Help! Something's wrong with my cat!

[Rapunzel676]

My kitty Zoey (the one who escaped last month and got pregnant) was just spayed Tuesday. She seemed to be healing okay but tonight we noticed some large, hard, red swellings where her incision is, along with foul-smelling pus. The vet is closed, there's an Animal Emergency Center but we absolutely do not have, and cannot borrow, the money it costs to go there. I cleansed the incision with peroxide and put some antibiotic ointment on it, but it looked worse than ever when I was cleaning it--more pus and what looked like blood-tinged fluid seeping from it. It even appears that she's gotten some of the stitches out. I'm not even sure the vet is going to be open tomorrow. I don't know what to do; I love this cat and I am absolutely panicking that she's got an infection that might kill her! If anybody's got any advice please help! I am so terrified and worried--this cat is like a baby to me. :frown3:

[groovyguru]

That's what I would do, without a vet. Call Monay to whatever place is open and ask the, for advice & tell them you cannot afford to bring her in. Some places will take a post dated check because they love animals too. Probably just needs antibiotics. I hope she's okay.

A small amount of serum drainage is okay. The pus is not good though. Keep her quiet, with food & water.

[Karen_246]

Hope that things work out - it sounds like she does have an infection - maybe you can work something out with the vet, but she is going to have to go in to see the vet. Does the place that did it have an "emergency number" to call??? If so, I'd be calling them and letting them know what is going on with her.


Karen

[Rapunzel676]

Thank you guys for your responses! I called the vet as soon as he opened this morning and he said while it's probably nothing to worry about, I should bring her in tomorrow and have the stitches removed because they're probably part of the problem. (It will be a week tomorrow since her surgery.) She's acting fine--eating and drinking normally, wanting to play with the kitten, and such. Her nose is cool so I don't think she's running a fever. The vet said to just put some peroxide on her and keep her isolated. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. :worry:

[wrinklepup]

oh, I am so sorry to hear about your cat, I sure hope your cat is doing better, please keep us updated after you take her to the vet....has she been licking her belly? she's probably been chewing off her own stitches, Ouch!

[noelleray]

hope she heals soon!

[Rapunzel676]

Thank you all! She seems to be feeling okay, but she HAS been licking her belly a lot, which is probably why it got infected in the first place. Also she's very active, loves playing with my kitten, so I probably should have kept her isolated for longer than I did. I will let you guys know how she's doing after we see the vet tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed and send positive thoughts her way! Thanks! :gvibes:

[skpaw]

My dogs had to have the collar that keeps them from chewing stitches, it looks like an upside down lampshade. The did not like it but it did help keep them from bothering wounds. Ask the vet if kitty needs this. If you are putting medicine on the incision, keeping her from licking is important. Good luck at the vet.

[kbsocial]

Thank you all! She seems to be feeling okay, but she HAS been licking her belly a lot, which is probably why it got infected in the first place. Also she's very active, loves playing with my kitten, so I probably should have kept her isolated for longer than I did. I will let you guys know how she's doing after we see the vet tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed and send positive thoughts her way! Thanks! :gvibes:


Go spend some quality time girlie, she is going to be just fine :hugs::gvibes:

[Rapunzel676]

Just an update to let everyone who's interested know that Zoey got her stitches out today and the vet gave me some ointment to help heal the incision and keep her from licking it. He said because she had messed with the stitches she would probably have a scar. She seems fine, is very bored hanging out in the bedroom by herself. Last night I let the kitten visit her for a while and they both liked that. I'll probably let her out by the end of the week. Thanks again for your support--this was really scary for me, but I knew I could turn to you guys for help! :gvibes:

[wrinklepup]

I am so glad to hear that your cat is doing much better. Thanks for the update. I bet you feel so much better also now.... :)

[Ravzie]

Glad your kitty is doing better!!

[ignoramoose]

I'm so glad your kitty baby is doing better!! :gvibes:

[groovyguru]

Glad it is working out. You know if she got a small wound like that in nature she would probably be fine without any treatment. Of course its nice to be sure. Can you post a mommy & baby pic?

[Rapunzel676]

Thank you everyone! You're right, Groovy, it's funny how we worry about this stuff when in nature animals deal with wounds and such without any help from us whatsoever!

I wish I'd take a picture of her in the baby suit we bought to keep her from licking, but I didn't have a camera handy and she was humiliated enough as it was. The funniest part is, it didn't even fit her! It got a preemie size, thinking, Well, she's a cat, how big can she be? Boy was I wrong! She was just too darn fat for it!

Anyway, I'd love to get pics up of all my girls for the "Your Pets" thread but we don't have access to a digital camera. Maybe one of these days I'll just go to Kinko's or something and get some regular photos scanned.

Thanks again everybody! (Zoey says thanks too. She also says, when she can be bothered to speak, "I'm NOT fat; I'm fluffy!) :gvibes: :hugs: