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My cat has a deep, swollen wound. What can I do until I see a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My cat has a deep cut starting at the corner of her mouth and ending a bit past the halfway point on her cheek, almost like half of a Glasgow smile. It has a slight odor and minor swelling. The cheek appears intact, she isn't acting like she feels sick or that it's bothering her much. But I won't be able to afford to take her to the vet for almost a week. What can I do at home for the time being to decrease the chance of it turning into something bad?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Rosemary Barber, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 20th, 2017

Hello! The main issue is that the area is likely getting infected, and she ideally needs to be started on some medications, so getting her to a vet as soon as possible is in her best interest. In the meantime, just keep the area as clean as you can, with warm water.

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