What to do for a stray cat with a swollen, oozing paw and no vet?

I am so very sorry to hear about your kitty! It does appear, unfortunately, that your kitty could have an infection going on in the foot here, as the area looks swollen with purulent discharge coming from the area. Unfortunately when we have an area like this, a topical treatment is usually not going to suffice and oral or injectable antibiotics is often needed. We can see infections as a result of overgrown or ingrown toenails, wounds, foreign bodies (like a piece of splinter or grass seed) entering the skin, and sometimes we can also get fungal infections. Without seeing your kitty in person it is very hard to determine. I know you say you cannot afford a vet, but I think you will have to figure out a way to get your kitty in to see the vet. They can look more closely at the toe and the nail to try to determine the cause. They may be able to do this just by looking and feeling the area, they may want to test the discharge to check for bacteria or fungus They may need to flush the wound to be sure there isn't any object lodged there. I would recommend calling the vet's office and letting them know your situation. They may have a program called Care Credit that you can apply for to help pay your vet bills with monthly payments, or they may have another program set up similar to this. If they do not, they may be able to refer you to a low cost clinic in your area. Some Humane Society's or animal shelters have lower cost services for those in need. It is best to let your vet know up front of your financial situation so that they can choose the most stream-lined and cost effective options for you from the start.

Please have your kitten seen by a vet right away. That wound looks extremely painful and will require pain medication and antibiotics. The kitten will need to have the wound cleaned out by the vet and will likely need sutures/bandaging of the area. Pain medication meant for people can be toxic to kittens and should not be used without checking with your vet. If you cannot keep the kitten and don’t know anyone who will take on his care and vet expenses, please contact local animal shelters and rescue groups so that he can get vet care asap. Thanks for trying to help these cats!

You can strongly recommend to the owner that he/she bring the cat to their veterinarian for an exam. That paw looks painful and possibly infected. The cat will need an exam, x-rays (to diagnose fractures), bloodwork, antibiotics and pain management. An e-collar (cone) will prevent licking and chewing. You can't legally do anything since you are not the rightful owner. If you do, you risk litigation if the cat takes a turn for the worse. If there is no owner, contact your local animal control officer or humane society.

Ouch! From the picture it looks like maybe a ruptured abscess and not just an injury. I would encourage you to have him seen by your veterinarian In the meantime soaking in warm water and Epsom salts maybe helpful and make him more comfortable. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon.

It looks like Johnny has an abscess. What he really needs is to have it flushed out and get on some antibiotics. If you absolutely can’t get to the vet, you can try soaking the foot in epsom salt solution. Mix 1 tbsp epsom salt into 1/4 cup warm water and submerge the foot for 5 mins two to three times daily. You will also need to warm compress the leg at least twice daily to help drain the puss. (Use a warm wet washcloth in a plastic bag and apply moderate pressure- you want the puss to come out.) Johnny MUST stay indoors until his leg is healed. Leave the wounds open to air- do not try to bandage the leg. Also remember that pain medications for humans (Tylenol, aspirin, ibuprofen) should NEVER be given to cats as they can be very toxic. Good luck to you and Johnny!

As the swelling is in several different places i suspect a severe infection in that foot, she will need to have a course of oral antibiotics, if you cannot afford a vet please contact the human society or another dog charity in your area of living, they might be able to help.

A check up, appropriate disinfection and eventually antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid licking. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.