Mangy Hurricane Cat

[andyti]

Hi, I have a question about a cat who came to my house to wait out the hurricane. (Hurricane Frances in 2004)

She has a bad skin problem so although she wants to be petted a lot, it is kind of gross. I have been trying to clean her up by brushing with a bristle brush, trimming hair away from the really bad parts, shampooing and rinsing, and putting on a mix of neosporin and a tiny amount of benzoyl peroxide. I would take her to the vet but we are about 1 hour away from having a hurricane that's supposed to last close to 3 days. This cat seems to have no intention of going outside until the storm is over and I think she really needs a better home than wherever she came from. So, I would like to clean her up in the mean time while I cant get to a vet for whatever meds might be needed. Do my methods seem like they would work? Clipping, bathing, brushing, antibiotic/peroxide?
It doesnt look TOO bad but it is flaky and occasionally weepy. The weepyness seems to be subsiding after making attemts to clean her tail area.
Here's a link to a photo of the worst part (http://s87939526.onlinehome.us/hurricaneCat.htm). BTW as you see in the photo, she has a Very short tail. Also, it looks better than that now. I have been working on cleaning it more....


Thanks for your input!

[Furbaby Mom]

First of all, you are wonderful for taking this poor girl in your home!

It looks like a serious case of allergies, perhaps flea bite dermititus? I had a tortie that has that problem and I have to keep her on Advantage all thru the flea season, and even then, the occassional flea bite would cause this with her. Of course pics are hard to judge, and it could be other things like ringworm, but it looks more like allergies to me than anything.

I suggest that if you have other cats, try to keep her isolated in a small area for the time being until you can get her to a vet. If it is something contagious, you don't want it all over your house. If you have a blacklight, shine it on her and ringworm will flouresce in about 50% of the cases. The only way to really confirm ringworm is a skin scraping by a vet.

For treating her, avoid anything with alcohol and I would avoid peroxide. Neosporin in small amounts is OK (spread it thin). Bathing might help, but use ultra mild shampoos on her - something with oatmeal in it might soothe it a bit. It has to be hurting her!

You want to get it under control, let it scab over and heal totally, and then the scabs will flake off on their own. If you use a brush, use a soft one for now - the wire ones might actually hurt her, and if it is scabbing, you don't want to force the scabs off.

Also, make sure she is drinking lots of water. Skin problems can get infected and if she has a fever, you want to keep her hydrated. If she likes to play, drop an ice cube in her bowl of water - most cats are fascinated by them and might make her drink. The vet may put her on antibiotics and steroids when he/she sees her.

Hang tight - I hope the hurricane passes around you and you are safe and sound!

['too crazy]

Thank you soooo much for taking this kitty in and for trying to help her. You just got the best advice I could give but I do want to stress to keep her away from an animals you may have until you know for sure what she has or doesn't have (for example feline lukiemia) Hope you stay safe during the storm. Where abouts are you located? Let us know that your safe and keep us updated on the kitty's health!

[andyti]

Thanks for all of the advice Furbaby Mom! Frances doesn't have a single flea on her. It does look like she has had though. She has small 1/8" scab/flakes all over her body. They all seem dry and almost ready to flake off. Brushing gently with a hog bristle brush is working to remove the loosest flakes. The area near her tail is the worst but is looking much better after shaving and cleaning. Most of the dry, yellowish flakes fell right off. Only a small area is wet.

She is drinking a lot of water and has a good appetite. She is using the catbox.

Thanks again!

Andrew

[andyti]

Do you think I could catch a skin problem from her?

[Furbaby Mom]

If she has ringworm, it is contagious to humans. If you are concerned, wear long sleeves if you can handle it in the heat, wash yourself very well after handling her. My husband got ringworm from one of our cats once and used Ting to get rid of it - I believe it is an anti-fungal cream used to treat jock-itch.

[Furbaby Mom]

Francis doesn't have a single flea on her. It does look like she has had though.
:p Francis, is it? Then you are keeping her? :D Seriously, if you have other cats, when you do take her to the vet, ask for them to run a FeLV/FIV test on her to make sure she is healthy. Has nothing to do with her skin problems, but both are viruses that are contagious to other cats.

[my_cat_sissy]

I hope you guys made it through the hurricane safely. You were sweet to take in your new kitty. Best wishes with her.

[andyti]

Thanks for your encouragement everyone! Frances and I have cleared the major part of this storm and are safe and sound. She's really cleaning up nicely! I just hope that she will want to stay after the storm is completely over. She will go outside for just a minute or two and then straight back in. I would prefer to keep her as an indoor cat for health and safety.

[horsefeather]

after finding shelter from a nasty hurricane and getting all the food and water you can suck down, and getting all those itchy scabs and scrapes cleaned up and attention and ear scratching, i dont know about frances but i certainly wouldnt want to go back outside..ever.

['too crazy]

Maybe try keeping her inside and if she insists, try a leash. It's not as easy as with a dog but it can be done. I bet she's thinking 'I hope he knows I'm not leaving!' :D Cute name by the way. You and her both have hurricane names. ;)

[andyti]

050921- Well, Frances has been with me a year. Mostly, as she is now, on my lap. She is the sweetest cat I have ever known. It has taken almost a full year but she has no recurring skin issues (scabs) now! She did have ringworm and a couple of other skin problems. A year ago, shortly after I got her, the vet gave her a pill to treat all types of worms and mites (internal and external) all at the same time. It cost $8 per pill but was well worth it. She had a yeast infection in her ears and we used Zymox to clear that up. She was on Advantage for about 6 months but is off for the past six and doesn't seem to need it. She is completely back to health and has the finest softest fur. She does have joint and bone problems in her lower-back and rear legs due to some sort of accident before she came here. (Hence the stub tail.) Her rear legs were hurting so much, she couldn't sit down a year ago. I have been giving her Cosequin for cats and this seems to make her much more able to get around freely. She has been completely indoor since about the second month of being here and is perfectly happy with this arrangement.

[Cat&Dog mom]

Bless your heart, i'm so glad Frances found you and that you were able to keep her and help her. It sounds like she has made a wonderful recovery and has alot of love to give ((((HUGS)))) for you and Frances. I would love to see a pic of her.

[andyti]

Here is a (fairly new) photo of Frances from a few months ago. (I have taken more recent photos but I am a really bad photographer.) She was indoor-outdoor at the time (due to her wanting to go out.) She no longer wants to go outside. She is feeling safe and happy here :) I am glad because I know that she is much better off indoors than out. This photo was taken before her fur had grown back fully but she looks great compared to when she came to my house. She is even better now. Definitely the softest fur Ever! Beautiful shiny coat. She looks a little mad in the photo but I assure you she is very content. She has "flat" upper eyelids. She purrs constantly. So much so that the vet has only once been able to listen to her heart through a stethoscope. (He gave her a little sniff of alcohol and she stopped purring for about 10 seconds.) So loving and kind. You can see she has no tail and this is her typical lying-down position. Her rear legs are always straight out. I think they still hurt a bit. She can sit down now and can jump up on to the couch! (I still have courtesy steps for her to get on the couch and bed.) BTW, she did have ringworm which did glow under a blacklight (thanks Furbaby Mom!)

Wow! after over 2000 posts "Cat&Dog mom" and "'too crazy" are only "Diamonds in the rough" according to this board? I should think that you are the Hope diamonds by now! Thank you for helping us all!

P.S. horsefeather, I love the quote "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." I agree.

[kittykeeper]

This is my 1st post here. Hi everyone. This reminded me that my Patches is a year old this month. She too was a Frances kitty. She was very young I would guess about 8 weeks and got her self stuck up in a palm tree the day after Frances. I had been feeding her for 2 weeks after she got sep from her cat family, but had not been ableto catch her. The day after Frances I couldn't find her, I called and called. I went back and forth to where she was all day, finally in the afternoon I heard this pitiful meow, but I could not figure where it was coming from. I don't know what made me look up, but there she was 30 feet up. It was some job getting her out of the tree, finally a pool net did the trick. She's been a great kitty and wears her name well. I'll have to buy her a new collar for her b'day. I have 17 inside cats and 4 outside, 4 dogs, 6 birds and a hamster.

[Squawksx3]

Wow andyti!... this is so wonderful that you have come back a year later for an update!. Frances looks great and is so beautiful!. Im so happy everything worked out for both of you. You are an angel.... and appearantly, Francis knew that when she went to your house;) . Bless your heart and big hugs to the both of you.



Hi kittykeeper and welcome:)
Another rescue angel!. Im so glad everything worked out for you and Patches. Poor little thing must've been terrified up in that tree. Thank you for being there for her. Your family sounds wonderful and we're so glad you joined our pet loving family.

[PatchO'Pits]

This is my 1st post here. Hi everyone. This reminded me that my Patches is a year old this month. She too was a Frances kitty. She was very young I would guess about 8 weeks and got her self stuck up in a palm tree the day after Frances. I had been feeding her for 2 weeks after she got sep from her cat family, but had not been ableto catch her. The day after Frances I couldn't find her, I called and called. I went back and forth to where she was all day, finally in the afternoon I heard this pitiful meow, but I could not figure where it was coming from. I don't know what made me look up, but there she was 30 feet up. It was some job getting her out of the tree, finally a pool net did the trick. She's been a great kitty and wears her name well. I'll have to buy her a new collar for her b'day. I have 17 inside cats and 4 outside, 4 dogs, 6 birds and a hamster. Wow you must have tons of space . tons of time to work with them and even more so TONS OF unconditional Love!!!! Happy Birthday Patches

[PatchO'Pits]

Here is a (fairly new) photo of Frances from a few months ago. (I have taken more recent photos but I am a really bad photographer.) She was indoor-outdoor at the time (due to her wanting to go out.) She no longer wants to go outside. She is feeling safe and happy here :) I am glad because I know that she is much better off indoors than out. This photo was taken before her fur had grown back fully but she looks great compared to when she came to my house. She is even better now. Definitely the softest fur Ever! Beautiful shiny coat. She looks a little mad in the photo but I assure you she is very content. She has "flat" upper eyelids. She purrs constantly. So much so that the vet has only once been able to listen to her heart through a stethoscope. (He gave her a little sniff of alcohol and she stopped purring for about 10 seconds.) So loving and kind. You can see she has no tail and this is her typical lying-down position. Her rear legs are always straight out. I think they still hurt a bit. She can sit down now and can jump up on to the couch! (I still have courtesy steps for her to get on the couch and bed.) BTW, she did have ringworm which did glow under a blacklight (thanks Furbaby Mom!)

Wow! after over 2000 posts "Cat&Dog mom" and "'too crazy" are only "Diamonds in the rough" according to this board? I should think that you are the Hope diamonds by now! Thank you for helping us all!

P.S. horsefeather, I love the quote "Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." I agree.


Wow what a great story! Congrats and keep on lovin' her! What a great kitty

[Magnum]

This is truly a wonderful story! Frances is so blessed to have found you. I did not see the original post until now and was bewildered at first, then I read the date. Wow, it's been a year!! Thanks so much for coming back and posting her update! Andyti, you are such a wonderful person, and an angel for giving Frances a loving home.

[kittykeeper]

Wow you must have tons of space . tons of time to work with them and even more so TONS OF unconditional Love!!!! Happy Birthday Patches

Got the tons of love :) Thankfully except for the birds they all came 1 at a time. You don't seem to notice the increase with "just one more". I have a normal size 3 bedroom home and a job I am able to work from home. All the kitties were rescues, the hamster was found by 1 of the cats, 3 of the dogs were rescues. 1 of the birds (keet) found me at a park and on and on. I love them all and spend a ton of $$$ on them. I just can't walk away from an animal that is hungry or in need. My husband helps me a lot with the care of them. He understands it's just me and I wouldn't be happy any other way.:rolleyes:

[dlaura]

andyti -- This is the first I have seen this thread and began reading thinking it was the current year. Further down realizing that it is a year later and that you came back to update us really touched me. God Bless you for being Frances' angel and loving her back to health & happiness. What a great story! I hope you continue to visit us here on PL and post pictures and more stories about Frances and yourself.

kittykeeper -- God Bless you also for rescuing animals and loving them back to health. Welcome to Petlovers -- I know you will be right at home here.

[lbdiller]

Hi Andyti,
I haven't been on too long. I love Frances. She reminds me of my little Casper. They look so much a like. I'm glad your story had a happy ending. Frances is a lucky girl to have you!
Lori

[andyti]

Now, 2/14/06 Frances is recovering from being itchy and having another batch of small scabs on her lower-back and near her tail. I got some Amoxycillin from the Vet and after 2 weeks her skin has cleared up considerably. Was afriad it might be ringworm again.

Furbaby Mom wrote "It looks like a serious case of allergies, perhaps flea bite dermititus? I had a tortie that has that problem and I have to keep her on Advantage all thru the flea season, and even then, the occassional flea bite would cause this with her."

Seems like the same situation with Frances. I have never seen a flea on her or anywhere in the house. She doesn't go outside and I haven't been bitten. I might have brought one in. All it takes is one though...

I have had her off of flea treatment for about 6 months. I plan to keep her on (something) from now on. I got a 6 month supply of Revolution at the Vet's suggestion.

[andyti]

Frances is doing super well! She is on Revolution now and I will keep her on it. I don't want to have the risk of scabbing/flea bite dermititus again. She deserves to be comfy and itch free. She has been itch and scab free since 3/14/06.

Still on Cosequin although not as frequently now. She seems to have no more joint pain.

She did have a urinary tract infection a couple months ago. What a scare that was! Was afraid she may have bladder stones. She lost a bit of weight but now is back to normal. Xrays proved to show no stones thankfully!

Thanks again to all who have replied and for all of your support!

[marg]

Andyti, what an awesome story. You are a true lover of animals. I'm so glad to hear that Frances is well. I had never seen this thread before today and am glad I did.