I have a Kitty problem

[purji]

A cat showed up at our door the other day,(in the middle of a snow storm)
so we took her in.
She is missing hair all around her stomach and back legs,she also had a large lump on her stomach near her right hind leg.
Well as of yesterday the lump has disappeared,and the blanket she was laying on is wet. :shrug:
I thought at first she was shaved but,today I am watching her pull the hair out of her body.
My daughter and this kitty have fallen in total love with each other,so I will try to do every thing I can to fix her up.

So question 1. what could the lump be?
question 2. where can I go to find a cheap vet?

My husband is getting laid off(again) in a few weeks so I cant afford a lot of money,but I really want to help her.
any advice is appreciated.

[purr]

1. Hm.. Cheap and Vet dont go together in the same sentence :)

Does the wet spot smell? Is it clear? It sounds like a cyst in my untrained opinion. As far as the fur thing, my moms cat will lose hair when she gets fleas - thats how we know its time for the flea treatment (dog keeps bringing them in). Not sure about pulling the hair out - maybe in a desperate attempt to get rid of fleas?

I know jack but just thought I'd offer my opinion. Good for you that you brought her in! (edit I cant spell)

[purji]

2. thanks for the reply

We don't see any fleas on her,and the wet spot doesn't smell.
she's really a sweet heart and seems in desperate need of some loving,which my daughter is more than willing to give her.
I'm afraid to give her a bath,I don't want to aggravate what ever is bothering her.
I will probably have to just spend the cash and see a vet.

[Callalily]

3. My friends cat did

the hair pulling thing and don't laugh here, but it was psychological problem. They had to use one of those cone things in order to stop the cat from pulling it's hair. The lump may be a cyst of just a some one of those fleshy things. I fear you're going to have to take the cat to the vet. Maybe try an animal shelter. They may help with the care and cost.

[purji]

5. thanks

I will call around tomorrow.

[raptor_rider]

4. Sounds like Mange

and that she might have had a cyst or abscess. Look at where the lump was and check to see if there is just the tiniest wound. That could have attributed to the cyst/abscess. That can also tribute to the loss of hair. If you cannot take her to the vet, try a Humane Association that is near-by, they might be able to help.

[purji]

6. there is a small scab where the lump was

I guess we will just have to take her in.

[raptor_rider]

8. That would be wise

there was an infection from the lump, which caused the abcess/cyst. The kitty will need to be put on antibiotics and might need a drain put in if the abcess/cyst has not drained completely. I wise you luck!! :hug:

[iconoclastic cat]

7. Repost this in the Pets Group.

Look in the "Discuss" menu, where you will see "DU Groups." Click to open it, then look for "Personal Issues." Click to open that one, and scroll down to the Pets group. Post this over there. They might be able to help.
Here's a direct link to the group:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=243

[purji]

9. thank you

I have to go to work for a while but I will post there when I get home.

[distantearlywarning]

10. My cat pulls his hair out when he gets stressed.

Sounds like this cat had a lot of stress, so maybe that's it. They also do that when they have fleas. If she has the other signs of fleas (flea dirt, lots of scratching), you should take her to the vet.

[davsand]

11. Cats abscess easily.

I'm no vet, but I can tell you that a cat will get an abscess with a wound very quickly. If the cat had been injured at all (say in some minor tussle with another cat or other animal) she may have been clawed and had an abscess form. That could certainly explain the compulsive grooming of the area around the site, too.

Second possibility is the cat has ringworm. IF the skin that is bald looks kind of scabby you need to get that cat in ASAP before the dog, your kid and everybody else has ringworm. It is nothing more than the animal equal to Jock Itch--so don't freak out--but it is a PITA (pain in the A$$) to get rid of unless the vet treats the cat and the Doc treats the child.

I speak from experience on the ringworm thing, btw... :hi:

Good luck with the new kitty!


Laura

[khashka]

12. Well....

The lump could be almost anything. A cyst, a tumour, a swelling from an injury. No way to tell without an exam.

The hair pulling might just be psychological. Cats, when unhappy, sometimes engage in self-destructive neurotic behaviour just like people. Or it could be fleas, they do it when they itch. Which also is why it could be symptomatic of something more serious - like a diabetic neuropathy.

Cheap vet? Don't make me laugh! But there are some vets who work on a sliding scale depending on what you can pay. Call your local SPCA for recommendations.

Khash.

[zanne]

13. Thank you, thank you for rescuing the kitty.

There are so many homeless cats out there. I rescued one who lost both ears to frostbite. That "fur coat" is great, but their ears, noses and paws are vulnerable. I wish the number of rescuers was higher than the number of abusers. Thanks again.

[purji]

14. this will be our third rescued kitty

we are keeping the new kitty separated from the other two cats and the dog right now, just in case.
I don't know what it is about our house,but they all show up here.
I am beginning to think we have some kind of invisible sign on our house that only animals see,that says "come here they will feed you"

[WolverineDG]

15. there must be

some sort of communication system strays have. my house must be tagged as "soft-hearted sucker lives here" i get so many strays. most go on their merry ways, but i have 2 "regulars."

dg

[zanne]

16. There's an old African saying...

"A cat will always find the kindest heart in the village". Cats like to have kittens in my yard--under the garden shed and in the carport. We've had seven kittens neutered and placed in "acclimation programs" in two years. Luckily, they were all adopted, but I know what you mean about certain houses being very popular with strays. They may not speak English, but they can "talk", alright.