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My stray cat has swollen face, bloody eye. Can't afford vet. Help!

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male

Hello, my cats half side of his face has been swollen for three days today he had blood on his eye. I desperately need help , I can not afford a vet and he’s a street cat he wont let me touch him but he’s always here so I consider him mine. He does eat and drink so I’m guessing that’s a good sign. Please help, I want to know if I can get him any meds online.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 17th, 2020

This is a medical emergency and Ismael has to see a vet now. He could have been hit by a car or injured a fight, and leaving this untreated can lead to vision loss. He will also be in a lot of pain from this, and there are no meds you can get online for him. If he won't let you touch him, you wouldn't be able to administer medication anyway. He needs to see a vet immediately for injectable medication. You need to set out a trap to catch him right away. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. I'd also see if you can borrow money from family and friends. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/

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    Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    If this is a street cat and you do not have money to get him treated then you need to call animal control to come get him. They will take him to the shelter and get him treatment. You can't leave him like this and there are no medications you can buy over the counter to help him - he needs antibiotics and possibly some eye medications. http://v1.cityofinglewood.org/faqs/categoryqna.asp?id=2 You can also try some cat rescues in your area to ask them for advise: https://kittenrescue.org/contact/ http://www.lovejoyfoundation.org/contact.html https://www.yelp.com/biz/pet-orphans-of-southern-california-van-nuys

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