Cat fight wound: Popped abscess is open. How to treat at home?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Cat popped abscess on cheek from cat fight today. Wound has drained but now an open sore. Is there anything I should do until the vets opens tomorrow please?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on May 9th, 2017
The best things that you can do include cleaning the wound with an antiseptic soap (such as chlorhexidine or betadine) and keeping an e-collar (cone) on your cat to prevent any skin damage from scratching. If you do not have an e-collar at home, this link provides some tips to make one at home: http://dogsaholic.com/care/homemade-dog-cone.html. Your vet will be able to evaluate the extent of the wound and start antibiotics. I hope that all goes well!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 14th, 2019
This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and antibiotics or antifungal meds are absolutely needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can be possibly started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths, but a check up is necessary. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
i need to know how to treat my cats wound full of abcess nd very open
This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and antibiotics or antifungal meds are absolutely needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can be possibly started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths, but a check up is necessary. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My amazing best friend who happens to be a cat has a wound on his neck that has turned into an abscess. I've been applying hot compresses and tonight it finally ruptured. I have and I'm still trying to remove as much of the puss as possible out of it
In this case a picture would be really helpful to understand the extension of the damage and offer you the best treatment options. Antibiotics are likely to be needed, but disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking/scratching (if any). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat has a hole on the side of his chest, right under his neck, pumping out pus and missing fur as well. Looks like an abscess but I'm not sure and cannot go to the vet. What should I do?
Hello and welcome to Boop by Petco. That does appear to be a burst abscess. Without examining her it's impossible to know for sure, however it resembles and has acted like an abscess. Ideally she would be seen by a vet, they would flush it out with warm (not hot) salt water (1 teaspoon in 1 cup of water- your vet would use sterile saline) and then likely get antibiotics and pain meds. An E-collar also prevents Littlecloud from licking and introducing more bacteria into the wound. If you cannot go to a vet, I recommend flushing it/cleaning it with salt water. Do not use any topical creams, just leave it open to drain. Clean it twice a day with the salt water, and try to prevent Littlecloud from licking at it or chewing at it. The main pain has now gone since the abscess has burst (the pressure is relieved) . Do not give any human pain medications as these are often very toxic to cats. Best of luck with Littlecloud!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
hi my cat was in a fight 3 days ago. he had a scab you could feel on 2nd day. today one of the areas he's either licked thr scab off. /fur directly round sore is gone .i dont want it to become an abses .if i wash wound area with salted water or beda
typically an abscess forms after the scab traps the bacteria under the skin. Salt water will likely burn and betadine can be caustic. You are better to wash it with mild soap and water and keep Neosporin on the area just minimize the licking. If you notice swelling then you will need to see a vet for medicaiton
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 6 month old Manx female has an open wound on her side. It’ just popped early this morning and it’s round with yellow skin inside.. I believe it was originally a tooth puncture from my other cat. My vet opens at 8 am tomorrow so I just want to mak
Poor Boobie! I think you are quite right that it has been caused by a bite from the other cat. This wound looks typical of a cat bite abscess that has burst out. She will actually feel much better now it has burst as the pressure will have reduced. You can try cleaning it with chlorhexidine in water or iodine if you have them. If not salty water would do the job. You may find she really resents you touching it, if so just leave it until you go to the vet tomorrow as she will be better when she gets some pain relief. The collar is a great idea. Tomorrow at the vet they will clean and clip the wound, then likely give her an antibiotic injection and antinflammatory medication. You will also need to clean the wound regularly to stop it closing over before all the infection is resolved.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What is this ?? And please suggest a proper remedy for it as I am not having any vet nearby
I am so incredibly sorry this has happened to your cat Gulabo. I would start by placing an e-collar on her straight away so she can't bite or lick the wound. This will cause further tissue trauma and may introduce infection. It appears to be Cat bite woulnd, unfortunately these types of wounds are very likely to form an abcess. Which is an accumulation of Bacteria and dead and dying white blood cells. This forms puss and accumulates when wounds close over infection, under the skin, until it bursts. Due this high likelihood for an abcess, as well as the fact that the would is currently open and bleeding, I would advise taking Gulabo to the veterinarian as soon as you can. The vet will clean the wound by flushing it with saline. The vet may need to place a surgical drain in order to prevent pus building up and an abcess forming. The vet can also prescribe medications such a as antibiotics, pain relief, and anti-inflammatories to make Gulabo comfortable and help the healing process.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My cat got into a fight with some other cat and he has small wounds on his legs and around his tail. He is an outdoor cat, there is no way i can get him neutered or make him an indoor cat, but i can't take him to the vet because of the costs. There a
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Cats are miraculous healers. The leg could just be sore. I would worry about an abscess forming from the bite. Abscesses required opening them up and antibiotics. The only thing you can do is clean the wounds twice daily with warm water and a mild soap and warm compress the wounds after each cleaning for the next 3-5 days. I wish you the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat is an inside / outside cat we found. That's why we let him go outside. He has a hole probably from a fight that's bleeding on right side of his ear. His cheek seems swollen or that area. The white is neosporin I put on it. He has other scratch
Agree that Mochi may greatly benefit from antibiotics. Infections related to fighting are common and these can become more severe the longer they are present (though the body will try to heal itself). have Mochi wear an elizabethan collar at all times to protect the wound. Keep the wound clean and dry. Keep Mochi inside. Here is a link about abscesses: https://www.petcoach.co/article/abscesses-a-common-skin-condition-in-cats/ You may look into financing through Care Credit or Scratch Pay. You may call the local humane society to ask if they offer/know of any low cost solutions. Moving forward, keep Mochi indoors and I recommend to have her spayed as there are many health and behavioral benefits to the procedure. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a 2 year old cat and a 1 year old basset beagle mix. I believe that they were playing a little too rough and the cat now has a single puncture wound towards the base of his tail and a little to the side. He is walking and eating fine. He only
Yes. I would gently clean the wound with warm water and antiseptic soap. To keep him from licking at it, you can put an Ecollar on him. You can get one at a pet store or make one at home. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and he will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Our cat got some kind of infection in his cheek took him to vets office when we noticed the swelling- swelling broke open and they treated him however they told me that the skin on his cheek and jaw would fall off which it is - what is the treaent af
Poor Brother, that's a nasty looking abscess. The best thing you can do until his appointment is to fit an e collar or cone on him so he doesnt scratch the wound. If he'll let you, you can use a dilute wound cleanser from the drug store like diluted povidone or chlorhexidine to clean any discharge. Hopefully he's already protected with antibiotics.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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