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Why is my cat biting and scratching his swollen, inflamed stomach?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | neutered | 2 years and 8 months old

My three kittens were born February 2015 and were neutered at the free mobile clinic in May of 2015. Since then one of my cats has never healed properly. Now his stomach has been swollen 4 months and this week he has begun biting and scratching at the swollen inflamed looking area.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Joy Fuhrman, DVM, MBA, CPA

Veterinarian

Published on October 24th, 2017

These lesions are not located at or near the castration surgery site and are therefore likely unrelated to the surgery. It looks like Captain has a pyoderma (skin infection). This could be caused by parasites such as ticks or fleas or it could be due to self-induced trauma. I recommend you have him checked out by a veterinarian to obtain appropriate anti-fungal or anti-bacterial medications. You may also want to consider an e-collar (cone) to prevent any further licking of the lesions.

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    Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Please confirm if this cat is male and if it was a regular castration as generally no wound would be in this region and this patch is unlikely to be related to wound healing. Overgrooming is a common indication of stress in cats and frequently occurs in multicat households. Calming supplements and pheromone products can help but rehoming to a single cat household is occasionally required. Be sure to keep up to date with flea prevention on all pets also as allergies can also contribute

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