Conference misery::feline_v1

    Don't want to frighten you - but I understand there is a rabies alert
    out for New England (espcially Massachusetts....I don't know where you
    live) so I would get him to the vet fast.
    
    Better to be safe than sorry!
    
    Just my 2 cents worth...
    
    Marilyn and Otis
    

    re: .1 - I agree. 
    
    Also, in a recent lecture on animal first aid at the MSPCA one of 
    the vets made a point of telling us that bites can be much more
    serious than they look.  The can involved torn muscle and punctured
    lungs etc.  I think you'd best fork out the $$ for the vet on 
    this one.
      Nancy DC
    

    I have to second .1's suggestion of bringing him to the vet.
    Treating him yourself may not be a good idea - especially if
    the antibiotics you have are no longer effective.  Most antibiotics
    lose their potency after a very short time.
    
    A long time ago, my cat Florence cut her belly by jumping out of
    a window (long story) and the cut she had went very deep.  She ended
    up having to stay at the vet's overnight, went on medication (2 kinds!)
    and I had to swab out her cut 3 times a day with a disinfectant
    solution.  To me, it looked like a small little cut that would heal
    all by itself - boy, was I wrong!
    
    Good luck and I hope your little one gets better soon.
    
    - Kathryn
    

    Also,  
    1. If it was a squirrel, you don't know what other types of disease 
    it may carry that could be transmitted to your cat.
    
    2. If it was another cat and not a squirrel there are other diseases
    that a cat can transmit to yours.
    
    3. Pennicillin (sp) may not be the best choice of antibiotic for this
    situation; It my not be a good drug for cats (e.g. Tylenol is lethal
    to cats); and it is a drug to which ALOT of people have severe
    allergies.  Do you know what to look for and what to do in a case
    like that.
    
    While I'm on the subject of cats and drugs - or animals and drugs in
    general - NEVER NEVER assume that a different species of animal is
    going to react the same way to a medication that a human being does.
    In some cases the animal may have a totally opposite reaction - wish
    I could remember which drug it is that causes a tranquilizing effect
    in humans and a stimulating effect in cats (the exact opposite) -
    and in others it can be lethal - e.g. asprin and tylenol.  Tylenol
    actually kills red blood cells in cats.
    
      Nancy
    

    Nancy,
    
    It may be valium that you're thinking of.  I had to give mine
    very tiny amounts of it back in February in order to stimulate
    her appetite.  I thought that was strange...
    
    - Kathryn
    

       He just had his rabie (sp) shot on Monday.  He should be ok as far
    as that goes.  Only the first layer of skin has been broken and I
    immediately put hydrogen proxide on it and neurosporin (sp).  It is not
    a deep wound.  As I said only the first layer of skin is broken and it
    is not bleeding.  It kind of looks like a scab will form.
    
       I'm not sure he was bitten, maybe I should have said he got
    scratched.  
    

    I would advise against using the penicillin without a vets approval. 
    Is this human penicillin or is it left over from a previous illness
    that the cat had?  Penicillin does not have a very long shelf life
    (especially the liquid form) so it's potency might be affected.  Also,
    it is not a broad spectrum antibiotic and therefore not affective
    against a lot of different bacteria.
    
    If you are dead set against a vet visit, my only suggestion would be to
    take his temp every day (to check for infection--infection can cause an
    elevated temp), and keep a close watch on the wounds, and his behavior.
    If he becomes listless, stops eating or drinking water, etc. and/or is
    running a fever, don't waste any time getting him to the vet.
    
    Also, a rabies vaccination does not guarantee that he will not get
    rabies if he was bitten by a rabid animal.  It will give a measure of
    protection though.  
    
    Jo

    I agree, this is something that should go to a vet--it
    may save you BIG bucks later on.  However, for scratches and 
    initial first aid for cuts, bites and scratches sponge the area with 
    hydrogen peroxide and treat with bacatracin (SP) if you've got it.  
    It will save a mint of money and trouble by helping to prevent an 
    abscess from forming.   
    
    Also be careful when examining the bite--it is possible to be infected
    with rabies yourself, if the bite is fresh and you have an open
    wound on your hand.  

    There have been two instances where I treated a wound myself without a
    vet's advice/supervision.
    
    One was when TK was still semi-feral and showed up at the door with a
    large abcess between his eyes.  I seized every opportunity he would let
    me get near him to wipe the affected area down with hydrogen peroxide. 
    He recovered and still has the scar.
    
    The second was when I was cutting matts off Kelsey and accidently cut a
    small hole in his skin.  It didn't bleed, was just a bit raw and boy
    did I feel guilty.  I used the hydrogen peroxide several times a day
    and kept a close eye on the wound.  It eventually scabbed over and
    healed.  Amazingly, Kelsey still lets me cut out his matts but I'm a
    heck of a lot more careful now!
    
    --R.
    

        I took him to the vet yesterday.  He said he was not bitten but
    looks like he got ripped by some bob-wire.  (there isn't any bob-wire
    around us, but it could have been a nail or something like that). 
    Any-way, he needed stitches since the cut was torn and ragged.  My
    neighbor had looked at him and said the same thing.  (she raises
    Siberians so I do value her opinion)  
    
        Well I had to leave him at the vet so he could get the stitches and
    I'll get him after work today.  Poor kitty......such an ordeal.  
    
        Thanks everyone for all your great advise.
    

    Glad to hear that Dandy is o.k. and that by stitching him up -
    everything will be back to normal.
    
    Vets can be expensive but somehow after I go there and actually talk to
    the Dr. (and get my questions answered) I feel so much better....and so 
    do my babies!
    
    Marilyn and Otis
    

    Dandy sounds like my Mocha. Mocha went out one morning and
    came back in with this gash on his side about 2" long. I 
    called the vet and took him in right away. They thought he
    had gotten hooked on a nail or a piece of metal under a car.
    
    I had to leave him as he already had his breakfast and they 
    stitched him up and the next morning I bought him home. He
    was no worse for the wear and it surely didn't slow him 
    down any.
    
    Glad Dandy was checked out by the vet, now you know he will
    be okay.
    
    Barbara & her 3M's

    
    Glad to  hear that Dandy is ok.  A good vet is worth
    his/her weight in diamonds!!