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My cat has a red patch on his back after a scratch. Should I see a vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 2 months old | 8 lbs

My cat was a stray that we took in, and over the past week a red patch on his back has grown. It grew over a scratch that he got fighting another outdoor cat. I'm not sure if it is from the cat scratch or if it is separate from it. But since he got that scratch we took him to the vet where he got all of his vaccinations and they said he seemed perfectly healthy. I was wondering what this patch is and if I should buy any type of treatment for it, or take him to the vet.

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Rachel

Veterinarian

Published on July 7th, 2017

It looks as if Jack has been licking this spot, meaning it is probably irritating him. It could be from an old wound, a bacterial infection (called a "hot spot"), or even a mite infestation. Unfortunately, when cats groom sore areas they often become more irritated and take longer to heal. If you can, place a cone collar on him or a kitty t-shirt over the area to cover it. I would recommend having it looked at by a vet just to make sure it does not require additional treatment such as antibiotics or medication for mites.

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