A Limpy Update
WARNING: This is a powerfully disturbing post. No, Limpy is not dead. But, he’s gotten much, much worse. This post will be gross to read. Proceed at your own risk.
It has been a shocking day.
I woke, and went to the fenced yard to feed the cats. Limpy was not in his little house, but I was unconcerned as he often wanders off a bit to do his morning business. And, indeed, I found him about ten feet away in the tall grass.
Something though was wrong.
His neck looked wet. I glanced around, but it had not rained. So why was his neck so wet?
I soon had an answer. And was horrified.
Limpy had a dime-sized hole in the skin of his neck, and the hole was oozing a custard-colored liquid. It was all down his throat and upper chest.
I felt faint.
Limpy looked at me, and I swear he looked apologetic. “It’s OK.” I said with great gentleness. “It’s OK.”
Carefully, I picked him up, took him inside, and prepared a bath in the kitchen sink. He protested, of course, but not too much. Soon, he was wrapped his a towel, and I carefully patted him down. He seemed to like this.
It seemed a bit too cold to put him back outside, all damp, so I made him a new little house in my office, placed a heating pad inside, and gave him the keys to the front door. He settled right in. As I gently rubbed his back, he purred. For the first time! And his little front paws curled in pleasure! My eyes teared up!
After giving him some Fancy Feast (which he scarfed up), I went back to the yard.
Oh. WHAT was all that next to Limpy’s house? Then I took off the roof to the house. Yikes! More gross stuff.
From what I could tell, about a cup of custard liquid had come out from Limpy’s neck. The liquid looked like, well, watery pudding.
WTF?
I have had cats who develop huge ‘boils’ on their body in response to being bitten. This, hopefully, will express itself (explode) and while this is frightening to the extreme to witness, it is a good sign.
But what I saw today was nothing like this. Rather than the multicolored mess from an expressed wound, I only saw…pudding.
And there had been no ‘boil’. Or large lump. Or anything like that.
Later in the day I received another shock. After picking Limpy up, I felt liquid on my bare feet. Huh? Glancing down I about fainted. The liquid was pouring out of the hole in Limpy’s neck. In short, by holding him, I was squeezing the liquid out. FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!
So, the liquid was not contained in a boil or lump but rather was…just inside him. Somehow.
I cannot help but think this is connected to the damage to his legs. But how?
Well, he has now eaten twice today, and well. That is a good sign. His neck got another bath. He is still inside in his new, heated home. He will still purr as I stroke his back.
But, he seems to be falling apart.
I have experienced a great many thing over four decades of having cats. Today is a first. A horrifying first.
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Trip to the vet is in order, maybe?
Poor Limpy! That cat has sure been through the wringer, hasn’t he? I’m so glad he has you to watch over him. Whatever happens, it’s good to know he’s been taken care of by you as best as possible, Ross. Hang in there!
Oh, poor sweet Limpy. I am sending all my good juju to both of you.
So sorry to hear!
Poor Limpy and poor Ross!
This is so sad.
Sounds like an abscess is draining.
Where exactly is the location of the wound in his neck?
Abscessed jaw or parotid??
Poor Limpy. He’s been through so much, he’s eating so that’s a good thing. It does sound like a trip to the vet might be helpful. Prayers for you and Limpy.
Here’s the deal. It’s probably the result if an infected cat bite. This resource explains it well. So sorry. All my babies have been cats and dogs. Love them gently.
https://pets.thenest.com/cats-abscess-oozing-yellow-goo-9817.html
Geez, I think I would take him to the vet and get some antibiotics.
Hi, Debbie.
If a cat has a bite wound which has expressed itself, vets do nothing as the cat will self heal.
And a vet trip freaks a cat out. As fragile as Limpy is, this could cause additional issues.
So, I will talk with my vet tomorrow. I do not think the injury IS a bite wound, and hope the vet can offer some elucidation.
It’s an abscess. Likely he was attacked by an animal, likely another cat. Could be something grabbed him by the neck and bit him.
As gross as it is, squeeze as much out as you can. Then take a syringe like you use to give oral medicine to a cat or dog and fill it with peroxide and flush out the wound. Do this over and over until it runs clear. Then apply some Neosporin. Don’t bandage it, let it drain. Keep the area clean. I doubt he’ll let you shave his neck but that would be good. In fact, if you managed to shave all around his neck and back you might find more puncture wounds. Check the wound daily and repeat if necessary. This is what Dr. Pol does.
If you can afford it, take Limpy to the vet and show him the abscess. (likely it grew and then burst and that is the dime-size hole.) That may not be the only hole. There may be other ones with smaller abscesses that are still growing. It’s important they all be found and treated as it is an infection that could spread. An abscess could kill Limpy if left untreated. I suspect he was feeling so awful that he crawled away into the grass to die. That’s what animals do when they feel sick enough they think they’re going to die.
Poor Limpy.
If you can’t afford the vet, flush with peroxide (use a turkey baster if you have no syringe for oral medicine), keep him inside and feed him that good food. Keep him warm.
You should keep a big bottle of peroxide in the house anyway. I had to use it twice on Diana pawPrints to make her vomit when she got into something she should not have eaten. She was a puppy and she did it twice. Use an oral syringe to make her swallow it. A few minutes later and she vomited and was fine.
I also keep a big bottle in case of skunking. It’s part of the home-made solution that is the only effective de-skunker. Peroxide, baking soda and DAWN. But it can only be mixed at the last minute and applied.
I think the only relation to his legs is that he can’t move fast enough if someone is after him. He’s an easy target. If there is no hope for healing at least one of those legs well enough for him to move, I think he should be an indoor cat from now on. It may not have been another cat picking on him. He might have been the target of a dog or even a large raptor. That could be a puncture from a claw. There may be more. He really should be checked by a vet.
Definitely do this. It’s messy and very smelly, but it works. I’ve done it more times than I care to count and each cat survived the experience. The human still has scars, but kept the cat(s).
You are a wonderful human being.
Please call the vet, I beg you. I had my best beloved cat Zorro for only about 12 years. He was mostly inside but loved to go out. Several times his forehead would swell and the vet lanced it and gave him a shot. Broke my heart. And he was healthier than Limpy. I know cost is always a consideration, but…. Thank you for all you do for your furry babies. 🙂