Cats been fighting!

[EvianBaby]

The cat rushed in this morning with a big gashnin his ear that was bleeding quite a lot. I tried to clean it up a little just with water while he was eating but he just won't let me.

Poor little thing, even came and snuggled on my lap for 20 minutes. I think that's the second time in 7 years he has actually sought out affection.

Is there anything else I should be trying to do about his ear? Not sure if its vet worthy or not.

[bensmum]

Hi evianbaby - try to keep his ear as clean as possible with warm slightly salty water (this is what my vet recommended after one of Dennis' many scraps!)). If you start to notice any swelling or if his ear feels hot to the touch then he may have an infection and you'd need to get him to a vet. While he is snuggled up with you try to feel if he has any more bites or scratches on him. Just watch him for the next day or two anyway. hope he's ok xx

[boxtops]

I'd take him to the vet anyway, he can have an antibiotic jab - cat bites can be notoriously nasty - and he might need a stitch.

[EvianBaby]

I've had to come to work so I'll see how he is when I get home.

I'll try and keep his ear clean but the majority of the time he won't let you touch him. Might have to purchase some really good treats today so I can try and get to him while he is pre-occupied.

[Batterseadog]

Any bite my cats ever got always turned into an abcesses which were nasty, gaping, smelly things so keep a very close eye. Poor thing but they do scrap over territory. One of mine even had a tear up with a young fox. Good luck

[julieblue65]

I would definitely take him to the vet for a course of antibiotics. As boxtops has said, cat bites can be nasty as their mouths are full of germs. I ended up in A & E once after one as my hand swole up like a balloon, even though I was on antiobiotics.

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Batterseadog. I did give the vet a quick ring a short while ago just to see if they thought he should come in. I'm a bit nervous because he's never had anything like this before, despite being in plenty of scraps. She pretty much just said the same about keeping it as clean as possible and to look out for swelling or if he goes off his food or becomes lethargic.

I actually nearly left him my mobile number when I left the house just so he could call me in case he started feeling poorly. Then I remembered he is a cat. And his phone has no credit :)

[ummmm]

My cat has a split in his ear. I didn't even notice until the other day and he spends most of his time following me about or sitting with me.

[EvianBaby]

I probably wouldn't have noticed if he didn't look so ravage when he ran in and if half his head wasn't covered in blood.

[ummmm]

Brian's fluffy so if he's been in a scrap he drops clumps of fur all over the place.

He's a friendly cat though...I don't think he realises other cats aren't!!

We have new neighbours who have one of those hairless cats, which I presume is an indoor cat, so Brian sits on their windowsill and they just look at each other.

[EvianBaby]

Lol. Wish my cat was that dosile.

When we moved to this house there was a couple of months of territory sorting, which he seemed to have claimed his own and all was fine.

But some people have moved in at the back and I'm wondering if they've got a cat that he's taken on. The clumps of hair in his mouth were black and the only black one I can think of is one that looks like it's about 100 and has been there ages. I don't think he could have inflicted Bailey with those inuries (had a smaller cut on his other ear) even if he wanted to.

[EvianBaby]

I've just had a thought.

Would saline eye wash be good?

I can pinch some tubes of it from the first aid box at work. It might be easier trying to squirt it around his ear than using wet cotton wool or something.

[ruthann58]

if you cant hold him to bathe him, post him down the sleeve of a coat with a cuff on till his head pops out the sleeve all scratching feet are contained all you have got to contend with is him biting you

[jomifl]

If it is any comfort cats are amazingly good healers. A local feral cat calls on us for food when he is visiting his 'lady' friend every 6 months or so. The last time he had been in a terrible scrap and half the skin was missing from his head. we couldn't do anything other than feed him until he disappeared after a few days, we thought to die. 2 weeks ago he turned up again for his duties, as right as rain, glossy coat and just a few more scars. Unbelievable.