When I am home I keep the screen door open ajar so that my 7-year-old cat can come and go as she pleases. She spends about 95% of her time indoors. Last night I was exhausted and fell asleep without closing the screen door, and this morning she seemed unusually subdued, and tufts of fur were hanging loose, and in a couple of places her fur was stuck together, although it didn't look like it was blood, and there was "outdoor debris" all over her. Later, I found that she was limping.

It seemed to me as if she had gotten into a fight with another cat, and that maybe the limp was caused by trying to escape over a fence or whatever. The biggest question is why does she have tufts of fur hanging loose? (No wounds, by the way). She's shedding, but not in tufts. The only reason I can think of is that she confronted another cat (I've seen cat fights, and seen "the fur fly" so to speak, hence my suspicion.)

Anyway, she's such a fraidy-cat, and I've always been there to protect her, and I feel like such a heel, letting her down this way. But I'd just like to know what is the cause of this, since she seems somewhat traumatized. All signs point to cat-fight, but if it's something else, then what? Thanks.

-- Leslie A. (lesliea@home.com), May 06, 2001

Answers

Leslie, quit beating yourself up over this. You're human. It does sound like the cat had herself a rough time and maybe she should be checked over by a vet. Does she have all her shots? Is she neutered? Is the paw she limps on bloody? I think, if it were my cat, I'd give her some rest and time to recuperate. It could have been another species other than a cat-raccoon maybe.

-- Ardie from WI (a6203@hotmail.com), May 06, 2001.

fight with something,, thats for sure, another cat, critter , ect. Its hard to tell a puncture wound on a cat, but watch closely,, if all of a sudden, there is a "gash", its usually from a bite that got infected, and exploded the spot, Id keep checking for a developeing "lump", which would be the start of the infection

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), May 06, 2001.

Do you or your neighbors have any barbed wire around? My neighbors in the back have had a few cats torn up by their barbed wire fencing that is laying around. It looks like they have been in a fight, hair clumps hanging around, limping, sometimes with scratches, sometimes without, just depends on how much the cat fought the wire. :-( poor kitty, I hope she gets better soon!! I just love cats.

-- Cindy in Ok (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), May 06, 2001.

You didn't mention if she is spayed..... If not... fix a box and wait a few weeks....

If she's spayed, it probably was either a fight, or she chased something into the brush. I have a 'barn cat' - literally... Long story. But, he's got slightly longer hair than average, and constantly looks like that when he comes in.

Shedding the downy hair nearest the body and then rubbing outside can cause the hair to 'tuft', too. I wouldn't worry about it if she doesn't have any blood showing.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), May 07, 2001.