When Wild Animals Attack

We've had another couple strays hanging around our house again. I finally decided to take one of them to the shelter. He's more tame than the feral ones I took in last time so I thought it would be a piece of cake. He lets us pet him and even pick him up although he is a tad skittish. So I picked him up, took him in the house and petted him for a few minutes. As soon as I tried to stick him in the cage, he freaked! I tried harder, but then he bit my arm and scratched me up good.

It hurt like the dickens! I must admit I let out one choice swear word. I took a shower right afterwards to disinfect. I wasn't sure if I needed antibiotics so I called the nurse to see what she thought. Turns out she was totally clueless. She said it was up to me. I called my cousin, who is a PA and she said she always prescribes antibiotics. I did some research and the internet doctor said 80% of cat puncture wounds get infected. So, I set myself an appt that afternoon. My doctor cleaned it and gave me a prescription for doxycycline. It continued to hurt pretty bad for the next two days. I could barely use my arm the first day. I finally devised a sling the next day since it hurt more just letting it hang there.

The doxycycline was a pain. I couldn't drink milk 2 hours before or after and it was twice a day dosing. That's 8 hours a day that I couldn't drink milk. It about killed me. 10 days of torture. I rejoiced when I finished.

I borrowed a trap from a lady here in town, but the cat was very wily and never triggered the pressure plate. We did catch some other cats, including Rush, but they learned eventually too how to not trigger it. I found another trap online that is supposed to work better for cats that I might buy.

Sunday, Brother B discovered a big old wound on Glen's leg. Poor kitty had been bit too. At its stage of development he must have had that abscess for awhile. I took him into the vet Monday afternoon. They cleaned it out and now he gets an antibiotic twice a day for 10 days too. I have to squeeze neosporin right into the hole too. It's pretty gross. I'm making him stay inside till I'm able to catch that cat. He's not super happy about it, but I feel better having him inside. I bought one of those automatic litter boxes too. It's pretty cool. It's nice that I can keep it in my bathroom and not have it stink.