BiteyCat has been in the wars

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

Instead of strutting in, he slunk in and we quickly spotted a scratch under his eye/on his nose. Difficult to get near him yesterday but managed to wipe it with cotton wool soaked in boiled water and then spotted a wet bit of his head that I assume is another wound. He seemed perkier last night and hadn't lost his appetite but this morning I offered him a bit of ham from the packed lunches I was making and when he went he eat it, he immediately jumped back and hissed, then hunched up away from it, so clearly his mouth hurts too. He is now hiding under a chair glaring at me as it's clearly my fault so I'm leaving him be while making sympathetic noises in his general direction.

I need to take him to the vet to get checked over but I'm at a loss to know how I'll get him there. We've been working on him accepting being picked up occasionally in the 18 months he's been with us (with mixed results, although general improvement) but he is still occasionally bitey and scratchy so I don't fancy my chances picking him up when he's sore, and my usual strategy of tempting into the cat basket with treats won't work if his mouth hurts too much to eat them. Anyone who has experience of transporting strays or bitey/scratchy pets got any suggestions?

I put mine in the ensuite, smallest room we've got, take the door off the box & corner him so he has to get in then I put the door back on because when he gets in he turns around so it gives you a second to get sorted.

Sounds like a bad fight.

Does he like Catnip? Maybe a soft toy covered in that might tempt him into the carrier.

Take a thick towel, your OH or a friend and a pair of ovenglove gauntlets. Put box on its end with the door open, corner the cat and pick up with ovengloves. Get other person to wrap the rear end quickly in the towel, and shove rear-first into the catbox. Drop the lot in, towel and all. Shut quickly.

Or, if you're me at vet booster time, get DH to do all of this and go and catch the other more compliant cat.

Thanks, both. I'll try your idea of the catnip first @Allergictoironing as I think I'd rather tempt than force, iyswim, but it may come to that. I do think it must have been a bad one as he's a big tough ex stray who looks like he's no stranger to trouble (judging by the old scars on his nose and the way he snores). I am also a bit worried the vet won't be able to examine him if he's feeling like this. I may invest in some long gardening gloves before I take him.

Missed your reply @moonbells while I was typing. DH won't even pick BiteyCat up when he's in a good mood, so don't think he's going to be much help! (he's at work anyway). To be fair, he has been bitten quite badly before so I understand his caution. I do have a catloving neighbour I might ask for assistance. I just want to avoid stressing him out more than he is already, even if it is for his own good.

Might the vet not have protective gear you can borrow to catch him?

We'll see how I get on trying this first - it's open surgery tonight which means the pressure is off to get there for a particular time at least. Thanks moonbells.

Well, after all that he walked straight into the carrier without as much as a promise of a bribe. Vet has checked him over, couldn't find anything wrong with his mouth, but the wound on his head was good and pus-filled so he got antibiotics and anti inflammatories (injections thankfully - no pills!) and instructions to clean it twice a day (that will be interesting!) But he's definitely feeling the worse for wear, has slunk off under the bed now. I hope he starts to feel better soon - even though I know it's his own fault for being a fighty thug I do feel sorry for him.

Aw poor Biteycat . Usually takes a lot before they show you they hurt so it must have been really painful for him.

oh poor Biteycat. He must be feeling bad if he went in by himself. Obviously he knows he needs a vet...