Callie girl
New Member
It looks like my cat got in another fight, he has a bald spot with little bit of stuff oozing out. What should I put on it and should I cover it or not?
Cat wounds....
- Thread starter Callie girl
- Start date
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
Cat Wounds
This is a good site. Did you know that cat bites are a prime transmitter of the leukemia and FIV virus?
I would recommend warm compresses and keeping the wound unbandaged to allow it to drain. Clean it with a diluted betadine solution daily.
This is a good site. Did you know that cat bites are a prime transmitter of the leukemia and FIV virus?
I would recommend warm compresses and keeping the wound unbandaged to allow it to drain. Clean it with a diluted betadine solution daily.
Callie girl
New Member
Thank you, it doesn't really look like he was bit. But I am going to try and clean it like you said. It kind of looks like a scrape.
Poor kitty. 
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
It may look like a scrape but actually be a bite wound. Is it swollen and warm? If it's full of pus, it will swell and look almost like a scrape. Be careful, it can be very painful and if it "pops" it will be really smelly.
Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
Nothing better than a good abcess!
You know, my last kitty that was an outside kitty (stray I took in)...died a few years ago. He had a horrible bite on his head from one of the many strays in the area. I treated the abcess and even had antibiotics from the vet. He healed up well but about 6 months later had to be put down because of a tumor in his lungs...cancer. I just can't help but feel there was a connection.
Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
Hmm...you never know. Luckily most abcesses are fairly superficial and easy to treat. I've seen some really nasty (=awesome) abcesses in cows. They get them easily for some reason. There was one....holy cow. You've never seen pus shoot so far.
There must be something wrong with me.
Callie girl
New Member
It looks a little swelled and does have pus coming out(not a lot but a little) he has been cleaning it
I don't usually have outside cats but this cat has a mind of his own, he will go out for a couple hours and then come in. I had a cat die of cancer before, it is very sad and there is nothing you can do about it.
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
It looks a little swelled and does have pus coming out(not a lot but a little) he has been cleaning it
Give it a little squeeze.
sanchezf
Little ol' Me
Callie girl
New Member
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
If it is an abcess and you don't get it drained, he will get pretty sick...and fairly quickly.
Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
And she may want to cover it with a paper towel or something when she drains it. :squirt:
red_explorer
Well-Known Member
Callie girl
New Member
Thanks guys, I have a weak stomach so when DB gets home in a little while I will have him do it. He has no problem doing stuff like that. If he starts to get sick I won't take any chances, I will take him in. That's one of my babies.
luvscats
New Member
this was really interesting reading. I thought I always had to take the cat to the vet for a bite wound or abscess. I never thouht I could take care of it here at home without the vet prescribing antibiotics. How do I tell when to take the cat to a vet for a bite wound/abscess and when I can take care of the wound myself? I guess I'm wondering what if I try to treat it myself and he gets really sicker?
Next time one of the outdoor kitties comes up with a wound I'm going to try what y'all wrote on here. Thanks!
Next time one of the outdoor kitties comes up with a wound I'm going to try what y'all wrote on here. Thanks!
Cowgirl
Well-Known Member
Hmm...if it just looks like a superficial wound, I'd try to treat it at home first. If the wound isn't getting better, or if the cat acts differently (ie goes off food, has a fever, etc) then I'd take it to the vet. Cats are usually good at hiding abcesses, so sometimes they're hard to notice. Just go with your gut feeling. If you're nervous about it, then it's better to take the cat to the vet.
Oh, and one thing to remember about abcesses, they're usually deeper than abrasions (because they form a pocket of pus), so you want them to heal from the inside out. If they scab over after a day, I'd try to soak it with warm salt water or wash with betadine soln. to soften the scab. You don't want it to scab over and trap more infection inside.
luvscats
New Member
ok, that makes sense. Usually when something goes wrong I just grab them up and head for the vet. I think if it's a superficial wound I'll tend to it, but if it is a weepy abscess and the cat is not eating and lethargic I'll get a vet's advice. Thanks again!