An abscess can form after your cat is bitten by a cat or other animal. Bacteria that enter the bite wound is the cause. If you suspect your cat has an abscess, take him to the vet for treatment and antibiotics. The vet will tell you how to treat the wound and give your cat medication. During the healing period, you may also want to keep the cat in one of the rooms while observing the progress of the wound.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Seeking Veterinary Care
Step 1. Check for signs of an abscess
The body responds to a bite wound by sending white blood cells to fight the bacteria. After that, the tissue around the wound will begin to swell and die. Eventually, a pus-filled cavity is formed consisting of bacteria, white blood cells, and dead tissue. This cycle continues and the wound area continues to swell. This swelling may feel firm or tender. Other signs of an abscess include:
- Pain or signs of pain such as limping
- Small scabs that are red or warm around the wound area
- Pus or fluid coming out of the wound area
- Hair loss around the wound area
- Cat licking or biting the wound area
- Loss of appetite or weakness
- Hole that oozes pus
Step 2. Take the cat to the vet
You may be able to treat a small abscess at home. However, most cases of abscess should be treated by a veterinarian. When taken to the vet, your cat will be thoroughly examined. Often times, cats will also have a fever if they have an abscess as their body is trying to fight off the infection.
- If it opens and drains, an abscess in a cat may be treatable without the need for anesthesia.
- If it is closed, your cat may need to be sedated so the abscess can be incised with a scalpel.
Step 3. Ask about the use of antibiotics
Your veterinarian may send a sample of pus to a laboratory for an antibiotic culture test. This culture test will help your veterinarian determine the most effective antibiotic to treat it. After the pus sample is taken, the abscess in the cat will be incised (if it has not opened and drained pus or fluid), cleaned (of pus and other debris), and treated with antibiotics.
Give the cat antibiotics as directed by the veterinarian until they are used up. Call your vet if you're having trouble giving your cat medication
Step 4. Ask if the fluid in the abscess still needs to be removed
Sometimes, the abscess has to be kept open for the fluid to drain out. For this, the vet may need to attach a tube to help drain fluid from the wound. Otherwise, the pus will continue to accumulate and make the cat's condition worse.
- Follow your veterinarian's advice regarding hose treatment as well as possible complications, and when you need to contact him.
- Usually the vet will remove this tube after 3-5 days.
Method 2 of 2: Treating a Cat Abscess at Home
Step 1. Lock the cat in a room during the healing period
This is the best option to keep your cat safe from more serious injuries during the wound healing period. The wound on the cat will continue to ooze fluid for a while. So, there is a possibility that the pus will drip on the floor and furniture. To prevent this pus from contaminating carpets or furniture, lock the cat into a room in the house until the wound heals.
- Confine the cat in a room where the surface is easy to clean, such as the bathroom, laundry room, or the area around the back door of the house.
- Make sure you keep the cat in a warm enough room. Provide the cat needs in it, such as food, water, litter box, and towels or soft blankets for the bed.
- Check your cat's condition while he's in captivity to show your affection and make sure he's eating, drinking, and urinating as usual.
Step 2. Wear gloves when treating a cat's wound
A cat's wound may still ooze pus, which is made up of bacteria, blood, and other body fluids. Therefore, do not treat the wound with your bare hands. Be sure to wear vinyl or latex gloves whenever you clean or examine the wound.
Step 3. Keep the cat's wound clean
You can clean the wound on the cat with plain warm water. Prepare a clean rag or washcloth and wet it with water. Next, use this cloth to clean the pus from the wound. Rinse the cloth and repeat until all the pus on the cat has been removed.
Clean all the fluid that comes out of the wound with a cloth or washcloth that has been moistened with warm water
Step 4. Peel off the scab carefully
If a layer of scab forms on the hole in the abscess, you can remove this layer by moistening it with a warm washcloth. In the meantime, you can leave this layer of scab on if the wound on your cat is no longer festering or swollen. If in doubt, contact your veterinarian first.
- To loosen the layer of scab that has formed on the surface of the wound, moisten a washcloth with warm water. Next, squeeze the washcloth to reduce the water and apply it to the wound surface. Leave the washcloth on for a few minutes to help soften the scab. Repeat this step 2-3 times until the wound scabs soften and peel off from the wound.
- The process of abscess formation takes about 10-15 days. So, keep checking the scab area to see if the sore on your cat is starting to swell. If you find pus or swelling in the wound, take your cat to the vet.
Step 5. Ask your veterinarian for advice before using hydrogen peroxide
The use of hydrogen peroxide is still controversial because research shows that in addition to causing pain, hydrogen peroxide can also worsen the damage to infected tissue, thereby slowing its healing. Plain water or a special antiseptic solution in the form of a mixture of water and povidone iodine are the best choices.
- To be on the safe side, contact your veterinarian and consult whether the use of hydrogen peroxide is suitable for your cat's wound.
- If even using hydrogen peroxide, be sure to dilute it first with water in a 1:1 ratio. After that, moisten a cotton ball or gauze with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution. Wipe a cotton ball to remove pus and debris from the edges of the wound, but don't apply it directly to the wound. Do this treatment 2-3 times a day.
Step 6. Examine the wound on the cat
Observe the wound on the cat 2-3 times a day. Make sure the wound does not swell. Swelling indicates infection in the wound. So, if your cat's sores swell, call your vet.
Whenever examining a wound on a cat, pay attention to the amount of pus that is draining out. Supposedly, the amount of pus that comes out will decrease every day. If the number is the same or even more, you should contact your veterinarian
Step 7. Prevent the cat from licking or biting the wound
You should try to prevent the cat from licking or biting the wound or any discharge from it, as the bacteria in the cat's mouth can exacerbate the infection. If your cat appears to be biting or licking the wound/pus, call your vet.
To prevent your cat from biting or licking the wound, you may need to attach a mouthpiece to protect it while it heals
Tips
- Have your cat checked for wounds after he has had a fight with another cat. Watch for signs of abscess formation.
- If you find any signs of an abscess, take your cat to the vet so that it can be examined and given antibiotics right away. This treatment will reduce the chances of developing a more serious infection.
