What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

jose targa — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:31:59 GMT

what about wire mesh?? you know, "wire wall" between two houses. Maybe the cat was in troubles and tryed te wrong (smaller) hole!!!!

Regards

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Bob Russell — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:16:51 GMT

I was not suggesting that this was one bite! A number of paired bite wounds might (at a stretch) be similar size but the pattern is odd! We had pretty much ruled out a dog or fox because an attack would have caused a lot of bruising and I suspect would not be survived.

Barbed wire was our provisional conclusion but I was interested in other peoples views.

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Julian Earl — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:03:15 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

[quote user="Elisabeth Knappett"]

I would 2nd the barbed wire thought, have seen something similar this week - any of the tears V-shaped?

[/quote]

Mostly round and the holes the size I would expect to get from a small dog but without the bruising!

[/quote]

That's one hell of a big dog's mouth with very widely spaced small teeth!

I would third the barbed wire theory; on the picture, at least three of the holes are triangular, the points tending to be the bottom right of the picture, with the largest one, second from the right, appearing to have a small flap extending to the top of the picture. The spacing, apparent lack of bruising, ventral position, and size of the holes are strong evidence of a barbed wire injury, and I thereby rest my case M'Lud.

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Bob Russell — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:54:21 GMT

[quote user="Elisabeth Knappett"]

I would 2nd the barbed wire thought, have seen something similar this week - any of the tears V-shaped?

[/quote]

Mostly round and the holes the size I would expect to get from a small dog but without the bruising!

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Alex Allen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:17:27 GMT

if they are in a line how about one of those anti intruder strips with semi spiked rows of plastic. Would cause more pressure point damage than skin tears.

I once treated a cat that fell out of a tree onto a branch and that caused multiple tears and rips in the skin and the photo doesn't look like her injuries. Bruising appeared over the next few days as did the devascularisation ..... Thankfully being a cat it made a full recovery!

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Elisabeth Knappett — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:53:32 GMT

I would 2nd the barbed wire thought, have seen something similar this week - any of the tears V-shaped?

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Bob Russell — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:33:00 GMT

[quote user="Lorna McHardy"]

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

PS also possible airgun wounds?

[/quote]

They tend to be smaller, and not ventral.... also with that many, would there not be some internal injuries?

I admit my first thought was burns :0( Agree that biopsy might be a good idea, if possible.

[/quote]

We did take X-rays for interest but no airgun pellets. It was on our list of differentials but we decided it would have to be a machine airgun to get them in line. Each one penetrates the skin and seem paired and full thickness. They happened overnight.

I did wonder if the cat had fallen onto barbed wire but again this is something I have never identified before but the fairly regular spacing would fit . The larger wound looks like a tear. I have freshened up the edges and sutured it.

I am convinced this is trauma. I have to admit I did not even think about it. It will be no problem to do it later if necessary.

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Mark Holmes — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:03:03 GMT

[quote user="Lorna McHardy"]

They tend to be smaller, and not ventral.... also with that many, would there not be some internal injuries?

[/quote]

Exit wounds tend to be bigger and you would be suprised how many bullets I've found in an apparantly well cat.

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Lorna McHardy — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:51:38 GMT

[quote user="Mark Holmes"]

PS also possible airgun wounds?

[/quote]

They tend to be smaller, and not ventral.... also with that many, would there not be some internal injuries?

I admit my first thought was burns :0( Agree that biopsy might be a good idea, if possible.

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Mark Holmes — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:37:39 GMT

PS also possible airgun wounds?

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Alex Allen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:36:26 GMT

Do you have the opportunity to biopsy? Might be immune mediated skin disease, drug eruption etc

Or cigarette burns?? Did they have a BBQ smell ?? Singed fur around the lesions??

Many other human inflicted possibilities from blunt trauma to chemicals.

good luck in finding out

Re: What (or who) do you think did this to a cat?

Mark Holmes — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:34:43 GMT

I cannot really see from the picture but I biopsied something similar recently an it came back as a probable cowpox infection, although I appreciate it is a big shot in the dark.