Cat health question

[Flaxbee]

OK, cat people, I need a little advice. I've recently moved to NCarolina and have noticed a sweet tuxedo cat roaming around outside; today was the first day I could get out there with food. I was expecting him to flee (I think it's a "he" but can't tell for sure yet) but he came up to me and ate most of the dry and all of the moist food I put out for him, and he let me pet him. The trouble is, he had what looked like dried mucousy blood from his nose to his mouth (it could have been wet, but it wasn't running or dripping blood, it looked more like a kid with a runny nose) and he was definitely wheezing as he ate and meowed. So, he's sick. And I'm going to catch him as soon as I can and get him to the vet's for a check up and a neuter or spay if he/she is healthy (he was gone by the time I got back out there with a makeshift kitty carrier; if he's ill and infectious I don't want him in my other cats' regular carrier). I will get him, soon, I hope, and will take him to the vet for care or euthanasia if he's very ill.

But, my question is, what do you think he might have? Can you place those symptoms, or could it be almost anything?

Thanks - I can't monitor this thread closely b/c of work but will check back in periodically. I appreciate it!

[molly]

1. It sounds more like someone kicked him or hit him

than anything contagious. If he were really sick, he would not eat. He can obviously smell because he ate - if they can't smell, they won't even drink water.

[Flaxbee]

4. hadn't thought of that...

but he was moving OK, and responded to being petted in a good way ... so he didn't seem to be in a lot of pain or unable to move (I guess at least he's not been hit, or hit badly, by a car or person).

His eyes weren't runny, though, now that I think about it.

Hmmm.

Either way, I'm gonna catch his little black-and-white bootie and get him to the vet!

[sui generis]

2. does the cat come in contact with farm animals?

they can get a respiratory "barnyard" infection from cattle that can be deadly, but is easily treatable with antibiotics. Anything that can make mucous bloody can also cause scarring which can lead to easier infections later.

Best advice: get the kitty to a vet, have it neutered and give it "bed rest" for a few days of observation and healing. I have one who decided after a year of being an outside cat that she really likes it inside. When she goes out now, the back yard is her territory so she doesn't wander off and I don't have to worry about her.

[Flaxbee]

5. I don't think so, it's pretty residential here and we're very close to

a river. There is a cattle farm but it's about 2 miles, at least, away, though. I know cats roam far and wide, but don't know if he'd get there regularly.

I have two other cats, neither of whom are terribly friendly (if tuxedo boy is a male, my male tabby, though neutered, wouldn't be happy and my female calico is insanely territorial) but I am a complete and utter sucker so I'd probably adopt him as an outside kitty ...

[skygazer]

3. Good for you for wanting to help him

With the wheezing, it sounds like a respiratory infection which may indicate feline leukemia or something similar. Hopefully just an infection but I don't like the blood aspect.

The fact that he does have an appetite is encouraging.

[mike_c]

6. thanks for helping this cat....

If he allows himself to be handled he's likely an abandoned pet or at least a neglected one. Can you take him to a vet? Call around-- many vets will examine an abandoned animal free or low charge. At the very least he sounds like he needs antibiotics, perhaps treatment for a facial injury, and blood/stool tests for feline leukemia/HIV and parasites.

[Kookaburra]

7. Sounds like he's been kicked or hit

Thank you Flaxbee for taking care of this kitty. He'll be your friend for a long long time. I know. My little Fleabag just showed up at my house one day -- beaten up pretty badly. But he ate, and he purred, and he let me take him to the vet for treatment. That was 15 years ago, and he still eats and purrs and goes to the vet when he needs to. Keep us updated.

[Flaxbee]

9. poor little guy.... I hope no one's abused him.

he's trusting, so hopefully if he was kicked it was a one-time-only experience.

I'll definitely keep everyone posted; thanks for all the replies. I think he's gone for the day, but I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for him and catch him when I can. I don't think it'll be hard... I've caught a feral cat or two in my time and they were tough, but this little guy seems like a love.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Ah.. be careful of feline leukemia since you have other cats.

We lost one to it. It was dreadful.

-----------------------------------
Would Jesus love a liberal? You bet!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/

[Flaxbee]

10. kick for enening cat people!

n/t

[jukes]

11. cd be many things

quite possibly feline herpes virus, which is infexious but treatable. FHV is not curable, so you do want to segregate him. it wd be safe to sequester him in your household, because a *serious* exchange of body fluids is necessary for it to be a problem, & your cats are prbly immunized.

it cd be minor, but he needs to get to the vet really quick. if he ate that hungrily whilst having sinus condition, he might be seriously malnourished; combined w/exposure, if he's a recently abandoned stray used to shelter, he cd be in trouble.


BTW, washing your carrier out w/ a med/strong bleach solution will kill almost any pathogens & the "almost" is a weak modifier in this case. it's a good idea even if you have to Xport 1 of your own sick cats to wash w/same after.

on edit:
i noticed several thinking that he'd been struck due to bleeding; cd be, but that's not nec so. a serious sinus infexion will frequently admix blood in the mucus, just like it can w/ a human. if he hasn't licked it clean, it's a sign of infexion rather than injury, imo.

[Flaxbee]

13. he didn't look emaciated, though...

I've seen him around the last few weeks, just wasn't able to approach him before (well, the last time I tried he was gone by the time I got my shoes on and got outside)... And when I went to check to bowl earlier today, he had definitely eaten all of the moist food, but left about half of the kibbles (tho a few nights a week I've been putting the food my cats shun during the day out every night for whomever happens to wander by; he could very well have been eating some of that over the last few weeks).

at least here in NC where I live it doesn't get too cold at night (low 30's) and there is a lot of tall grass he can nestle in and several raised buildings (about 1 ft off the ground) where he can get shelter... I used to live in Virginia where it's horribly cold now, but here it's much more mild. I'll grab him as soon as I can, but at least he's not in danger of freezing (tho if sick he'll be compromised).

and his nose reminded me very much of a toddler's runny nose... it was not liquid blood, much more viscous so it seemed to me as well that it was from illness, not impact.

I hope he comes back tomorrow so I can check on him. Thanks for the input, I'll post again when I have news of him.

edited for clarity

[jukes]

12. kick for more P.M. crowd

:kick: