Mac was the first stray we noticed. He was hanging around the garden and was delighted with the offer of a free meal. After a few days I managed to get close to him and was horrified to see he had hairless bloody patches on him. I thought at first a fox had had hold of him. He was timid so I’d no idea how he might respond to being touched but when I put my hand out he put his head in it and purred. I managed to grab him (not impressed!) and rush him up to Peak vets before they closed for the night.
Once in the light at the surgery (it was a winter’s night when I caught him) we realised it wasn’t a fox attack but a nasty case of dermatitis. Just at that time I had no space or funds to take in a poorly un neutered tom cat and had to leave him for the RSPCA to collect. Very anxious about him as the RSPCA don’t have a great reputation.
However this story has a happy ending. The RSPCA were great, took him in, spent weeks sorting out medication and diet that suited him and then found him a new home.
8 Lives: Sheffield 8 Cat Rescue 