Hi, looking for some advice on a stressful situation.
A cat has been visiting my home for the past year, every day. He is very friendly and does spend a lot of time here. I don’t feed him and he does go home at night. I’ve asked around and posted on local FB group and nobody has come forward as his owner. I do think he has a home as he comes with flea treatment on his neck every month and is well groomed.
On Wednesday night I heard a fight in the garden between him and another cat. I brought him inside and his paw was bleeding. One of his foot pads is torn. I cleaned it as best as I could and put him out hoping he would go back home. Yesterday he appeared as usual and has quite a limp. I again cleaned the wound. He still seems like his usual self other than the limp.
Today however he is back and the wound smells vile. There doesn’t seem to be pus but it is still open and the smell is unreal. I am really worried about infection - either from the other cat or just from walking outside with an open wound.
I put a paper collar on him earlier with a note to the owners about it and sent him away, but he came back half an hour later with it still on. He’s sleeping on my couch now, I will reattach the collar when he goes back out.
I feel very stuck. I have no idea who he belongs to and don’t know their situation, however I do wonder why he is outside so often - I have seen his shadow at my window at 4am.
What I’m worried about is him coming back tomorrow with it still untreated and smelling really off. I feel like since he’s not mine I can’t take him to a vet, can I?! I wouldn’t really know where to start, I’ve not had a pet of my own before. And I’ve heard it’s hard to get appointments at the moment anyway?
I am so fond of him and am so anxious that if it is infected that he could become really poorly, and then am kicking myself for becoming so attached to a strangers cat and letting him come in so much :-( I understand people may have opinions on that but I am just looking for advice for the injury and next steps!