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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

cat did weird thing - not seen it before - help?

60 replies

SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 08:32

hi. i've had cats on and off all my life.

last night my six month old tom was doing that biting/itching thing at the end of spine/base of tale and then he made this weird loud long noise like catcalling and then the sofa where he was sitting was covered in fluid. liquid sick? spray? urine?

i have no clue where it came from or what the noise was about unless it was gagging or something.

he had petline on him on the 21st but bit late for a reaction to that i'm thinking.

anyone seen this before or know what it is?

apologies for random post Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 08:32

that should be tail obviously!

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Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 08:33

he didn't tell us a story first Blush

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follyfoot · 30/12/2010 08:34

Suspect he is spraying, one of mine has done this. Yuck!

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 08:38

but like that? whilst chewing his back?

do you think maybe it could have just auto stimulated the response maybe?

i'm due to take him to get done but he hasn't shown any signs of sexual maturity yet. cats i've had in the past had quite pronounced balls and started humping things (sorry).

he has very empty looking scrotum and hasn't show any signs but i guess that chewing could've just stimulated it?

thing is it didn't smell - whipped the throw off quick but it had no scent.

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Bearcat · 30/12/2010 14:47

Watched a vet programme about a month ago and this young couple had a masturbating dog!
The programme showed the dog getting started and the bloke said 'obviously if we let him carry on, you know what will eventually happen'.
The dog even started to do it in front of the vet when he was put on the floor in the consulting room.
The vet persuaded the couple to have the dog neutered and his little problem was cured.
Do you think your cat may have stimulated himself and got himself into the sort of arousal that this dog was doing.
Just a thought.

kormachameleon · 30/12/2010 14:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 16:08

abcess where?

and he was chewing back/tail joining point - would that stimulate him? Confused

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JennyRobyn · 30/12/2010 16:26

I think korma could be right, if he had an abcess where he was biting it could be quite painful as it was about to burst..hence the yowling.

This would also explain the liquid.

it isn't always easy to see an abcess under the fur so may not know that its there until it bursts.

It wont necessarily smell either. Check him for any cuts/bites all over as it could have been located somewhere else and was coincidence that he was biting his back at the time. (cats normally do this when they have a terrible itch)

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 17:05

yeah biting seemed normal itchy behaviour for that spot.

will check him over.

by abcess i take it we mean an infected lump from a bite or scratch or something?

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clayre · 30/12/2010 17:09

sounds like he had an abcess, they are common at the bottom of the back, means they were trying to get away from another cat and it bit the bottom of the back, my mum used to treat our cat with with my dads best whisky to clean the wound

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 17:13

thanks people!

feel reassured.

seemed weird that it was such a sudden gush of clear liquid without smell but this explanation does make sense.

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ShowOfHands · 30/12/2010 17:19

My cat has never bitten/itched his back/base of tail.

But he does display signs of sexual maturity and they're nothing like what you're describing. He prefers to hump things, paw vigorously at things and flash his willy at you. He also likes to self pleasure. He's an embarrassment.

I suspected abcess from your description.

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 17:54

could swear i posted but it's not here Confused

cat came in, examined him and he does indeed seem to have a wound down there. won't let me too close but he's licking at it and where the fur is parted i can glimpse some kind of entry wound.

hoping he won't lick at it too much and it will heal. any way i can help? don't have a collar for him and don't have anti antiseptic/disinfectant. have gin but thinking not a good a plan?

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Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 17:55

and yeah SOH - that's what male cats in the past i've had have done. one's favoured method was to hump my wooly jumpers whilst i was wearing them. thought he'd suddenly become more affectionate till i realised what he was up to Shock

he's showing no signs of any of that yet but i really should go get him snipped.

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Dunoon · 30/12/2010 17:57

Wash with cooled boiled water with salt in. Try to keep it open for a day or so so that any infection does not get sealed in again.

MotherJack · 30/12/2010 18:12

Please please please think about getting him to the vet unless you are sure that the wound is opened and kept open and clean as Dunoon says. Just after my son was born, an abcess burst on my cat's neck. I tried to clean it and keep it open (I was struggling with child, didn't have time to get to the vet) but the infection must have got to him as his kidneys failed shortly after. Well worth forking out for an antibiotic for him (and never use any disinfectant type solution as it is poisonous)

Hope he's ok!!

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 20:16

thanks dunoon. will do.

motherJ sorry that happened to your cat Sad

think this is a very recent wound and doesn't look dodgy. will keep it clean and keep an eye on the area. if i get worried i'll take him to the vets but at this stage i think it would be jumping the gun.

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TheMonster · 30/12/2010 20:23

If the wound is near his bottom, I would get him to the vets really - it's not worth risking it getting infected.
And book the snip ASAP.

IAmReallyFabNow · 30/12/2010 20:24

Sorry, not read all thread as can't see clearly. does it lok like jis trying to bite his tail?

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 20:31

it's the top area, where tail meets back, not bottom. just like as someone suggested he got a bite there whilst trying to get away.

he washed at it a lot when he came in but has now settled down and is leaving it alone. am just cooling boiled water and salt to wash it before bedtime and will again in morning. will see how he's doing tomorrow.

i'm not anti vets or anything but it is two taxi journeys and and it is new years eve tomorrow so call me callous but i'm hoping a bit of home care, keeping an eye, keeping it clean and discouraging him from worrying it too much will be enough at least to get us through the bank holiday weekend.

he's young and healthy and not a nervous sort of cat that would worry a wound to death or anything.

and i know eeyore. snip first thing in january.

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TheMonster · 30/12/2010 21:11

Salty water will help. I know exactly what you mean about vets - animals always seem to get ill when they are closed and at their most expensive!
And have a look on the RSPCA or Celia Hammond websites - they often do vouchers for neutering so it costs a fraction of the real amount.

Longtinsellyjosie · 30/12/2010 21:20

When my cat cut himself the vet recommended iodine. But that can only be a stopgap I'm afraid, I totally agree with the others that you're going to have to take him to the vet...

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 21:24

i don't think i'm neglecting him by giving him 48 hours or so with good home care to see if it clears up by itself.

i'll keep it clean. keep him in. i'll watch out for any signs of fever, ill health and watch it's progress. i'd do the same for myself.

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MotherJack · 30/12/2010 23:08

He should be ok, so long as you are certain the wound is open and clean. Trim the fur around it if you can so it is not in the wound too. Had done this for my cat many times so it's not neglect. I'm convinced his demise was because he couldn't lick (clean) under his own neck and I was too worn out :(

Original poster
SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 30/12/2010 23:49

it's made me paranoid what people have said though. i've just cleaned it with salty water and a towel and i can't see it properly but it seems open. also seems sore bless him Sad

wasn't easy even to wash it so lord knows how i'd manage to cut the fur away.

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