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My cat got scratched in a fight. What signs to watch for before vet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 3 years old | 12.5 lbs

One of our other cats isn't too fond of Winston and attacks him pretty routinely. Yesterday, this happened again and afterward I did find what appear to be some scratches, etc that have scabbed over. Winston is not acting like he is in pain and he is eating normally. I'm going to call and make an appointment with our vet as soon as the office opens to get checked and rule out any possible infections. What else should I watch for in the mean time?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 4th, 2017

I'm sorry to hear that your cats are not getting along. That can be very frustrating. You may want to try adding ia pheromone diffuser, like Feliway, to your home because these can help ease some of your cat's anxiety. You may also want to consider talking to your vet about getting your more aggressive cat on anxiety medication. This may help make things easier between the cats so you don't have to worry about them fighting all the time. As far as taking care of Winston, keep a close eye on him for now. Make sure he is continuing to eat and drink. And also, it goes without saying, keep him separated from the other cat. Look for any lumps or swelling that could indicate an abscess forming. If Winston stops eating, becomes lethargic, or you noticed a swelling, then you should definitely take him to the vet. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

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