stray cat with a swolen lip

[sally429]

Yesterday I was sitting with some friends at a table outside a local fast food joint and a cat just poped up in my lap. I tried to shoo it away because I figured it was an outdoor cat but it kept jumping back up. Then I noticed she was declawed and very thin. My boyfriend had seen a flier for a similar looking lost cat (it was not there anymore when we checked of course) so i took it home with me. Particularly since she was defenseless (no claws) and hungry. After a meal and some attention she was very playful and made herself right at home. The problem is, this morning I noticed that she has a swolen upper lip, the entire thing is puffed out pretty big. I looked at it, and she didn't seem to mind me touching it, but there were no obvious sores but the skin in the front part of the lip (where most of the swelling is) is a little yellowish. I saw blood on her paw this afternoon, and there were no cuts so i am assuming it is from her mouth because there was a tiny bit on her chin as well. I don't think that this could have happened overnight, it was probably there when I found her and I just did not notice.It was pretty late and after I was satisfied that she would be okay I went out for the evening, so I did not get a really good look at her. The only thing I can think of is that I killed a black widow about a week ago on my front door. I don't think I can get her to a vet, I went and bounced a check for some cat supplies as it is and I certainly cannot afford a vet bill. I think it is most likely from a fight or something, is there anything that I could treat it with affordably that is safe for cats. I don't think it is absessed yet but it could be heading that way. I am trying to find the owners, its a small town so hopefully it won't be too hard and they can take care of it. But any ideas as to what I can do in the meantime?

[karenlovessnow]

That's a tough one....one of my kitties had an infection on his lip but I was able to get him to a vet and he needed antibiotics (oral). He also needed it lanced and I had to soak it with warm water a few times a day. This kitty sounds like she's friendly enough and might let you put a warm compress on it for a few minutes. You can try that. It might help. If it weren't on the cat's mouth I would suggest some bacitracin...I tried that a while back when my cat had a cut on his head and it seemed to do the trick. But given the location of the cut, she would only lick it off. Good luck and keep us posted.

[thebelovedtree]

I would see if a local rescue would be willing to help you cover vet bills/food.
Usually they need people to foster animals more than anything else, so if you will keep her for them they might be able to help.

[sally429]

I have called the local rescue before and because it is a small town, the only thing they do for cats is spay and release strays. but I am assuming if someone declawed her they probably already spayed her.

I was mostly just wondering if anyone knew of any at home remedies for sores that would be okay to put in her mouth.

[snownose]

I second the warm compress.

[sally429]

thanks

[sally429]

Just an update: I did the compress thing but there really didn't seem to be any difference. In fact this morning she was wheezing and coughing and her lip was bleeding so I made the dreaded "can you send me money" call to my parents and they agreed to pay the vet bill (they are so great!). So I am taking her in tomorrow.

Also my bf got a call form the fast food place where we found her (we put a flier there) and they said that she just hangs out there and they feed her scraps. They named her "Hamburgers". They said they would continue to feed her if I can't care for her, but I think even as broke as I am, she would be better off with me rather than spending cold desert nights outside with no claws for defense and eating burger scraps. So if I don't hear anything else I am calling her mine. A wonderfully nice realtor (we posted a flier at her office) offered for her company to pay my pet $250 pet deposit when she found that was why I wasn't going to keep her! If ther is a heaven there is special place there for people like her.

[karenlovessnow]

Yay for you and your wonderful parents and the nice realtor lady!! I hope it continues to work out! :)

[thebelovedtree]

Aww, thats awesome! As an indoor, only cat your expenses should be pretty low, all she really needs is a yearly exam and whatever is required in your state as far as rabies.

I'm glad you found her, even if it isn't perfect it's better than being outside w/ no claws!

[sally429]

I took her to the vet and he said that he thinks it is cancer. He gave me antibiotics just in case but he said to come back if it is still there in a week.
I might have to see if I can find someone to care for her better if that turns out to be the case

[Eva-bo-beva]

Aww, I hope its not true, Sally!

That was my initial reaction though. A lot of people can't afford the many health problems that cats can get, and they dump them. It's really sad. We took in a stray once, that was declawed and obviously indoor, and it turned out to have brain cancer. We took care of him, but it was not operatable. I wish someone had taken care of it when it could have been treated. Good luck with your new found friend.

-Eva

[thebelovedtree]

I hope it gets better! You might try going back to the burger joint you found her at and see if they'll donate money towards her treatment if she does have cancer. I know if someone did that at my work LOTS of suckers would put some money towards it.

[karenlovessnow]

Great idea, belovedtree...we actually did that where I work when someone found a kitten in the snow. My friend and I paid the bulk of the bill, but we did get some donations from other co-workers. Originally the kitty got a clean bill of health, but a few weeks later she became sick...something that they weren't able to test for...not Feline Leukemia but something else with the word peristalsis in it...I can't remember. So she didn't make it. :( But I hope Sally's kitty improves!! :)

[thebelovedtree]

Oh, I'm sorry your kitty didn't make it Karen

Sally you also might see if any local vets will cut you a deal (the spay and release place might know somewhere). We once found two kittens outside our house and one had a nasty infection on what was left of his tail. My vet was closed that day so I took them to a vet the rescue I volunteer for suggested and she cut me a HUGE deal on getting both of them taken care of and adopted them out through her office. She did two surgeries on the male's tail, spayed/neutered them both, gave them all their shots, flea meds, wormer, antibiotics, etc. all for $200. To give you a comparison, I paid $170 just for getting one of my cats spayed, nothing else, and my vet is one of the better priced in town.

[sally429]

I did explian the situation to the vet and they seemed sympathetic but basically said pay it all now or we can't see the cat. It was suprisingly inexpensive for the visit and meds though, it was $55. I am just afraid they will get me when/if they run tests next week. My grandparents should be in town though so they will probably help me out with it, they are pretty loaded lol. My boss gave me a number to a woman who rescues cats and she said that if I tell her I am a broke college kid she will probably help me out with some of the bills through some grant money.

So far the antibiotics don't seem to be making much of a difference, so I will have to figure something out because I can't just dump her back at the restaraunt.

[sally429]

Just wanted to say that it started to look a little better this morning! but I did notice HUGE ulcer on the top of her mouth when she was playing with me. I am sure it was already there but OUCH it looks painful!

[geronimango]

Hey Sally, I just read your post and wanted to share with you some personal experience about a cat I have. I found her about 5 years ago, real skinny, poor health and a laundry list of problems. I got her well and a few months after, she popped up with a huge ulcer on her top lip. Took her to the vet who diagnosed it as a "rodent ulcer". He said her condition was from a herpes virus. If I remember it correctly, she said she carries the virus in her body and any small injury to the mouth could cause this reaction (she was young and VERY playful at the time so I think she cut her mouth play-fighting with another of my cats). He gave her antibiotics for secondary infection but also steroids to reduce the swelling. The meds helped but the ulcer returned. She has had a few doses of steroids but in the last few years I have been advised that the ulcer on her lip can/will cause less injury than a lifetime of steroids so as long as it's not growing, leave it alone. The last dose of steroids was through direct injections into her lips while under general aenesthesia (the ulcer hardly shrank). She eats well, is happy and healthy and doesn't seem to be bothered. We have even nick-named her Anjelina Jolie b/c of her pouty mouth. Maybe you can ask the vet what the chances are that your kitty has a rodent ulcer?? Mine has lived 5 years with hers and is a big, healthy, happy girl. Hope this helps.

[sally429]

Hmm thanks geronimango. I will ask about that next time I am in, infact I am going to do a little research right now.

Edit: I looked it up and I think that may be exactly it. It sounds like what she has and the pictures looked identical to what hers looks like. Thanks!

[geronimango]

Hey Sally! Glad to be of help. Ask for a round of steroids when you go back and hopefully that will shrink it. My girl doesn't have any inside her mouth but her top lip on the left side swells out like a bee sting and it gets a yellow crusty edge. Like I said before, the steroids quit working on hers. Dr recommended stainless steel bowls for feeding from, which should be frequently cleaned to reduce risk of infection.

FYI, was told the term "rodent ulcer" comes from back in the day when drs first diagnosed them. The idea was that these ulcerations came from fights with rats. Now, we know that it is a herpes virus in their (cats') bodies and cuts or bites in their mouths create the ulcers. Kind of like an allergy to themselves. This was what 1st dr told me.

[Satya]

Sally, i think it's fantastic that you have adopted this little kitty, and bringing her back to health...but just curious..have you posted any "cat found" signs?? As lucky as that kitty is to have found you, she may still have a family that is missing her...i think i read that your boyfriend remembered seeing a sign for a similar cat?? I lost a cat once (years ago) that i am still mourning the loss of and even if she was with a good home, i would hope they would try to find out if people were still looking or missing her..

And sorry if you already have and i just missed it in this thread...

Edit: Opps!! Can't believe i missed post #7. Looks like you finding her was her lucky day! :)

[sally429]

Yea I think we posted about 30 signs, and it is a small town so there is one at about every business that would let us. Still no word from an owner though, other than the one fast food place.


I lost a cat too, it is very sad so I was hoping to hear from someone.