Don't know what to do...

[alamomo]

We found a kitten in our garage today. My fiance is allergic, but I told my son that we could feed the kitten and she could stay in our garage as long as she wanted to. But, then I noticed a large wound on her back leg. I'm worried it might be a bite. So I made my son wash his hands really really well. And I called our local animal shelter but they said they don't treat wounds and they would just put her to sleep. So I called our vet, it will be $50-100 to have her looked at  and get her a rabies shot. I don't feel right spending that much when we will have to keep her outside, where she could easily get hurt again, or just run away. But I don't feel right about leaving her out there with a wound either, If she could come inside it would be totally different, I would take her to the vet in a second, but I'm afraid to spend that much money when she could just disappear, And right now she is sitting outside our door meowing like crazy, breaking my heart. What do you think I should do?

[debra_benge]

Mar. 31, 2010 at 3:39 PM

You could try to clean it yourself.  Neosporin on the wound would be fine (in fact that's what my vet recommended for minor hurts on both our cat and our dogs.)

Wrap her in a towel, leaving the leg exposed, clean it out really good with warm water, making sure you get as much dirt and gunk out of it as you can, then rub the Neosporin on, and if you can, bandage it so she doesn't lick the medicine off, and watch her leg.  If it swells, gets worse or starts to stink, then I'd look at taking her in.

[alamomo]

Mar. 31, 2010 at 3:43 PM

I think the wound is healing ok, my concern was more that if she was bit, I don't know what kind of animal did it, she could have rabies.

(Original Poster)

[debra_benge]

Mar. 31, 2010 at 6:40 PM

If she quits drinking water and starts stumbling around like she's drunk, keep everyone away from her, lock her into the garage (or in a box if you can manage it without getting bit) and call animal control.

If she continues to drink water, she'll be fine.

Good luck with your new pet!!

[njg3]

Mar. 31, 2010 at 7:47 PM

have you tried contacting the humane society, or another animal rescue center?  You can look up the humane society on the internet.  It is not connected to the animal shelter. If they can't take it, they should have some information on other non-kill rescue shelters.

[alamomo]

Apr. 2, 2010 at 8:48 AM

The local animal shleter won't take her with a wound, they said they don't do any kind of medical care. I would have to take her to a vet before they would take her in. She is doing just fine in our garage for now, and we got a better look at her wound, it is not a bite, so we feel better about that. A local vet said that if the wound looks clean and she doesn't seem to be in pain we can let it heal on its on and then bring her in and he'll give us a discount on rabies vaccines for her. (If she has the wound when we take her, he said he has to treat and that could get expensive). So, we are trying to find her a home, but for now she's going to live in our garage I guess. We do have one another shelter in our area, but I know they don't keep animals very long before putting them down, so I wouldn't feel right taking her there.

(Original Poster)