vet tonight?

[gotthearse]

My ginger Tom has appeared in the lounge not looking himself, subdued cranky but mobile and purring when stroked. He is arching his tail downwards and the base looks like it might be swollen. He has very dense fur so its hard to tell. He doesn't want us to touch him and is all bitey if we try and look. Worried he's in pain/ill and we cant do anything for him. He's my only ever pet and never been ill before so I don't really know how bad they need to be before we rouse a vet. I am I over worrying? Is tomorrow 1st thing ok?

I would think tomorrow morning would be fine , but keep him indoors .

Sounds like it could be a cat bite abscess. They quite often get them on tail/bum area from being bitten by other cats when running away from them! It'll be sore. Def take him first thing to the vet.

Yes keep him in and don't give him anything to eat tonight or in morning in case vets keep him in if it is an abscess!

Absolutely sounds like an abscess and will wait till the morning. Don't give breakfast in case it needs to be lanced, but offer water right up until you goto the vets.
This would be the advice if you phone me out of hours.

Thank you everyone. The bite theory is likely - there is a new Tom on the block and they have been scrapping a lot. Vets first thing to get him fixed...

Actually I think the snow messes up the territories I have lost count of the number of abscesses I've seen this week and the bite would have happened 7 to 10 days ago.

temp 104 so had a shot of anti biotics and some anti inflammatory pain relief to go in his dinner. no wound to be seen so cant rule out a broken tail, but hes moving it so we'll see how he goes. just need some tasty food to tempt him now...

He should be feeling better soon. I have to say I have found only one wound recently. I think because of the the cold the bacteria are taking long to multiply to lump point so the wound is all healed up and gone by the time they get to me.

Ah thanks lonecat. He def looks a lot perkier tonight, tho still feeling sorry for himself. I wonder if a squirt from a water pistol will deter the new boy. Its been going on weeks, including one big cat flap kerfuffle in the middle of the night. He's also started dragging newspapers about in the kitchen in an attempt to bury his dinner bowl.

Ah - he's real anxious. Have you thought about a microchip catflap? They're more expensive but could give you and him much peace of mind.