Advice about a scabby semi-feral cat, please

[WhereBeThatBlackbirdTo]

We have a semi-feral cat who decided to move in several years ago. She comes in to eat and sometimes sleeps for a while then goes back outside, spending the majority of the day and every night outside.

Yesterday I noticed she had a large bald patch on her back, it looked like a scab had been pulled off and left a pinkish 5p-piece sized patch. I assumed she'd been fighting. I left her because she was eating well and, well, she's semi-feral.

This morning she asked to come in and now has at least two dodgy patches and lots of goopy matter around her eyes. She is still demanding food and purring.

So - shall I try to take her to the vet (and pack the gauntlets!) or wait and see what develops? Any ideas what it could be? I have two other cats, one is very elderly and frail, and I don't want them to get anything if she is infectious.

She needs to go to the vets asap. That doesn't sound like something that will go away on it's own.

Has the cat ever seen a vet for fleas/worms/vaccinations?

No idea, but it might be worth mentioning to the vet that she is feral. Our vet doesn't charge for dealing with strays, and gets funding for neutering strays too.

I'm just back from walking the dog and she's washed her eyes and is sleeping in his basket, after eating a huge breakfast.

She's de-flead and wormed regularly, along with the others although I wondered yesterday if it was a flea allergy.

You're right. I'll have to contact the vet.

Wish me luck!

Good luck, it could well be flea allergy poor thing. Will she go in the cat carrier willingly?

I've never tried the cat basket - we've only just started to pick her up since she chose us about 4 years ago.

I was really hoping there would be some magic sparkly pixie dust I could sprinkle over her rather than visit the vet

Courage, WhereBe. Maybe it's a good idea to get her up there anyway to have her checked over - do you know if she's ever had her vaccinations?

Oh - and yes to warning the vet that she's semi-feral. She may indeed have special rates but even if not, at least she can have the gauntlets ready and waiting.

Appointment made for 2.20, I've warned them.

I've also said that if I don't make it on time I could well be at home, covered in blood!

Best of luck. Let us know how you get on.

Special rates yes, an additional charge for danger money! A cat you've had for 4 years is not a stray.

Sorry OP, I know you were not suggesting the vet should pay to treat your cat, but really....

I wouldn't expect the vet to treat her for free - as I said, she's semi-feral.

She comes and goes on her own terms but allows us to feed her and worry about her.

We're back from the vets - I only got two puncture wounds!

She's got mange, probably from the fox who hangs around the garden. I've got treatment for her and just-in-case treatment for the other animals.

The dog blankets are on a boil wash!

Make sure that you haven't got a quiet spot (such as an old outhouse or garage) that has eg blankets or something that could be contaminated. Many years ago, we had a potting shed that seems to have been used by all the local toms and our own cat picked up something, we think, from a pile of old sacks that they used to sleep on.

Thanks for that cozie, I'll send DH out if it ever stops raining.

And thanks to everyone saying take her to the vet. I must admit I was tempted to leave her for another day. I'm so glad I didn't, poor little thing