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My cat got a cut grooming. How to stop licking and prevent infection?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 10 years and 11 months old | 17 lbs

I cut my cats skin when clipping out a mat of fur. It did not bleed but is a wound. He does not seem bothered or acting any differently but he does want to lick it every once and awhile. I don't think he needs to seek medical attention but I am wondering if it is better to cover it so he doesn't lick it in order to keep it clean. I rinsed the wound after it happened with saline.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 18th, 2017

Oh no, I'm sorry this happened! You can gently clean the cut with warm water and antiseptic soap. I wouldn't put any antibiotic ointment on Zeke. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, cats groom and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed. I would put an Ecollar on Zeke to keep him from licking at it. You can get one from a pet store. Keep an eye on the cut, and if it becomes red, swollen, warm to the touch, or has pus, it's infected and he will need to see a vet for antibiotics.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Penelope Graben, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on September 19th, 2019

    Hello, This is a very common event in home grooming. It would be helpful to see a photograph of the wound to better advise you. The larger and deeper the wound, the more likely it is that she will need antibiotics to prevent an infection. If the wound is relatively small and superficial, it may heal on its own. You can gently clean the wound with a dilute chlorhexidine solution. In the future, I recommend using clippers with a guard to prevent this from happening. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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    Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 13th, 2017

    Unfortunately these wounds can sometimes be deep and require sutures to close. Without seeing your dog in person I cannot assess the severity of the wound, so truly he should see a vet for an exam. It may be that the wound is small enough it won't need closure but may need antibiotics. In the meantime I would clean it well with mild soap or hibiclens (available at drug stores) and apply a topical antibiotic like neosporin several times a day. Keep your dog indoors except to use the bathroom to avoid flies in the wound and if he is licking at it he needs an e-collar to prevent this. Signs of infection include swelling, pain, heat, redness, and discharge.

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