he cried at the pain of jumping down! Sulked for a day and then let me check him over and his fine,no sign of pain or injury so will just keep an eye on him. In the meantime am hissing at bastard cat whenever I see him, neighbours think Im very strange!

Oh, and thanks for advice about tray; i bought one in but the noise of pouring the litter in scared him so much he ran outside- massive wimp! Left it inside as he seems wary of going out but hes not used it.

Thanks again all :-)

[cynister]

So glad your kitty boy is on the mend..sometimes worse than children they are..

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Keep an eye out in about 5 to 7 days as this will be when abscess will start to develop. We typically see cats who were sore the day after the fight and then are unwell 1 week later.

[cozietoesie]

Glad he's feeling more himself - and thanks for that advice on timing, Lonecat.

Don't worry if he doesn't use his tray, Jenda. If he's not used to one it may take him a day or two to clock it. (Normally, I would suggest putting him in it and holding/using his front paws briefly to scratch so that he gets the notion but if he's sore he'll likely not want to be handled much and may have bad associations from that.) If/once he gets it, it will be a useful alternative for him if he's feeling wimpy.

(Amazed that he was scared by the noise of litter going in! He must be really jumpy after the fight.)

[mathanxiety]

Does he know what the tray is for?

[Jenda]

thanks lonecat that's very helpful. he's fine so far but will watch him as he wasn't himself with last abcess. he knows what litter tray is for but is happy to go outside and doesn't seem worried about horrible cat.

cozie he was that jumpy before the fight. he's like a firework when we bring carrier bags home, shoots straight out the house. think he had a hard life before he came to live with us!

thanks all you lovely cat people

[cozietoesie]

Ah well - glad he's doing better.

Having a tray to hand if needed is no bad thing actually what with the bad weather coming up. My lodger started using one (although he went outside) because it was obviously so nice and dry, safe, and the tray fairy (Hah!) always cleaned it up beautifully. You may find that it's a helpful add-on to the family facilities as long as you don't mind cleaning it.