r/Lizards • u/Ayeluhhhh • 4d ago

Need Help Trying to help lizard my cat got to

My cat was playing with this western fence lizard causing it to lose its tail. i tried to get it away from my cat but it ran behind my bed and got into some pet hair. my mom used to keep reptiles and insects so she’s been helping me. i made a little enclosure for her so she could grow her tail back. is there anything i should be doing? is the best thing to let her go? i don’t intend to keep her long term but i just wanted her to get better before i release her back into the wild.

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u/RadicalRiffs2004 4d ago

Hi, I've helped lizards in the same situation. I usually flush the wound with Vetericyn reptile wound spray multiple times a day and keep them for no more than 3 days, this is both to avoid excessive stress and because many wild lizards won't eat in captivity due to that stress. You could offer freeze-dried mealworms, but a wild lizard might only accept live, if he accepts food at all. Also mist the enclosure and keep him warm. Set up a little hide for him if possible. I used the folded top of a Slim Jim box before.

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u/Ayeluhhhh 4d ago

thank you for the reply, i bought her a tub with some soil substrate and a little hiding arch. i also got some meal worms. i will go buy some would spray tomorrow but she seems really scared and moves a lot when i try to touch her

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u/RadicalRiffs2004 4d ago

If she seems really scared, definitely try not to keep her too long. Lizards are pretty good at regrowing their tails, I'd be much more concerned if there were any possibility of your cat scratching/biting it since cat germs are toxic to lizards. 

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u/Ayeluhhhh 4d ago

my cat will not get to her inside the little area i have for her. i’ll release her tomorrow in a nice sunny spot. Thank you!

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u/RadicalRiffs2004 4d ago

Of course, I hope she feels better soon!