My cat has a red, wet spot that won't heal. Is it a hot spot?

Question

Hi I have a cat that is 4 years old and has a red spot on his upper side area that is about an inch or so in length. He has had this spot for quite sometime and it sometimes has small amounts of fluids coming out and seems like it gets better once in awhile but as he licks it, it hasn’t completely healed and it’ll get worse again. I’m just wondering if it could possibly be a hot spot and if there’s any kind of ointment I could try for him that wouldn’t irritate his skin. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 12 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

Thank you for your question about Oliver. I doubt it's a hot spot as you mentioned he has had it for some time. Some things like mite infections, on going allergies or even something like a eosinophilic granuloma can all have this type of appearance and history. While you can try an at home treatment, it may not work as certain conditions need medications in order to clear. If you want to try anything at home, you first need to protect the area from trauma (Oliver's tongue is very rough) by making Oliver wear and elizabethan collar at all times. Try to wash the area daily with an antibacterial hand soap (rinse it well) as long as Oliver tolerates it. Cats can strike out when they are stressed so make sure to not get bitten or scratched. Alternatively, you can get some pet cleansing wipes and clean the area daily. You can apply a small amount of coconut oil and rub it well into the skin-make sure Oliver does not lick at it. Coconut oil has some antibacterial proprieties and conditions the skin. This may help the wound to heal a little faster. If this does not help within a week, I recommend to take Oliver in to see his veterinarian. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Please feel free to post any further questions!

My cat has a red, wet spot that won't heal. Is it a hot spot?

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