last weekend our cat came inside limping. we didnt let him out for a few days, he continued to hobble around. after close inspection, he was missing a paw pad. used peroxide on the wound. then called the vet for some antibiotics since it was swollen and draining bloodlike ooze. well, the vet said, best thing is to soak an old washcloth in highly saturated with warm water and epsom salts. its working. just thought id pass it on. oh yeah, do this 4 or 5 times a day.

-- js (schlicker54@aol.com), December 19, 2001

Answers

Ouch! Glad he is on the mend. With my three cats, its good to know some of this first aid. I barely miss shutting their tails in the doors!In and out all the time!

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), December 19, 2001.

One of our cats got it's tail caught in a door and came home with a bloody lump about half way up it's tail. Under great protest from the cat, we trimmed the fur away (longhair), cleaned it with peroxide, and put anitbiotic ointment on it. Did this for several days and now you can't tell there was an injury unless you feel the tail. If we had gone to the vet, they probably would have cut the tail off.

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), December 19, 2001.

Don't forget to put a little neosporin on the wound (yes, they will lick some off--but our vet said to put it on open wound anyway). Thanks for sharing this.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.