How can I cheer up my cat?

[NastyOldBag]

He got in a fight last night and came out pretty badly - a cut face and base of tail. I’ve taken him to the vets who said he should be fine, cuts are clean and not too deep and just need me to keep an eye one them.

But he’s ever so sad. He’s sitting in a ball in the corner and face the wall. He won’t play with his toys, he’s barely touched his food. He will grudgingly come and sit on my lap but if try and stroke him he growls and runs away terrified.

Anything I should do? I’m trying to keep it quiet and confine him to a couple of rooms. He keeps crying if he realises I’ve left him though.

Just stay in the same room as him and talk to him as much as you can is my advice. He’s probably had a scare and is in pain, don’t approach him from the back or the side where he can’t see you, start talking as you approach him so he doesn’t get a shock. Re food just keep putting it out as normal and hopefully he’ll return to his routine, if not take it to where he’s sitting.
How old is he?

He's shaken up and a bit embarrassed. Thought he was a tough guy but got his ass whooped. He'll be fine once his injuries heal a bit and he starts forgetting, but he won't want to talk about that night ever again.

overnightangel he’s 14 months and I’m pretty sure this is his first fight. He normally goes out for a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the afternoon. For the last few days he’s been going out later and later as it’s still light then didn’t come home at all last night until I found him in the morning. I’m guessing he strayed onto someone else’s turf during their patrol and got his butt kicked. The vet said as he’s got a cut both in his face and his back that he must’ve tried to actually have the fight instead of running away, hopefully he won’t do that again.

alphajuliet I’ll never bring it up, I can see it’s just too raw at the moment. Hopefully in time, as the physical wounds heal, he’ll be able to tell me the about it. Or at least let me know which cat did it so I can give it evils when I see it.

Oh dear, the poor boy. He sounds very brave though. I’d wrap a fleece around him if he’s a blanket lover and serve his favourite foods.

Has he got painkillers? Watch out for infection.

The vet gave us some Metacam, she gave him a dose while we were there but I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to get in him without him savaging me.

I used to mix that with food, much easier.

Feliway diffusers so he feels he is in a happy safe place. Catnip if he is a catnip responding cat so he can just sit there and be a bit stoned.

He's probably v sore - watch out for him getting an infection if he doesn't like being touched.

I'd also suggest an urgent delivery of Snackies from Zooplus if he isn't eating much. Even at death's door, my cats will eat Snackies.

You can squirt the metacam on to food.

I usually put a little bit of wet food down when mine is hungry and squirt the dose onto it. New food only goes down once the dosed portion is eaten.

I understand it actually tastes ok to cats.

Our rabbits had the rabbit version of it (which is a different type to cats) and absolutely loved it. They gobbled it down in delight. It was aniseed flavour.

My boy got his ass kicked once. He was angry for about a day. Actually huffing! Then he forgot and was fine. Just be extra kind and offer him a soft warm blanket.

My boy goes out and gets scratched all of the time 'protecting his garden' from the world of neighbours cats and he always ends up worse off 🤦🏼‍♀️ I just make sure he gets lots of love and sympathy for a few hours whilst he gets over himself ❤️ plenty of love and affection cures everything!

He won’t stop pulling the scab off his tail cut so I’ve improvised and put a pair of ds2’s pants on him. I think it’s fairly safe to say this is the worst day of his life.

Well clearly the other cat was just jealous as he is gorgeous! Poor fella. Life is tough.

It does seem to make him leave it alone. He also thinks that whenever I put clothes on him (which probably happens more than it should) his back legs are unable to move. So he lies there for half an hour or so until he gets bored and I release him from his clothes prison.

He's gorgeous but does look a tad embarrassed.

Oh bless him and his pants! Am sure he'll be ok in a day or two.
Ours had a nasty fight when he was probably a similar age. He was a bit down in the dumps too. I cleaned the wounds I saw the we were out at a wedding all the next day but the night after I could smell the wound on his ear which I hadn't seen. Vet cleaned it up and antibiotic jab sorted him out but that smell I will not forget!!

He's a gorgeous cat. The other cat was jealous of his colouring.

It’s a harsh lesson learned though hopefully.

Hope he’s feeling better soon
One of my Dcat had a traumatic encounter with a large dog a few years ago and has kitty PTSD
We have to be very careful around her - hates change and no sudden movements
She’s not coping well with me WFH and having strange things like a desk and printer appear in her territory

How is he today?

He’s a lot better today thanks. He’s only willing to leave the house while we do and stays really close in the garden - pretty easy as dc’s and I have spent the whole day out there. I’ll be keeping him in at night for the foreseeable though.

His cut on his tail is mostly dry now. When he came in yesterday I thought someone had thrown water at him but then I touched it and discovered it was blood and pus . I think his fur will be patchy for a while but hopefully we’re passed the worst of it and I won’t have to put him in ds’s pants again.

@NastyOldBag Good idea, glad he's getting better!

Keep him in overnight forever, ours was run over at night and he was terrified of cars.

You’re lucky yours will allow to put clothes on him.

Mine won’t even tolerate a collar. Luckily she’s not really a fighter. She defended her territory and that was about it.

Now we have moved house, she refuses to go outside as she hasn’t got her territory anymore and doesn’t want to fight other cats for it.

Your poor boy is just being a typical Male and sulking cos he lost

Is he neutered op? Intact cats are much more likely to scrap.

Hope he perks up soon, he's a lovely looking cat.

He is the most gorgeous looking cat Nastyoldbag (even in DS2’s pants ). Glad he is feeling better today.