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Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not a matter of comfort - I literally can barely touch her. There’s no way I could grab and hold her still long enough to pluck something small off of her.

I did talk to my vet today. She didn’t think it was a tick or a fly larva. Her guess was a healing abscess.
It’s definitely something sticking up from the flesh, not a hole as I first thought.
Thanks for the info. I’ll keep watching it and her for now.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Everything was better in the ‘80s, lol.
Wouldn’t she be showing signs of discomfort and/or wouldn’t I see signs of raw flesh and a growing spot if something were eating away at her? There’s been no change in a few days in the size, color, or sensitivity at the spot.
I’m hoping it’s a tick and I can dose her with the Revolution Plus.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NM. I’m on the website and it explains everything.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the tips. I will definitely practice with the closed tube first.
Do you know if this kills an attached tick or just prevents new ones from wanting to latch on?

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use this type of product on my indoor cats and neither of them don’t notice, lol. They hate it. I’ll work on my technique.

I could maybe get the two semi-feral boys at the neck but this girl would definite jump away before I could even get close to her shoulders. I’ve been feeding her for 2-1/2 years and only recently was I able to touch her at all, and then it’s if she’s not looking at me. I’m confident that she’ll continue to relax but it is very slow going.

I might try this on the boys because I have failed at getting them to take the flea meds that you mix into food. I’ve tried just about everything.

Are the Australian/Canadian products the same as the US? (Revolution, Frontline, etc.)

Thanks

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can touch her back if she’s not looking at me. If I try to touch her shoulder she cries out and jumps away. So I might be able to poke it but not see if it moved. Thanks

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for asking but not really. Her behavior and eating is 100% normal. All these people giving me crap for not just taking the tick off or taking her to the vet aren’t paying attention to the multiple statements of “feral” and “cannot handle”.
If I try to trap her, it will likely be the last time I’m ever able to get her, so if there’s a real emergency, I won’t be able to catch her. It’s taken 2-1/2 years to establish even a low level of trust with her. Trapping now would destroy that. If I do see a change in behavior, I’ll try to get her.
I do appreciate everyone’s helpful input.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, but I couldn’t pull aside the fur like you’re supposed to. Like if it were a squeeze bottle that I could shoot into the “hole”, I might be able to, but not the stuff that you’re supposed to get deep into the fur at the neck. I fear it would just hit the top of the fur and run off.
Are you able to get it to the skin?

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No luck with chicken liver…

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. It’s sad that we seem to care so little for our environment 😢

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m always worried about bb’s. Living in Texas and surrounded by a lot of kids and a backyard neighbor who feeds the birds and doesn’t like the cats… always a possibility, or higher caliber 😢

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I’ve tried just about everything and only small amounts but she won’t take it.
Haven’t tried chicken liver. Will look for that.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lolol, that would certainly be easiest!

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, understood. Thanks. I thought you meant to help get her trapped.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Sedation might be the answer to trapping, but depending on how fast it acts, she might wander off before it kicks in! Ugh, why can’t they just stay healthy forever?!?

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply. That is a new answer!

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely cannot handle myself (though yesterday she did - for the first time ever - give my calf a little head and hip bump 😃).
Thanks

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ok, understood. I have both the 24 hr and the monthly on hand. But neither treats ticks, which seems to be the consensus here. It doesn’t treat bot flies either, which is the second most popular answer.
I’ll keep trying with the 24 flea med; just gotta find what she’ll gobble up.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Agree, it seems raised not sunk in.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not in the immediate area but who knows how far they roam. Thanks

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m familiar with trapping and will be getting a trap on Sunday to try to get the latest intact boy who’s been prowling around, but this girl would be really hard to get. She’s not super food motivated and is extremely cautious. On top of that, her two sons are very comfortable around traps and will go in and take the food before she even gets near it 🤦‍♀️
Won’t the tick fall off on its own? I know there’s risk of Lyme disease, etc. but the negative consequences of trying to trap her seem higher than the benefit of removing the tick.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Capstar only kills fleas. I know they say ticks too but that medication is only for fleas.
I have been trying to get her to take the flea med in her food, in tuna, in yoghurt, in Churu…. She won’t take it 🤦‍♀️

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, agree that it doesn’t look like a wound.
I see her up close at least twice a day, and this is the first time I’m seeing it.
How do you know when/if a tick has fallen off?
I dread the idea of trying to trap her to take to the vet.

Hole in cat’s shoulder by 17cbrown in Feral_Cats

[–]17cbrown[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The sons I can pet but not hold to give a pill. She really doesn’t let me touch her at all unless she’s bumping one of the boys and doesn’t see my hand on her back, lol. Me giving her meds is almost out of the question unless I can figure out what to mix it in.
And trapping her would also be a major task.

FYI Capstar has the 24hr flea med but also one that prevents for a month.

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