How to (successfully!) bandage/wrap a cats paw?

[HugoPhurst]

First, it's user ChristinaMarlowe, I can't change my stupid name back. I'm a moron, but not a Littertray newbie. Hope you all had a lovely Christmas 😻😽😺

So.. Our lovely big old boy got a splinter pre-Christmas, think it was the 13th, roughly. Came in the window as if he was lame, very scary and worrying. He wouldn't eat, huddled the way they do, poor, sad boy. Took him to the vet next day, she looked with a needle and couldn't find anything. Said he was very patient and that she had a good dig and cleaned it after, not to worry.
On the 26th he had a terrible looking paw, was fine the night before and next day a hole and baldness at the site (top of same paw, had been checking pads daily since splinter and all healed). Long story short, after looking at the pictures I sent them the nurse said the splinter had been in there, was pushed further in accidentally by well meaning vet and had abcsessed and emerged the other side, causing the horrific hole and subsequent hairless as he cleaned it.
She swore he was ok and better to not bring him in, simply clean it with salt water and cover it with a baby sock or bandage. Asked if I had a lampshade wotsit, I didn't.
Well... Was recovering but after talking to them again I was convinced to attempt to wrap it. Should have left it. Totally stressed him (and me!) and it was swollen and angry from him ripping off the tape and sock and so on. Felt like a cat beater. Poor boy. Was better again but today he has broken the skin, maybe as instinct from a pain or something, not sure. He's eating well and asides from being annoyed and depressed about being kept in, he is well. Will take him tomorrow but just wondering what one does if successfully bandaging a cats front leg? I feel like a total bastard, to be honest. Any tips for next time, or for if they refuse (again) to do it for me? To be fair they were obviously short staffed and didn't know how useless I am at such things. Thank you in advance and Happy New Year, Littertray!
(Sorry for typos, had to retreat to loo for a 2 second text window from tge kids, DH and cat with cabin fever!)

@Fluffycloudland77

Tbh human patients are pretty obsessed with savlon “I saw the red line last week so I put savlon on it” 🤦🏻‍♀️

So true!

@Veterinari the marks on the pads were a week prior to the top injury. Absolutely no upper marks at time of pad splinter. Fully examined by me and then vet and vet nurse. The upper mark was a full week later. Does look like a bite, though. I agree. Perhaps a coincidence that he had the initial splinter and could still have had a bite as a secondary later injury?

Thanks for your brilliant advice. To be fair, I nearly died when I read that Savlon can be highly toxic to cats....! SO glad it was an error! Still very cautious, though. The licking (absence of collar of shame) is the real problem but will get one at tomorrow's apt.

@Aahotep Aw, thank you so much for such a brilliant and detailed reply. I will ask for the kit they feel I need but will be getting such things for Stand-by in case of another incident. Eachus (real name Oscar Wilde but was a very itchy kitten thanks to his birth mother's home...! He is still our Eachus Good boy as the name stuck! (Longer than the mites, thankfully!) is a total coward around humans and cars - thankfully - but will take on any animal and has been wonderfully lucky to not have had many more injuries in his 3 years. I am always terrified the game keeper will throw him back over the wall one year when he sabotages another hunting season. He's a big, strong Tom too so hard to catch unless it's me, thankfully. Just feel so helpless cos he is such a loving and gentle boy ( unless you happen to have fur or wings... 😳).

@ClarasZoo Thank you! That would be a much easier option, although I would still manage to strangle him of suitably annoy him to no ends but yes, love the onesie idea. Our youngest DD is huge but still no match for our baby lion 🦁. He is so muscular and just BIG that only a cat version would fit, I think. He probably hates me now so will wait for tomorrow instead but great to know and thank you SO much for your reply. I really appreciate it!

@jumperweather Yes he is a dear old boy. Will now post proud cat mum pictures when I have finished replying, he really is gorgeous (if I do say so myself!) Big orange giant with the loudest purr in the world. I love him sooo much! Had cats all my life and he is the absolute best cat I ever had. I loved all my girls but this big boy is the total true love of my cat life. He is purrr-fect!

I agree it was a bit upsetting to not be seen by the vet but the practice owner (and vet) said she had so many real emergencies at the time and it wasn't possible to fit in a non-emergency case. She had just got back from putting down a horse she birthed years before and was audibly distressed and tired but still listened and was very compassionate and patient. Lovely woman. I have decided to take the tips I proffered in my misguided attempt at bribery to donate to the practice quietly tomorrow. Lesson learned and so sad for the owner of that beautiful horse.

It's just hard when you love your animals so much, I wasn't thinking sensibly but am less embarrassed due to the vet being very calm and obviously understanding my crazy cat woman behaviour. Thanks again for your lovely replies! (Unsolicited cat pics to follow!) 😻

@Ludo19 Yes I thought I heard of honey and have Manuka too but don't want to annoy him anymore now that I know he will be seen by the professionals tomorrow.
Thank you so much, though. Very reassuring and all great advice :) Thanks so much! I'm much calmer today. Talking to the vet/practice manager really put things in perspective. Will post a recent photo I took shortly, so grateful to all for your kind replies.

@Fluffycloudland77 Aww, thank you for the justification, I did go super tiger mom... I feel bad now but he's my fluffy boy! So glad for the Littertray and all the amazing people here.

Cat people are most definitely my people! Thank you all and in case I miss anyone, thank you ALL for your kind and caring replies and generously given time at a busy time of the year. You're all fabulous 😻😽👌

@TrainspottingWelsh Thank you! My Eachus is very cowardly of all humans except me and although he allows DH and DD1 to pick him up he just hangs there looking forlorn until they put him down. He won't lie on his back etc. without me near. I strongly believe someone kicked him (and/or his mother or siblings before he was rehomed) as he was so clingy and nervous as a baby one and never grew out of the fear. Can only compare to my other 3 cats over the years but seems odd for a big strong serial killer of a boy... Definitely won't need the leathers or gloves. He is so soft, that's why I feel so guilty. I tried to bandage it and made him so cross. He waited patiently til I put him down then tore the lot off and stalked into the corner to lick it furiously.
Thank you for your kind reply! Love this group.

Ok! Think I have now responded to each kind reply.

Now I will wait for tomorrow and update you all when I get him home.

For anyone interested, here is the picture of his paw this evening.

My boy Rollo is also a big ginger Tom. So sweet and cuddly but like a tiger when he is out defending our honour.
Our vet is amazing, she works alone and comes to the house because she hates the animals getting stressed at having to go to the vet practise. If they need surgery she has a shed in her
garden with a full operating room. She has been a lecturer at the university near us (I'm not in the UK) and I think she just looks after a few customers now, winding down to retirement.
She's a real cat lover as well and always tells me I should be her nurse.
Let us know how your boy gets on

@Aahotep Aw your vet sounds amazing! What a lovely human. I always wonder if it's my sister when people talk about amazing vets. Never met her (different Dad's) but I know she is called Jo, he husband is also a vet (Tim, maybe?) and she moved from her home in Cheshire to Cornwall to start her own practice. No further info as our Dad died a few years ago but hope is half as good as yours!
Your boy is a gorgeous big fella 😻 Cats are the best animals in my opinion. I love dogs and horses too, but cats.... Another league! They're fabulous. They don't care, either. Kings of the animal kingdom!
Very happy with my boys progress as of this morning, looks so much better that after all my drama I am waiting to see how it goes... He has hated staying indoors but that and the salt water has really done the trick! SO relieved! 😺😻 Thank you all again 💗

Yeah, she's a treasure. I dread her retirement!
Glad he's doing better, what a relief.
Cats are gorgeous creatures.

My cat was injured on Christmas eve 2023 by treading on the roof of a garden shed where the house's owner had bought and displayed an anti-fox device covered with nails. I have taken pictures of it in order to send this to the RSPCA for animal cruelty (British legislation dates back to 1849). It's cost us over £300 in vet fees and massive pain and stress to Casper.

Injury after 17 days