[HappyHippy]

Poor Mr Tumble (wee ginger tom kitten that appeared here just after Xmas) has come in today limping really badly.
His front paw is hanging limply from his 'knee' down and he's not weight bearing on it. He wouldn't let me near him earlier to examine it, but we've managed to get hold of him for a closer look and there's possibly a break and what looks like a definate bite mark.
I have a suspect in mind (it's not Boris cause the mark would have been waaaaaay bigger and Boris is scared of all the cats anyway  ) and hopefully the vet will confirm tomorrow whether it was a dog or not - but just to try and rule out possibilities - has anyone seen foxes attack cats ? Would a foxes jaw be about the same size as a small Jack Russel Terrier ?

[Fleecewife]

Sorry to hear about Mr Tumble HH     I hope he mends quickly.  If he has a puncture bite then he needs antibiotics today.  Check with the vet who will be able to tell you if any of the antibiotics you have in stock will be suitable, to give him today, before you get to the vet tomorrow.
I haven't seen a fox attack a cat but I've definitely seen a cat attack a fox and not come off worst.  Maybe that's what happened with Mr Tumble, but the fox bit back.
 
 

[Bionic]

I hope Mr Tumble is ok.     Give him an extra cuddle from me.

[HappyHippy]

Thanks Sally 

Juliet, I only have Alamycin here (it's not licenced for cats  ) do you think a spray of purple antibiotic spray would be enough ? I have that here.
Think I may just give the vets another wee phone 

[Fleecewife]

What did the vet say?  The trouble with a puncture wound is that bugs from the spike/teeth/whatever get injected deeply into the flesh so a surface clean or spray will not reach the depths.  Then the surface tends to heal over and the bugs are left deep inside and turn into an abscess.  Cats are particularly prone to abscesses caused in that way.
  for Mr Tumble 

[in the hills]

Hope he is okay. 


Watched one of my cats chasing a fox on one occasion. Fox showed no aggression. They both looked as though they were playing and enjoying it.


Have heard it said that a fox will kill and eat a cat in hard winter weather    but I'm not sure that is true.


They do seem prone to getting abscesses ..... mine have had many after fighting other mogs. Can you bathe and keep wounds open until you can get the antibiotics?

[luckylady]

Poor Mr Tumble.  Hope all goes well for him at the vets. 

[Mammyshaz]

Poor mr tumble 

My instinct would say cat bite causing a cat bite abscess. But without seeing the injury may be totally wrong. Is he neutered.

 Cat bite abscesses are very common in unneutered, often mistaken for broken legs due to pain and swelling. Still neutered cats can suffer if an unneutered cat is local 

Hope mr tumble is sorted quickly 

[SallyintNorth]

Best wishes for Mr Tumble 

It's not just unneutered toms who fight - I used to have the most beautiful black-and-white neutered boy who was a total pugilist.  Always scrapping and getting wounds and abcesses.  Vet gave me antibiotic pills to keep on hand in the end.  And used to get me to swill the wounds with salty water every day - "Really get in there and dig around", he'd say.

[Fleecewife]

You can irrigate a puncture/bite wound by squirting saline into it with a syringe without the needle - but I get the impression Mr Tumble wouldn't stay still long enough for that  .  As your vet says Sally - you really need to get in there and flush everything out, allowing the wound to heal from the bottom up.
Hoping he's ok and gets well soon 
 
ps love the idea of a cat who's a total pugilist, with his boxing gloves on, taking on all comers 

[jaykay]

That's what I was taught to do with saline Fleecewife, for a bite wound.

Helps if you can wrap the cat in a towel, with only the bit that needs attending to sticking out 

How's Mr T doing today?

[Fleecewife]

Cat wrapping is an art form 

[jaykay]

 

[SallyintNorth]

Cat wrapping is an art form 

Easy peasy:
http://laughingsquid.com/how-to-gift-wrap-a-cat/

[Bionic]

My cat wouldn't stand for that