Ears Itching - bleeding on the back

[onelove6366]

One of the feral cats I feed - poor thing I feel so bad for him. His ears look like they must itch like crazy! On the backs of them they are raw and bleeding a lot. Is it from fighting or ear mites? It's not like I can do much about it - he won't let me near him.

Last year one of the ferals got so friendly with me I could clean her ears out but she got hit by a car and so far has been the only one to let me handle her so much.

there are two others I can pet and I put flea stuff on them. I also put flea powder on the blankets I put out in their house for them.

I was wondering about the bloody ears though - we are having turf wars going on out there though so it may be from fighting not itching.

 

[ArkRescue]

Oh my - is there any way that cat might go into a trap? Maybe then we could figure out a way to get it sedated and treated? I'm willing to help if you like. The flies may be the culprit, but if they are not, they will surely take advantage of the blood and become a serious nuisance.

For ferals that won't let you treat them you can use a spray bottle capable of "streams" and load it with flea/tick killer for cats and spray the cat from a distance avoiding the mucous membranes. I know, not easy to do. If you miss the first time you'll be hard pressed to get another chance.

One of the feral cats I feed - poor thing I feel so bad for him. His ears look like they must itch like crazy! On the backs of them they are raw and bleeding a lot. Is it from fighting or ear mites? It's not like I can do much about it - he won't let me near him.

Last year one of the ferals got so friendly with me I could clean her ears out but she got hit by a car and so far has been the only one to let me handle her so much.

there are two others I can pet and I put flea stuff on them. I also put flea powder on the blankets I put out in their house for them.

I was wondering about the bloody ears though - we are having turf wars going on out there though so it may be from fighting not itching.

 

[onelove6366]

Oh my - is there any way that cat might go into a trap? Maybe then we could figure out a way to get it sedated and treated? I'm willing to help if you like. The flies may be the culprit, but if they are not, they will surely take advantage of the blood and become a serious nuisance.

For ferals that won't let you treat them you can use a spray bottle capable of "streams" and load it with flea/tick killer for cats and spray the cat from a distance avoiding the mucous membranes. I know, not easy to do. If you miss the first time you'll be hard pressed to get another chance.

Let me think about that and get back to you. Obviously I want to but I need to think about how to do that. What kind of flea meds - do I need to buy anything? I have traps.

 

[ArkRescue]

If you can get the cat in a trap then you can apply typical spot-on treatment like Frontline, but addressing the ears will be a bit harder since the cat would have to stay in one place to be able to use long cotton swabs to get meds on it's ears.

The cat would need to be sedated to address the wounds. Is there a vet locally that may be able to help? If not I can see what resources I may have.

Let me think about that and get back to you. Obviously I want to but I need to think about how to do that. What kind of flea meds - do I need to buy anything? I have traps.

 

[onelove6366]

I don't have funds for a vet. Could it be possible to spray like a topical antiseptic or something like that on him. He is one of the hard ones to catch and as a matter of fact - I've never been able to trap him.

I also cannot afford frontline for the outside cats. I get the less expensive stuff from time to time and put it on the two I can pet but the rest only get a partial benefit from the flea powder I put on the blankets in their house but not everyone lays around in there (I know some sleep in there from time to time but not all).

I may just have to formulate my own plan and see how it works.

 

[ArkRescue]

Hmm, I wonder what is causing the ear issue - there is a cat at the barn that also had an ear problem but he's one of the ones we were unable to trap. We used my fishing net to catch the female that gave birth but it's ripped now. So I guess this time I'll invest in a better net that can withstand a cat's claws/teeth?

If he won't get in a trap, maybe he can be caught in a net then transferred to a trap? These ferals are so hard to deal with. Maybe I can get the HS in Waldorf to look at him if we can get him trapped? I'll ask them when they call me back today.

I don't have funds for a vet. Could it be possible to spray like a topical antiseptic or something like that on him. He is one of the hard ones to catch and as a matter of fact - I've never been able to trap him.

I also cannot afford frontline for the outside cats. I get the less expensive stuff from time to time and put it on the two I can pet but the rest only get a partial benefit from the flea powder I put on the blankets in their house but not everyone lays around in there (I know some sleep in there from time to time but not all).

I may just have to formulate my own plan and see how it works.

 

[ArkRescue]

HS says no they don't sedate cats to look at them for an issue unless they are there for spay/neuter also. Has that cat been fixed yet? If yes then I will see what other alternative I can find to get the cat sedated and examined.

 

[onelove6366]

He has not been fixed. I do have 3 more cats approved to get fixed through SPOT. I put the traps out last night and set food in them with the doors set open with a zip tie. I put the traps out for a time like this before actually trapping to get the cats comfortable with going into the trap to eat. It's worked good in the past but as you already know, some of these guys won't go into a trap NO MATTER WHAT!

I'm keeping my eye out to see if he starts going into the trap to eat and if I think I can catch him I will let you know.

I have more then 3 cats to fix and not exactly sure what I will do about that for now - I will PM you with more details.

Thanks for your help.

HS says no they don't sedate cats to look at them for an issue unless they are there for spay/neuter also. Has that cat been fixed yet? If yes then I will see what other alternative I can find to get the cat sedated and examined.

 

[Pasofever]

I bet it is earmites..you can use feed through injectable ivermectin in a piece of food..

 

[ArkRescue]

is that the same Cow injectable I've used on my big dogs in the past? Dosing that might be tricky for a cat unless there is a different one that is less potent?

I bet it is earmites..you can use feed through injectable ivermectin in a piece of food..

 

[cattitude]

is that the same Cow injectable I've used on my big dogs in the past? Dosing that might be tricky for a cat unless there is a different one that is less potent?

Ivermectin can be very dangerous in cats (dogs too). Could be something as simple as flea dermatitis.

 

[Pasofever]

Ivermectin can be very dangerous in cats (dogs too). Could be something as simple as flea dermatitis.

if you can not catch to inspect and treat the cat it is going to be hard to treat it topically...ivermec also kills fleas (I know in dogs as a friend does ivermec for heartworms and hers do not have fleas or earmites) I am just saying for a stray you can not get your hands on this will kill ivermec..and I have had several vets tell me the best way to deal with earmites is ivermec

 

[Pasofever]

is that the same Cow injectable I've used on my big dogs in the past? Dosing that might be tricky for a cat unless there is a different one that is less potent?

No that is 1% cattle inj I would use the .27% piglet inj

 

[ArkRescue]

I wonder if this would be safe to use mixed into canned food to TRY and treat the ferals? It's impossible to get them ALL to eat some it seems w/o the possibility of overdosing the dominant ones.

No that is 1% cattle inj I would use the .27% piglet inj

 

[onelove6366]

I'd like to know about this too as I have so many ferals in my little colony. Sadly, the guy I posted this about was hit by a car last weekend and killed. Only our second lost to the road in almost 2 years.

However, I do have a bunch of cats and two new kittens noticed last night. They are cuties too - got to get moving with finishing with getting everyne fixed! We did have 3 kittens a week or so ago but in trying to clean their eyes and chasing them around I guess momma got mad and took them away. since ear itching is always an issue with the ferals, I'd love to know of a way to mix the meds in the food - I know they'd get it then!

We also have a Tom who was gone for several days and returned with a broken leg. no open wounds so I am not sure what happened but he is getting around still with it and still being terrortorial and feisty with the others. He must be fixed as he is very aggressive but I dont 'have funds to fix the leg. Wonder if they will neutar and leave the leg alone? I know it sounds cruel but I can't get near him and don't have the funds anyway.

 

[ArkRescue]

I don't have access to vet care for rescues other than paying for it either - maybe someone here knows how you can get his leg set? He may need to recuperate in a crate/cage for a couple/few weeks? I did that with one of my ferals in the past.

I'd like to know about this too as I have so many ferals in my little colony. Sadly, the guy I posted this about was hit by a car last weekend and killed. Only our second lost to the road in almost 2 years.

However, I do have a bunch of cats and two new kittens noticed last night. They are cuties too - got to get moving with finishing with getting everyne fixed! We did have 3 kittens a week or so ago but in trying to clean their eyes and chasing them around I guess momma got mad and took them away. since ear itching is always an issue with the ferals, I'd love to know of a way to mix the meds in the food - I know they'd get it then!

We also have a Tom who was gone for several days and returned with a broken leg. no open wounds so I am not sure what happened but he is getting around still with it and still being terrortorial and feisty with the others. He must be fixed as he is very aggressive but I dont 'have funds to fix the leg. Wonder if they will neutar and leave the leg alone? I know it sounds cruel but I can't get near him and don't have the funds anyway.