Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The litter tray

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

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Any vets here please?

65 replies

springbabydays · 22/06/2014 18:47

Bear with me I've not posted pictures before. Hope this works.

The poor cat from a few doors down has lost part of its tail. Must have had it shut in a door or something. I first noticed it on Tuesday and knocked on the neighbour's door to check they knew it had happened (which they did).

The cat was in my garden asleep today so I took a closer look - and got a photo too as I'm a bit worried.

Does this look like it has been treated?

The cat is also quite dehydrated. I don't want to ask the neighbours again if they're getting it sorted, but to my untrained eye it doesn't look right. Please tell me I'm wrong?

OP posts:

Xcountry · 22/06/2014 22:42

Not a vet but trained as a vet nurse, It's not the clearest photo in the world and it doesn't help that the cat is black but looks to be risking infection. Personally I would recommend a vet seen it. Even if just to clean up the wound a bit and prevent further infection until healed.

timtam23 · 22/06/2014 22:45

Poor little thing, the tail doesn't look right at all and he doesn't sound well. One of my cats once had an injured tail due to an abscess (presumably from a bite) and the vet said that tail injuries can become serious very quickly.

I really hope you can get it sorted out

Original poster

springbabydays · 22/06/2014 22:46

Thank you xcountry. I will be asking the question if they've already seen a vet of course but I suspect not (most of what I've read here has confirmed it for me).

I've had cats for over 30 years and thought I'd seen most things, but this one is a new one on me.

OP posts:

Original poster

springbabydays · 22/06/2014 22:47

Thank you timtam

OP posts:

hellymelly · 22/06/2014 22:50

I hope he is ok. He sounds as though he has an infection already, and is in pain. I agree this sort of thing can get serious very quickly.

timtam23 · 22/06/2014 22:56

If there is any way at all that you can get the cat to the vet first thing tomorrow, that might be better than waiting until the evening (I do realise that he is not your cat and you might have an awkward situation with the neighbours). Or does your vet have an out of hours service - could you ring them for a chat/advice tonight?

Original poster

springbabydays · 22/06/2014 23:01

No I won't be able to as I'm on crutches atm and relying on dp for transport who also has to get to work and get ds to nursery. It's rotten timing. But I'm hoping against hope that the rightful owners will get him to a vet before tomorrow evening.

I'm on very good terms with my vet but they don't have out of hours service any more. I'll ring them in the morning regardless.

Thanks for your support guys.

OP posts:

timtam23 · 22/06/2014 23:06

Oh poor you that does sound complicated - but it's very kind of you to think of the poor cat on top of everything else. Hopefully if you can speak to the neighbours they will realise that it could be really serious. Good luck tomorrow & keep us posted

Original poster

springbabydays · 23/06/2014 07:00

Thank you.

Rotten night's sleep. Too hot, and worrying about cat!

OP posts:

Original poster

springbabydays · 23/06/2014 09:04

The neighbours didn't answer when I knocked so I've called the RSPCA. They said someone should be out today. Feel terrible as I was hoping neighbours would have had the chance to sort it out themselves. Am close to tears worrying about this poor cat.

At least it's in hand now and hopefully something will be done sooner rather than later

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/06/2014 09:12

People can be very cold towards their own pets though, it's not happening to them so it's ok.

They just have no empathy.

Lets hope the RSPCA rescue him.

thecatneuterer · 23/06/2014 11:43

Well done. Did the RSPCA say they'd let you know when they've been?

Original poster

springbabydays · 23/06/2014 13:25

There will be an investigation so I'll hear the result of that in 28 days - but I can call in 48 hrs to see what's happened to date. If I see kitty this evening and nothing seems to have happened I'm not to panic! But of course I'll offer food water and snuggles

OP posts:

OwlCapone · 23/06/2014 16:31

Poor kitty :( Hopefully he'll be OK now.

hugoagogo · 23/06/2014 16:37

Poor little puss, let's hope he has been seen to today.

hellymelly · 23/06/2014 17:37

I hope he has some proper vet attention soon. Very distressing to read that someone would leave their pet in that state.

Original poster

springbabydays · 23/06/2014 19:18

Well no one has been and he's flaked out in my garden again. I checked and the wound looks just the same, no flies around it either. I've logged another call with the RSPCA to let them know he's a bit more lethargic and also to say they are welcome to access my garden if they need to when they do get here. The call centre couldn't tell me much except that the regional offices sort the priorities and they don't know when the visit will be. I'm peeved tbh. Was counting on it being today given my leap of faith this morning.

Tried water and raw chicken and he wasn't really interested. He did wander down to my back door and had a little wash, and his eyes are still bright. I don't know how to check for an infection, anyone got any ideas?

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 23/06/2014 19:26

I don't suppose you're in London are you?

OwlCapone · 23/06/2014 19:29

Would it smell if it is infected? One of my cats had an infected cat bite that reeked.

Original poster

springbabydays · 23/06/2014 19:31

Afraid not catneuterer

Can't smell anything obvious, and I had a gentle feel around the area and he didn't flinch away. Maybe it hasn't set in yet.

OP posts:

thecatneuterer · 23/06/2014 19:34

It's the lethargy and lack of interest in food that are particularly worrying. Have you tried knocking at the neighbours again?

Original poster

springbabydays · 23/06/2014 19:58

No I figure now I've gone down the RSPCA route I'll only complicate matters by interfering further. I'm hoping they'll have scheduled in a morning visit tomorrow. The chap I spoke to this morning seemed to think it would be a priority, but of course it's their busiest time of year.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/06/2014 20:17

It's so worrying isn't it?.

hellymelly · 23/06/2014 20:19

Can you not take him to the vet yourself? If the RSPCA knock at the neighbour's door and the cat isn't around then they will leave, they won't go hunting for him. He could die while waiting to be seen.

Original poster

springbabydays · 23/06/2014 20:42

I could helly but my vets won't be able to treat him without the owner's consent (unless it's an emergency I presume). Please don't worry about him dying, I won't let that happen. If he takes a turn for the worse I'll bang on neighbour's door again and insist on vet treatment. I'm checking on him regularly.

I asked the RSPCA about if they can't find the cat and they said they would check all gardens etc as not much point doing a visit without seeing the animal.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3