Abscesses are a serious condition that warrant treatment — and frankly, they are pretty fun to treat. At Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital, we generally see abscesses in our feline patients who spend time outdoors socializing with other neighborhood cats and creatures, since abscesses are usually caused by a bite from another animal. We tend see to them on the back part of a cat’s body, although they can occur anywhere. Typically, a cat will receive such a bite while running away from a predator — and trying to escape a potentially much more serious injury (or worse).
Because most cats are furry, a puncture wound or bite wound will typically be covered by hair, so it will be difficult to spot. And when your cat returns home, it likely will resume its normal activity (eating and sleeping), so you probably won’t suspect a thing. But after a bite, there’s often trouble brewing beneath your cat’s skin.
Bite wounds frequently cause small punctures where bacteria from the predator’s teeth are having a grand old time. The skin wound seals up, and the bacteria continue to multiply and fester below the skin surface. About four days after a bite takes place, you may start to notice that your kitty’s appetite is diminished, or that it doesn’t want to come out from under a bed. In short, your cat just may not be acting like its normal, happy self.
At this point, your cat needs to see a veterinarian. Most cats with an abscess will have a fever — and if left untreated, a simple ailment can spiral out of control and become a much larger, more serious medical issue. Dehydration is also common in these cases, since cats who are feeling crummy tend not to eat and drink as they should.
At Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital, in this kind of situation, a full physical exam will be performed on your pet, and an estimate will be presented to you before any treatments are carried out. Generally in this circumstance, your cat will need to be sedated for treatment, and the abscess will need to be lanced. The wound will be flushed out, and often a drain will be surgically placed so that the wound does not seal right back up. The wound will need to drain for 2-3 days, after which time the drain can be removed by your family veterinarian.
Antibiotics and sometimes pain medication will be dispensed to take care of the infection and treat your cat’s discomfort. We often offer an injectable antibiotic that lasts for 2 weeks, in order to keep you from the hassles of trying to get your cat to take an antibiotic pill or liquid at home.
Recovery from an abscess generally takes a few days, but your cat should perk up and want to eat and drink normally within 24-48 hours. If at that point your kitty still isn’t feeling up to snuff, a recheck exam should be scheduled as soon as possible.
© 2010 Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital. All rights reserved.
I have a cat, indoor, that gets an abscess once a year no fight just a zit. Could I do anything to treat it at home? No head yet just sensitive. K
Sounds very strange if it is yearly. Although I can not diagnose without seeing the cat. You might want to consider a yearly allergen? Cats also get feline acne and this could be that. If the cat is drinking out of a plastic water bowl or food bowl and the acne is on its face, try changing to steel. Otherwise I would try to make a vet appointment when the mass is present and they can take a look. Good question.
Dr. Tripp Stewart
Greenbrier Emergency Animal Hospital.
My cat is between 10-12 years old has a bump on his face looks kind of hard its a bit pussy and bloody and grotess we gave him 2ml benidril thinking it was an allergy last night just once we if course searched it up but that did nothing can you give us a hand if its and abscess cancer or a fungal infection
No way to tell without seeing it. Can you go to a vet and have it looked at? That needs antibiotics at the least.
What kinds of antibiotics so the give a cat for an abscess? Amoxicillin?
I try not to answer very specific drug and dosing questions. Please call your local vet. Sorry.
My cat had a abscess removed two weeks ago, I woke up this morning and their was infection all over her again, another ruptured abscess in the same spot. What do I do
Go see a vet about antibiotics. Make sure it is not new or a continuation of the old one.
My cat got a pretty big one after a dog attack and it popped no bleeding or stench
Should I take him in?
I always advise a check up if you are concerned. They can get worse fast.
Can you help me?
My kitten scratched a little but noticeable hole in his neck and it looks like yellow liquid came out I tried to call a vet but they had no doctors in and I covered it the best I could what should I do ??
keep it clean and dry and take him to the vet tomorrow. Use mild soapy water and rinse it well.
ok you get this all the time. but my cat has a absyss on his head. ive cleaned it for about 2 weeks but if anything getting worse. I love the little bastered but im on a pension. and need a cheap way to treat him or my nefue will put him down. and I don’t want that
You nephew needs to be re-educated or scolded. Take hi to a vet for an antibiotic shot. Call an SPCA and see if they have an assistance program, or call local vet offices to get a price. Someone will help you. The cat needs to be seen and figure out what is going on. It might be something worse if it is not getting better.
My family had adopted a hairless cat in a foreign place (we are familiar with but don’t speak the language well) and the foreign vet had to drain the abscess that the 2-3 month kitten. It was decided the kitten would stay there for the week so he could be drained again and not have to travel far. Sadly he passed away 2 days after we had given him to the vet it was been roughly 4 months since then and I’m still heartbroken, but I wanted to now how often do cats (specifically kittens) pass away when having an abscess?
rarely, but it can happen. I dont know anything else about the case, but rarely.
My cat was gone for 3 days and then she came home looking injured and we felt a small bump on her back and it’s growing now. She hisses at us when we touch it so it must cause pain. She’s not her happy self anymore either and we’re thinking about taking her to the vet.
yes, please bring her to a vet. It is an abscess most likley.
My cat got stung by a waspe or bug of some kind on his head.
The wound is starting to stink and im starting to worry i tryed cleaning it up abit with baby wipes but its very tender for him.
Half of his head is swollen
Sounds worse than a bee sting. Snake, spider or abscess maybe? Bring him to a vet for antibiotics and pain medication. This sounds serious.
My cat has a small gash and clear liquid is coming out
Ok, please take care of it?
I have an indoor only, 7 year old Egyptian Mau. She is up to date with all her vaccinations. Last month we noticed a bump on her back about an inch above her tail. She doesnt like it to be touched. We took her to the vet. They felt it and said it was a cyst, gave her a shot of antibiotic and sent us on our way.
The bump is still there. Should we take her back or does it take a while for the cyst to go away? What do you suggest? She is our baby.
Cysts come back and will stay and even grow if that is what it is. I would bring her back and have then stick a needle in it or remove and biopsy it if it looks bad. I would guess they are right and it is just a cyst. If so, leave it unless it grows too big or gets very painful…..
Please help! A cat that lives outdoors had a severe infection right above his eye. Its swollen about the size of a pistachio but the cost of surgery was so far out of reach- i live paycheck to paycheck and had to borrow part of the 200$ it was for the antibiotic shot and visit. Anyways the shot didnt help,it seems like theres more visible patches of meat and i cant afford for another visit, not for awhile. Is there anything else i can do? Ice packs, heat packs? Ive brought him inside ever since the vets and hes just been sleeping like 20 hours a day. Hes very old, im thinking probably 14+ years. He still purrs when i pet him and hes not crying out of pain but it looks awful
There is not too much more I can advise without knowing the cause (infection, cancer, trauma….). You can certainly use warm and cold compress (depending on the cause) and you can keep it clean with warm soapy water and rinses. Otherwise you needs to see what happens. It might be cancer in which case there is nothing you can do, or it might be infection and doing what I suggested will help. Good luck.
So I’m assuming my cat has an absess that has not yet drained yet, considering theres nothing but a small scab and the fur around it is bare. It feels soft to the touch as if theres fluid inside. It doesnt seem to be very severe since she is playing around, drinking and eating fine. I know I’ve seen people recommend a warm compress to get it to drain. Any advice other than to just take her to the vet? Vet costs have become so expensive and I can hardly afford it.
If you can not go to a vet, then just warm compress it and try to remove the scab and see if you can milk out the puss and drain it. HOWEVER, that is assuming it an an abscess and not cancer, cyst, foreign material…… the safest and fastest way for it to heal is with vet care and antibiotics.
My best friend’s cat has an awful double headed syst on her undercarriage. It looks very bad. She’s had this cat 12 years and we don’t have the funds to take her to an emergency vet clinic. What the hell do we do?
Impossible to answer this, bring the cat to a regular vet in the morning?
Hi . I’ve noticed my 2 to 3 month old kitten all of a sudden stopped playing ( Completely) he is NOT EATING OR DRINKING. I DID GET HIM TO DRINK A LITTLE BIT OF WATER AND EAT SOME GRAVY FROM A CAN OF WET CAT FOOD THIS MORNING. I NOTICED LAST NIGHT HIS TINY LITTLE FACE WAS SWOLLEN. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING I NOTICED AN ABCESS ON THE SIDE OF HIS NECK. IT IS LEAVING FLUID COMING OUT OF THE WOUND SITE. WE HAVE OTHER CATS IN THE HOME AND ONE OF THE OTHER CATS WAS JUST TAKEN TO THE VET A FEW DAYS AGO FOR THE **SAME THING** I HAVE HIM IN MY BEDROOM AWAY FROM THE OTHER CATS. IM WAITING UNTIL 9 :00 AM UNTIL THE VET OPENS. WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE HIM MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE TIME BEING UNTIL MY VET OPENS? PLEASE SEND ME A REPLY BACK. IM SCARED THAT MY KITTEN WILL DIE BEFORE I AM ABLE TO GET HIM TO THE VET. I KNOW HES RUNNING A FEVER BECAUSE WHEN I PET HIM TO TRY TO COMFORT HIM HE IS VERY VERY WARM. WAY WARMER THAN HES SUPPOSED TO BE.. PLEASE HELP!!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💔🐈
Hello!!!! Can a VET PLEASE send me a reply back!!!??? I DON’T WANT MY PRECIOUS LITTLE KITTEN TO DIE💚🙇🙇😭😭😭😭😭😢😢😢
Sorry, I answer these questions when I can for free. I missed this. I hope she is ok. There are often ER vets around that can help after hours. It is what we do.
My cat was limping recently and I took him to the vet. They believe he burned his paw and gave him an antibiotic shot and put a cone-shaped collar on him to prevent him from licking it. I just noticed that he has what appears to be a blister on his lower lip. Is this likely related to the shot?
Probably not the shot, but might be some more infection. If this remains for more than a few days bring him back to the vet. He might need to have it lanced or injected.
My cat Zoey is about 1 year and has 2 kittens she bites only one on the neck and now it is really bad it has no fur and it’s red and is alittle bloody do we need to start nursing the kittens I don’t know what to do but the kittens r only 4 weeks. Please help!!!
Take the kittens away and try to feed them soft cat food. If they will not eat soft cat food then start to bottle feed them for a week or two and transition them to soft food as soon as they will eat it.
Hi there! I had a feral cat taken to the vet the other day and had a foot abscess i&d… he is post op day one and the foot is swollen still (like a duck with toes spread) and is having some serosanguinous drainage. Is this normal? I am not familiar with post op cat situations. Thanks!
Yes, this can be normal a day after surgery. I would watch it another day or 2 then bring him back to the vet for a follow up.
Hi,
My cat got in a fight and had a small cut above his eye he kept scratching it and in a matter of 2 days it turned into a little bigger than a quarter size wound and was abcessed I took him to a vet they gave him antibiotics and pain meds and a cone however He is an escape artist and the cone is doing more damage than helping so I’ve put him in a dog cage in my living room to keep an eye on him the abcess drained on it’s own about 3 days in with antibiotics and I cleaned it up with warm water the vet didn’t clean it because I couldn’t afford the anaesthesia its been 5 days now hes been really good leaving it alone and no longer has any pus or smell however this morning the scab came off now he has about a 2in circle of exposed raw bloody skin it didn’t bleed much I cleaned it but I’m concerned about it healing should I bandage it? It just let it heal on it’s own? Should I try the cone again? Should he go back to the vet?
Watch it for worsening. You can try to leave it and see if it starts to heal. This might just be the under scab or if it starts oozing or bleeding go back to the vet AND start the cone. Good luck.
My cat has an open wound filled with puss I guess, but that puss won’t drain out even when the wound popped open.
I have given her amoxicillin for now.
She’s fever and the place where that thing is popped open feels tender , hard like a stone to touch.
I am taking her to vet today in the evening but I am worried about her life also. She’s our only baby. What should I do ?
Go to the vet and do not in the future start amoxicillin without seeing the vet first, they might change the antibiotics and that is not ideal. Get to the vet asap.
My cat was treated for a burst abscess this morning, with a shot of congenial and 4 days of pain medication. The vet left it open and it is still bloody. Is this normal?
Yes, that is normal. That is the correct treatment.
They gave me some antibotics and pain pills for the cat today is the second from the vet it did improve butt its not looking so good is that normal any info plz
Give it another day or 2 then go back…. hard to say. Sorry
I had this same question. The wound seems very large to close up on its own. It is at least an inch square. Will I have to take her back for stitches once it stops draining?
It depends on the wound. Often you can let smaller wounds heal on their own. Never close an abscess that is still infected.
I found a cat that had been run over and I don’t have the ability to take it to the vet. I have put him on my back porch and it has been 4 days now. He is very sweet and doesn’t appear to be in pain but very sore. He has walked around a little bit, he has peed and pooped with no signs of blood but he is very swollen around his rear left leg and side. I have laid my hands on his rear when he walked and I can feel something pop or snap slightly. Skin appears very bruised but no open wounds. Can’t get him to drink any water but he has had some goats milk and half a can of moist food…any advice??? Can I order any antibiotic for him?
Sounds like its dislocated or broken. If the cat is nice then it is an owned cat and someone is missing a cat. Call the SPCA or post posters around looking for the owner. I do not think antibiotics will help if it has a broken leg or displaced joint. You need xrays and a vet visit. Sorry.
Hi my cat have this swollen cushion at least 3 x in past years , it swelled up and it warm to touch , he doesnt let anyone near him beside myself and have to be sedated to see the vet , this tive she ask me to send pictures bc she didnt want to stress him out and get him under again , she prescribe clavamox ,this has been goin one for more them one week , i gave all the clavamox , and now i can see a openi g like a lil crack on his cushion , he is eating drinking ,playing , runing with the other cat , with me acting normal just lil limp and favoring that paw sometimes not too offen , what should i do ?
Good question. Maybe a biopsy next time to see if there is some auto immune or cancer component? Allergic? I really do not know. If the clavamox works great, if not you might try steroids next time? Good luck, sounds interesting.
Hi just adding to my question , he is a indoor cat , up to date on all his vaccines ,
Just to correct you just because the cats nice does not mean it’s owned and someone is missing it. Do you even realize how many evil and disgusting people there are that will dump their cats to the street when they move because they can’t take their cat with them and they can’t find someone to take it. So they put them outside. So it doesn’t mean that it’s someones cat that they r missing.
18 yr old cat eats and drinks normally but has benign but putrid abscess on hind leg. Removal of tumor not guaranteed. Is amputation an option?
Almost impossible to say without seeing and touching the pet. Please ask your local vet.
We took our cat to the vet on Sept 2nd for a swollen lump on the lower left side of his lower jaw. We didn’t know if it was a tooth or a spider bite or bee sting? The vet said it was abscessed and gave him Rimadyl injection – Anti-inflammatory and then Clavamox Drops 15ml for home. My question is: the next day we noticed the abscess swelling was almost completely gone but there is a sore where it must have drained…but where and when did it drain? The vet didn’t lance it to our knowledge? It looks like it’s starting to heal but how did it drain? Thank you
Probably the abscess burst and the cat licked it up. Gross but is is what they do. Sounds like the right treatment and it is healing. Rimadyl is NOT my first choice in cats but I guess it worked! Next time ask about cat specific NSAIDS>
Hi Gima, did you manage to call the RSPCA? if you need any help with organising them to come and pick up the poor cat you have very kindly helped just reply with your email address and I can get some more details from you and give them a call. M
that’s nice if you to do that,
iv done this twice, but depending where you live if uk call the rspca asap and give them all the details. they will collect him don’t leave him because you don’t know if his suffering any internal injuries as well or head trauma
I my 2 0ld ginger male cat have been bittin in the nek by a wild cat tuesday night the next day i took him to the vet for some intecsins and so on and he did improve in this two days any info for help plz
He should improve in 2-4 days. If not then bring him back for more treatments. Impossible to tell you without touching the cat. Sorry.
So I took my cat in and got him the surgery and drain. Today at his follow up the skin around it Isn’t doing very well. Is there any thing I can do at home to try and save the skin?
Warm wet compress to increase the circulation and drainage usually is very helpful if the animal will tolerate it. Otherwise time and nature will take its course. Good luck.
Please help me! My name is Tina and I am fostering a 8 day old kitten. Yesterday I took home to the vet and she drained it using a needle,he is very tiny, I took him home and I have drained it and warm compresses 4 times since. IT KEEPS COMING BACK WITHIN A HOUR! What can I do? I don’t want to lose him, he has a home once raised to a nice family. And the vet said she can’t do anything more. My personal email is tmw6376@aol.com ………..please help.
I’m not sure I understand what is going on. Sorry. is it an abscess? The vet should help, they have touched the kitten and are way more knowledgeable about the case than me. Listen to the vet please. Good luck.
Hi, I’ve got a female cat who usually likes to go outside explores for a few hours and comes back in, well these past few days she hasn’t been her self! When I say she hasn’t been her usally self it started when I was stroking her and she cried and went for me, this was very odd as she’s usally all loving never hurt anyone. As I was checking her over I noticed it was her front leg coved in bite marks all round the top shoulder. The next morning she’s started with a limp she hasn’t broken the leg as I checked by moving it in and out and didn’t hurt her.. But it’s been like this for a few days now where she’s limping. What would you advise me to do thanks
GO TO A VET! Sorry for the caps but what do you expect me to say. Imagine if it was your child and they had bites all over them and were not acting right, and were in obvious pain and and not themselves. Please….go to a vet.
Yes I’ve booked it going tomorrow!!!
Great!
My kitty has a abscess on his upper neck from, well, we don’t know what, he’s an indoor and we cleaned it up, (we are trying to avoid the vet) but he keeps scratching it and opening it up and it starts to bleed a lot, it’s too high to try and cover it, so I really don’t know what to do.
Got see a vet to get it to heal faster and get an e-collar.
No offense lady but well put Doc!
My 15 year old male cat was treated for cellulitis 2 days ago and the swelling seems to be getting worse. Is this normal? The vet gave him an antibiotic shot and pain meds. Just worried that the infection will turn to an access and make him super sick.
Im not sure why he had the cellulitis. Hard to speculate. These are things you can certainly call your vet office and ask about.
Some people can’t afford a vet for a few cuts. She’s asking are there any home treatments. I wouldn’t necessary go to a doctor for some cuts on my shoulder.
Very hard to give any advice on something I can not see or is not well described. The point of this blog/free advice is not to allow people to avoid sing a vet for something, but to offer some “quick minor” advice in a pinch. I certainly agree that not all scratches need a vet, but without more history, and description I have no other choice but to refer someone to a professional.
Hi, I have a 2 year old Male Mog, He started limping off his right leg, It seemed to happen over night, Then very quickly got worst. I took him to the vets & they X-ray ed & only saw an extra peace of bone in the shoulder but nothing broken or fractured . We brought him home with pain killers & kept him in.
After a month staying in he seemed to get even worst & poor thing wasn’t a well cat.
I booked him into vet again & that very morning before vets I noticed a big red spot on his right shoulder under his neck line. Full of puss!
The vet squeezed out a lot of puss, then we booked another X-ray & the abscess to be cleaned.
After that brought him home on pain killers & antibiotics injection & from then he was a new cat. After another 3 weeks in & a collar on he was all fixed & back to normal. Phew!
BUT! Now after 1 month later he’s started to limp again! Not sure my insurance will pay for more treatment.
Do you think this peace of extra bone is causing the infection?
Great questions. Not sure what an extra piece of bone is? A broken piece? Could just be another or more of the same abscess. Your insurance better pay for it, they have no choice. Have you vet raise a stink if they dont. Go back on pain meds and antibiotics. Try it again. Good luck. The bone piece could be something for a boarded surgeon to look at. Maybe send the xrays off to have them reviewed too. It costs between $50-$100 to have an expert review.
My cats has an abscess just above its left eye and I have cleaned but the next day it scabbed over should I re clean it or just leave it till I take it to the vet?
I would always recommend a vet visit if you have any concerns. Keeping it clean is very important….so Both?
Portia..my beautiful rescue cat.. was not treated well by a vet. I took her for an ear infection. No swabs taken.. but polyps seen and I clean her ear every dsy..gently. hoerver the vet broke her ear drum with and ear bud. It bled for a week.ut was cleaning. This vet had her on antbiotics ( a guess as no swab) for 2 years.. and ear drops. She changed the drops after breaking the war drum and Portia has a fit and lost her balance following the new drops.
I left.. and I’m hurt and angry. A temporary vet swabbed and chose a relevant antibioitic… it seemed to dry her ear… only to stop pus dripping out of her ear…BIT6 over a perioid of 5 hpurs she grew a huge abcess full of pus under the ear. 3 months later I am still trying to clean and flush through everynight.. but now there a pus on top of the ear although it hasn’t burst .. I am presuming it is.. we are trying for surgery… but with no insurance this has cost me thousands over the years.. everybody says put her down… but not until she is not putting and shows complete disinterest in good.. have u heard of what I have describe above…. sorry..this is precis even! Very grateful for feed back
Regards
Fyzx
Very hard to follow the history here and without seeing the cat and seeing more of what was done I really can not advise. I would pick the vet that made you feel most comfortable and was the “best” and stick with their treatment plan. Do not mix different vet advice but stick with one vet and follow what they say. I would consider a dermatology specialist of possible too. Im sorry to hear about you cat’s ears, they can be very hard to treat if infected. There are a number of new very good medication that can be used so make sure you are seeing a newish up to date vet. Good luck!!
My 7yr old cat had an abscess on his head. It burst and the vet gave him 2 week long antibiotics. Within a few days it swoll up aroun his eye and this time the put him out and flushed his head. We have to “scrub” the wound with diluted *pink* wash that foams up but I think it seems to bother him, his nose is like a purple/brown dyed colour and I think it’s affecting his eyes, like it stings. He’s very upset and is looking haggard. I can’t keep the wound clean without this getting in his eyes. What can I do, it’s very upsetting.
Good question. Stop using that solution and change to clean warm water alone instead. if you want you can add a drop ob J and J baby shampoo or some tearless soap. Water should be fine. Volume of water to dilute the pus and bacteria is the key.
My cat has an abscess in his mouth on the gum, the vet checked only the left side of his mouth because that was the side facing her on the examining table. His gums were severely swollen and inflamed so she put him on an antibiotic and steroid. After taking them for a few days he seemed to be doing better until I had to lower the dose of the steroid, so I called her and she prescribed more steroid. However, it was after this that I found the abscess on the right side of the gum….so made another call to the vet and she said to stop the steroid right away and get more antibiotics,,, done that and now he’s in pain again. Well giving him the steroid for pain do more damage than good…my vet seems to think so but I hate to see him in pain????
Figue out what the abscesses are from. Stomatitis? Immune disease? Bites or fights? Kidney disease? Dental disease….the list goes on. Some of them are helped greatly with steroids and some are made worse. Steroids have very little pain effect too, so you might want true pain control. Time to see your vet again or a new vet for a second opinion about oral abscesses or “ulcers” as they are most likely.
Hi my cat is five year old tabby she normally s healthy outside cat however the other day I woke up to find her limping holding her foot up and won’t put it down Iv let her rest but the only thing now is that a hole as appear in the top of her paw and its mattering she won’t put it down can u suggest what I do thanks
Bring her to a vet, sounds like an abscess ruptured and is infected. She needs pain medication and antibiotics. Warm soapy water soaks can help too at home until you get to a vet.
My cat had ine last year on the bottom of her neck, i treated it and it went away. Now she has several, n it seems as soon as one closes up another one begins. Is there any kind of cleaning i can do to help maybe get rid of this bacteria? The other cat she’s been bit by is my other indoor cat, and her “husband” he bites her neck even tho hes had the operation. I guess as long as he bites her shell Have them? They dont seem to bother her.. But u never know
Not sure what “ine” are but if they are abscesses then they need to be looked at by a vet. Too many is not good and she should be getting over them. If she is being attacked or bullied by the other cats then she needs to be separated or she will be very stressed and keep getting attacked. Sorry I do not understand the questions.
My cat is 3 years old. When he was about 1 year maybe less his foot sweled up so I took him to his vet. They said it was probably a cat fight and lanced it then gave me antibiotics. That was it. The swelling when down for a couple days and then swelled up again so I took him back. They gave me more antibiotics and that was it. The swelling never went down. Went to the vet mutiple times and spent over 5000 on test. Everytime it was nothing. So I took him to another vet. At the time it wasn’t bothering him so they told me it was just nothing that’s what his foot is going to look like now (by the way the foot is about 6 times the size of the other feet). Every now and then it bothers him. But he has been outside more lately and I come home tonight and he won’t move will barely open his eyes for me. Everytime he opens his eyes he moves his foot like I just grabbed him or something. What do I do? The vet always says it’s nothing
Wow, get a second opinion. His foot should not be swollen like that. Maybe it is some cancer or auto immune thing, but it is still not right. If the cat is so lethargic he cant stand there is a major problem. $5000 on the foot issue with no resolution seems very high, I would hope that that included an MRI! If he will not move and this is new for him, then I would have to assume the foot is not the cause and I would take him to a vet…… try a new vet? The foot issue sounds very strange and I actually do not have too any suggestions. Sorry.
I found a kitten three days ago; the vet said he is about 4 or 5 weeks old. When we found him he had a lump on the left side of his neck. Yesterday it ruptured, so we took him in to the vet for an emergency visit. She notified us that, since we are unaware how the kitten sustained the injury to his neck, we would have to put him on a 10 day evaluation period for rabies. He does seem sick or as if he doesn’t feel good; however, he eats well (not much interested in water, though he will drink it if given to him through a syringe), his eyes focus and dilate and his mobility seems to be progressing. For example, when we first found him he was barely walking (as if he was just learning; stumbling and falling down), but now he gets up and runs around, plays with his toys and is jumping from stoops. He is a bit wobbly when he walks, but I was thinking it could possible be CH. I do have a 2 year old child, though, and would just like to know how strong of a possibility it is that this kitten does have rabies.
Great question….no way to tell. Sorry. Rabies is not common in kittens but your vet is correct in having you concerned. I would Isolate the kitten from everyone, I mean EVERYONE, except one person who cares for it for the full 10 days maybe longer until the kitten gets better or dies. If the kitten gets better after that time period then you are usually ok. If the kitten dies in that time period then you MUST get the kitten tested (post mortem) by the health department. If the kitten is positive then everyone exposed to the kitten, maybe even the vet and the vet staff, need post exposure vaccines. I would isolate the kitten asap and watch it like a hawk and try to nurse it back to health but if not…… good luck!
I found a kitten with no wound but was falling and couldn’t find water no matter if I stuck its nose in it..I called animal control..the kitten was treated and being adopted now but it had distemper which is treatable if caught early,the officer also believed it was rabies but I had handled the kitten all day with no agression,just purred and wanted loved on..it mite of had distemper,its contagious also and if another cat got it mite of infected the poor lil guy
Remember, Rabies and Distemper in cats does not cause aggression always. This kitten likely had neither of those, but beware of Rabies suspects, that is very serious.
Hi Dr Stewart,
Sorry to barge in like this but I found no other way to comment!
I am currently in Indonesia, pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Found a stray kitten, maybe 10 weeks old, just skin and bones anmd sorry as can be.. He ate and drank fiercely for the first day I had him, yesterday. In the evening I decided to give him a warm bath to clean him up a bit and noticed green goo coming from the base of his tail! Found the hole and followed some directions as for abscess as I found online.
I have a first-aid kit with me and this is what I did. Flushed profusely with salted boiled water (once cooled, of course) and applied a couple of drops of iodine ointment. He slept like a rock last night. Washed wound again out this morning. he’s very sleepy, barely eats some mush meat from my hands,m drinks a little. I can’t tell how active he is or should be. he certainly doesn’t play but can walk around fine when he’s awake.
Anything else I can give him? I have a general amoxy anitbiotic, should I give him a quarter, or half?
of course, here, nature would just have to take its course, but as you can imagine I’d love to give him a ‘good shot’ at recovery, then come what may. I am here for only another 10 days. No vets and no local interested in keeping/taking care of him. No mum cat to be found, either.
thanks for any assistance you may be able to give.
Sounds like you are doing everything you can. I would add the iodine to the flush water rather than directly applying it to a wound but you seem to have done everything I would do. Antibiotics are tricky as I dont know the dose you have, the cats weight, the length of supply….so hold off of now. I would keep up the good work! Nothing else except let the kitten heal. Thanks.
Hi DR.Stewart my kitten has been discharging puss from her vagina with blood how can soothe it I don’t have money for the vet right now. And her belly is very swollen as well what can soothe her till I can take her to the aspca next week ..
I really can not think of anything. She might have pyometra, or a severe UTI and needs to see a vet asap. I guess more food and water than normal and make sure she eats and drinks well. Please get her to a vet asap!
Hi this stray cat appeared a year ago since then we’ve been allowing this cat inside our home. He chose to adopt us and we followed suit lol anyways a few days ago like Tuesday or Wednesday last week hend showed up limping and we brought him inside immediately. He slept for days. He did eat and drink normally and we took him outside to go to the bathroom… this past Sunday my husband said he found a wound. Note there was no previous sign of a wound, no cuts we could find no blood no nothing. So I looked and it was a small hole in his front right leg towards the very top of the leg. Immediately we cleaned the area and put a banana on him to keep him from kicking the area coz he was going to town prior. He’s been acting better I thought the hole was healing until earlier today when I went to go clean the area again puss was coming out. So I sat there with gentle pressure and pushed out the infection. Theven cat let me do this with little issue until the end when I got a big white clump, that seemed to hurt him a little. But now it seems after getting the infection out the wound area is bigger and I’m concerned. I would have taken him to a vet by now if I had the money but I just drained my savings to buy a new car because our last one died unexpectedly… is there something more I can do to help him at home without going to a vet? I think this could be an absess. We have a ton of stray cats in my area including 8 new kittens this year and one semi bully cat (he’s so sweet to people bit hates other cats, mostly coz he get beat up ALOT) I’ve been keeping the cat inside except trips to go potty. He eats and drinks fine acts normal except for the pain in his leg. Any help you could give me would be so greatly appreciated thank you!
Sounds like antibiotics would help a lot, but other than that you are doing the right thing. Warm compresses with clean or lightly soapy water and flush the area as much as you can. Keep him rested and well fed. You need to get a shelter or something out there to neuter the stray cats. Otherwise the numbers will build up and disease will start to spread…. but that is another story. This kitty sounds like you are doing the right thing. Take him to a vet as soon as you can for a check up, shots and maybe antibiotics if the wound is still there. BEWARE of rabies if it is in your area…..this is an unvaccinated cat with a bite of unknown origin. It might be rare but it is very very serious.
Hi Dr. Stewart! My cat was bit by another cat last week and I took him to the vet and he gave him an injection and shaved off the area and gave him antibiotics for his pain for three days…he also asked us to clean the wound with antibiotics…I have been doing so but today his wound started leaking and no he keeps trying to lick it (but can’t because of his cone) and I keep cleaning the wound to get rid of the liquid but it keeps coming out and my cat is not letting me clean it anymore..what can i do and is this normal?
I would stop cleaning it with antibiotics and just use warm water for a day then stop all together for a day. I would see if the cleaning is just irritating the wound. If he got antibiotics, the cone and pain medication then maybe leaving the wound alone for a few days might be helpful. Sounds like you did everything correctly, and cleaning the wound can be helpful, but maybe the area is too sensitive now. If there is any colored discharge or bad smell, go for a re-exam.
My cat has a bump under his jaw. He isn’t acting normal either. His mouth hangs open and drool puddles out. He stayed in my bed in the exact same spiny from 11am to 5pm without getting up. He ate a couple tiny bites and lays down awkwardly. He had his body normal/straight and then he turns his head far left and lays it. He also wines. He’s going to the vet tomorrow but I was wondering if it could be a cessed or he had a stroke.
Maybe, but it sounds like his jaw is broken or he might have a tumor or abscess. Have the vet do a full exam and they might need sedation to really get a good look. Good luck.
Hello.I have a 13week old female kitten.She’s actually 1 of 2 that had been born out in our garage from someone setting there mother out in a box.Yes!It really sickens me, but hurts my heart too that people are so cruel.She had a idk if I’m saying this right but a”wolf worm” in the side of her neck.This has been a little over a week ago now that I grabbed it & pulled it out with sanitized tweezers.All of the worm was intact.Now she’s has a slit cut (looking) on that same side that to me looks like it won’t heal.it’s not oozing nor does it bleed or have anything dripping/coming out from it.I just have never ever seen anything like this before.I’ve gave her amoxicillin & poured peroxide & sodium chloride on it in an attempt to keep it clean since last week.I bought some self adhering wrap,but idk if wrapping it up would do her more harm than good..She acts completely normal.Plays,eats just like the sweet beautiful baby she is.Please any help would be much appreciated.
You should bring her to a local vet. I’m not familiar with a wolf worm but it is possible there are more? Ot the wounds are reacting to some remnant worm??? I really do not know without seeing her. SOrry.
My cat had an abscess drained from a bite and they kept her overnight. They didn’t do a drainage system in her for a few days. Just said to keep the area clean and use warm wet compresses and gave her antibiotic. However she’s still afraid to jump up and jumps down very gingerly if I pick her up and put her on somewhere. The abscess was on the top of her back by her hips. Is this normal?
Yes, it can be. If the area is painful and the skin is still healing the cat will act gingerly. If the cat continues this way bring her back to the vet for a re-check in a week. It should be mostly healed by then.
My cat has a cyst below her belly it has hard puss in the opening I try gently to squeeze it and nothing happens
Have this checked out by a vet….. there is not enough info here to assess.
My cat has a abscess on his back but the wond has heald up but infection is under the skin and now their is a lump in his belly seams to be drainage from the abscess into his belly been giving him antibiotics from a preavious abscess is this ok?
Nope…if they are expired, extra nope. This is how you build antibiotic resistance. Why didnt you finish them last time, and there will likely not be enough for a full course this time…… The abscess needs to be cleaned and drained first. See a vet please.
Hi,
I took my cat to the vets two days ago for an abscess on his belly. The vet shaved the area and explained that the puss was thick and the skin was thick and she didn’t want to drain. He was fitted with a cone collar and was given a 2 week antibiotic shot and also prescribed metacam to be given for 5 days. Is this normal practice?
Kind Regards
Benjamin.
Yes, it can be.
Sorry but no disrespect but your reply above my literally says the vet must drain and clean the abscess. I’m confused with these conflicting replies. He goes back on Wednesday (2 days time) Should I challenge my vet if she doesn’t Lance it this time. It hasn’t shrunk(or grown) and he’s fine in himself but it’s been over a week since we went to the vets. Again I mean no disrespect, I’m just very worried about my boy.
It really depends on the area that the abscess is and how thick the discharge it. There might even be minimal discharge and more skin swelling or serum (cystic not abscess). NORMALLY, we like to drain all abscesses or at least open them up to drain themselves with gravity or pressure, but I would hate to disagree with a vet that has actually seen your pet and made an educated decision based or an actual physical. I can only speak broadly here and every case is different. I would go back for the re-exam and talk to your vet about possibly draining the wound and ask why they choose on way or another…. These abscesses CAN heal undrained but often heal faster drained. I hope this helps in a broad sense, but your vet should have the final answer and be able to explain why they chose that route….
Ok, thanks for the advice Dr Stewart. I really appreciate it!
My cats face is half gone but we cant afford a vet what do i do?
Take it to the SPCA or adoption center. You need to help the cat. Pets are a big financial responsibility, and they need the care they deserve. Bring it to a vet office and surrender it if you have to…… sorry.
Our cat was a stray cat (Lucky).
We took and gave it a home about 4 years ago. The cat started leaking drops on the floor. Does this sound like an abscess? If not should we take to vet.
There is no info here. Bring him to a vet.
Sorry this is the only way I could find a way to ask a question. I have a 2 year old boy who sneaks outside. He came inside lastnight and I noticed he had a burst abscess. But it was strange. It’s extremely small like maybe 1cm all around ? But with his abscess it was leaking all over him it was extremely clean there was no puss on him or the wound. He’s still him self, eating drinking and usuing the toilet. Will it heal it self ? I’ve spent 3 hours googling it and cannot find a straight answer. What can I do to help make sure it heals
Seeing a vet will likely be the best idea for antibiotics….but a small abscess will heal on its own if the cat can not lick it and you keep it very clean. Keep it clean and dry. Watch for a week then bring to vet if not better.
My cat had an abscess near the Base of her tail I cleaned it and the skin has turned black but it looks fine but then I noticed a few more little holes near her tail but now they are all black as well is this normal or should I take it to the vet? It has been a week since it started happening so I left it a week to see if she would be fine but I really don’t know if she is
See a vet….. it is not normal.The skin is dying.
You are doing right. Watch it for swelling or pain or discharge beyond what you have seen so far.
Consider a booster rabies vaccine.
Why my 2 weeks old cat has abscess on her navel? And what should I do? Among her 3 siblings she is the smallest, I’m worried because i just saw the abscess on his navel
Bring her to a vet, but you can in the meantime use warm compresses and try to keep the area clean with mild soap and water.
Is it okay to bathe my cat after 2 weeks of giving birth? ‘Cause around of her nipples are getting dirtier by day and she has those tiny insects so her 2 weeks old kittens are also getting infected.
Is it okay to bathe her?
Hi I have a cat that is about 10-12 I believe she has ear mites that have gone untreated & now she has an abscess on her ear. Is there anything I can do at home until I can get her into a vet? Should I clean it or prevent her from rubbing it? I really appreciate the feedback.
Prevent her from rubbing it, but that will be hard with the abscess and the ear mites. I think that the cat will probably get around anything you can use. Keeping it clean and dry is he next best thing until a vet can look at it and treat it. Get the ear mites and the abscess fixed at the same time and it should resolve.
My cat went to the vet yesterday morning because of an abscess in his neck. The vet let some of the infection leak out over a course of 3 or so minutes and then proceeded to put this ointment on it, gauze it up, and send me home with the supplies. Today he is acting very lethargic, he is still eating and drinking but barely mobile. When I changed his gauze this morning he just laid his head on my leg and put up no struggle at all. Should I be concerned about his lethargy? Thanks!
Yes, bring him back to the vet to have his temp taken and get some antibiotics.
Hi Im 12 i have no money but i really need help please my cat he’s 11 or 13 and it looks like he’s bleeding from the eye but its all dried up please again i need help! :”,,(
Very hard to assess this without more detail. I would try to seek out vet care or visit the local spca for help. It could be nothing or more serious, but I can not tell from your description. Sorry.
Hi Dr Stewart,
I have a 14 yr old neuteured male cat indoors and just over a month ago noticed he was limping and his right front pad was very swollen. Took to vet he got a course of antibiotics no better after a week back to vets they did a needle aspiration and just blood came out so they thought maybe a cellulitis. They also did and X-ray and said it’s just soft tissue injury. So he got two weeks long acting injection of antibiotics and anti inflammatory. Cat is still limping and pad swollen. Back to vets today and they think possibly tumour to get more X-rays on Monday of foot and lungs I assume to check if any signs of any other tumours. Could this be s tumour? Should I be questioning why they didn’t think anything from x-ray before now. My cat seems content is eating and drinking but is limping on that paw. I know cats will often hide if in pain. Could this if it is a tumour be benign? And could it be an autoimmune response that maybe needs steroids rather than antibiotics. Very concerned just hope something can be done a caring animal lover
YES is the simple answer. It could be the 5% that are tumors, yes it could be the 1% that are autoimmune, yes it could be cellulitis and infection that is resistant, yes it could be a non-radio-opaque foreign material embedded in there, yes it could be some “other” problem, yes it could be a tumor with an otherwise normal cat…… sorry but there are a bunch of possibilities. The most likely scenario of abscess seems to be less and less likely and the next diagnosis might be one of elimination where you rule out a bunch of problems and possibilities to get the answer. Please do not give up but keep looking until you find a cure, a problem, or it gets better with time. 14 is not a young cat and neoplasia and tumors must be considered. I would start looking at xrays and biopsies as my next diagnostics and they are not cheap or easy, but very informative. Sorry and good luck!
Sorry i couldn’t find where to post my question… Anyways, I had a stray come up and she had 4 kittens. We got all of them fixed and shots and gave them to very good adoptive homes. We kept one kitten and this little one is very adamant about being outside so at about 3 months we gave in and she goes in and out as she choses. Well we noticed an abscess it was about the size of a quarter after it burst. Took her to the vet they cleaned the wound and gave her some meds for at home. Ok all healed great . now here we are 2 months later and her back has opened up again and it is starting to spread all over her back.. One bump bursting after another. This all happened in the last 3 days. This was odd because we didnt even feel the bump. She has a appt for Thursday morning and the vet didn’t seem too concerned but i am very worried. She will not go outside and has not been eating or drinking much at all. She is hiding under my tables and inside of my shoe bins we have. She is sleeping a lot. I called again this evening to tell them all this new info and again they are booked up. Im at a loss.. I have been cleaning it with warm water and a tad of peroxide. Any advice will help.
First, I always say a vet office can squeeze anyone in. I would change vets if possible. That is bad for customer service and business. A squeeze in is sometimes more expensive but if you are that concerned then you should be seen. You can always go to the ER. Ok, on to the cat. Sounds like abscesses and likely a spreading staph infection or other bacterial infection. She needs TLC, antibiotics, cleaning and possibly some fluids if she is not eating and has a fever. If the cat does not eat for 24-48 hours that is an emergency and she needs to be seen ASAP. When you have her there they can test for other diseases if you think these are cat fight bites. Those would be FIV and FELV. They can explain. IF the cat is eating and drinking, it can wait. If not, then go to the ER. Good luck
Hi, we have an outdoor cat and he recently went under the knife to have an abscess lanced just beneath his ear and beside his. it healed up great and we had him wear a cone for three weeks after the treatment. Now we removed the cone, he has made up for the three weeks of no scratching (as much as we try to stop it) and the area has become red again and some swelling a little bit again.
This is very concerning seeing as we spent a small fortune for the procedure and antibiotics afterward. it just seems we are back at stage one again only now the area has a scar and weak tissue.
Any advise would be great.
Put the cone back on and see you vet about a cause. Keep the cone on. It is likely his ear. Either a polyp or ear infection….might be something deep in the ear. Have you vet investigate.
Hello! I recently adopted a kitten going on a month, she was about 9 weeks I think when I got her. She was not spayed yet however an appointment was already made by the agency. I noticed a bump/ball I could feel on her right side of her belly right by her rib cage, and after I voiced my concern I was told it was nothing. She was spayed on the 6th of this month and she’s been doing great. However when she lays down I can sometimes still feel the ball and it seems like it might feel bigger than when I first noticed but she doesn’t seem to react to it. Not sure if that’s normal since I wasn’t told anything from her last spay visit and I’m hoping that they would’ve checked or caught it if it was something bad ? I hope that makes sense. It’s mostly when she’s laying down on her side that I can feel it when I pet her side tummy , and when she’s standing it gets harder to find or feel out. But I’m just hoping that Im just being paranoid ??
P.s also sorry if I posted my question in the incorrect place. !
I really can not tell you much from the description. I would schedule a vet visit if you are concerned. Sorry to not be able to help.
My kitten had a pretty bad abscess and a fever of 105 from his neuter tattoo getting infected. It popped and I brought him to the vet and they lanced and flushed it. Now he’s got an e collar on and is on antibiotics. About how long do they usually take to heal? He’s feeling so much better and wanting to play. I feel so bad him having the cone on.
different depending on the wound but usually a week for a kitten.
my cat has a bite or scab on the back and inside of his ear, is pussing/oozing alot and smells really bad like a vomiting shit smell what do i do?
Go see a vet for antibiotics, if not then keep it clean and wash it out.
My cat have a abcess on a side off her face after a cat fight I noticed a bit wond. I keep a eye on it and the abcess filled up and she stop eating and drinking. I took her to the vets and they drain the abcess and gave her injection in her wond. The vet told me to bath Rosie 2 times a day with warm salty water to keep the wond clean. It is healing and I am still keeping her wond clean.
Good, well done.
My federal cat is in pain,his testicles are missing,a very open bleeding wound
Hard to assess. Call a vet.
Hi there,
My neighbour just came over to show me her cats abscess after her cat and my cat fought the other day. We have decided to keep our cat inside as we’re worried that he might get hurt.
How serious are these abscesses??
She was clearly upset. I felt pretty back about it but I didn’t even know that this kind of stuff happened.
Great question. Cat abscesses can be very dangerous if not noticed and treated or they lead to sepsis of system wide infection. Usually, they will not be a huge problem except for the cosmetic and gross factor and the cat will rupture the abscess and they will drain and then slowly heal. It is always better to have a vet look at the abscess, drain it and start the cat on antibiotics as soon as possible. Warm compressing the area also helps.
It seems like a good plan to keep your cat indoors and away from other fighting cats. You never know how much damage they can do in a fight, how bad an abscess will become or what diseases the other cats carry. Besides, indoor cats are usually more healthy and loved (my opinion only.)
I hope this helps answer your question. Sorry for the late reply.
Dr. Tripp Stewart
Greenrbrier Emergency Animal Hospital
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My cats has what appears to be an abscess on his face under his eye, by his jaw. Until today it was just swolen and I assumed it to be a bug bite or bee sting, but now it is leaking infection. How much does a vet visit like this cost?
No idea, call your local vets. If you live in New York City it will be different than Anchorage Alaska.
First an foremost, I have an appointment set this Monday for my feline to be seen. She has TONS of abscesses (by the looks of it) on her belly that are huge, they’re dark purple. They have grown rapidly, and she looks completely miserable. I’m afraid it might be worse than something easily treatable. I also can’t afford a sky-high vet bill. My question to you is should I prepare for the worst? I rescued this poor thing not that long ago, and she has had many complications. I’ve grown attached to her, and will be worried about this till Monday. Was hoping you could give me some silver lining.
Sorry I can not help you. I can not diagnose without seeing the cat. I would just explain to the vet your financial situation up front so they can target and maximize your money. Could be simple plaque or more serious cancer…. good luck!
Hello my cat has a big open wound on his arm is healing and getting smaller so i didn’t worry, however today i noticed he’s peeing bloody urine. Could this be related and Is there something i can do at home because his wound is about 75% healed and closed ?
Unlikely to be related unless there is a sepsis or severe infection. I would see a vet asap about both of these issues. Male cats with urinary problems can be an emergency.
Hi my cat had a abscess and it popped and a lot of blood and puss was drained and he eats and drinks and is not constipated but I’m just concerned he’s not still fully recovered like the wound where it popped its fully healed yet were having him I think moxacilin I just want to know your opinion of what to do were poor and cannot afford to go to a vet
Make sure the antibiotics are the right dose, right kind, not expired and given correctly first, second keep the area clean and dry and it should heal. If it is not healing in 7-14 days he really needs to see a vet. Good luck.
I recently adopted a cat from my local animal hospital. He is currently recovering from an a 5 in. abscess on his chest. At first his recovery process was going well and it seems to be closing, but now I noticed a smudge of blood. At this moment it is still open about a centimeter. Should I take him back to the vet?
It seems like your cat is healing, but sometimes they need a little help or more antibiotics to finish the process. There is also the possibility that there is foreign material in the wound not allowing it to heal. I would certainly recommend taking your cat back to the vet to have a check up. At the very least you should measure the wound and document its healing over the next few weeks.
My 15 year old cat was diagnosed with an abscess on his face four days ago. No sign of any issues in his mouth. He was not acting sick, does not seem to be in pain and is eating as usual and I was concerned that he had a tumor but the vet aspirated it and said it was filled with puss. The vet gave him two antibiotic shots, one short term and one long term, and then sent him home. Is it possible that the abscess can go away without being lanced?
It is definitely possible for abscesses to heal without lancing, but there is often a “root” or focus to the abscess that needs to be addressed. I would see if the antibiotics fix the problem, because they might. If they do not fix the problem, it is time for more aggressive diagnostics and lancing. I would start with a tooth root exam and dental xrays. Cross you fingers for a full fix!
Hi my cat is having a similar absess on the front side of his neck and he keeps getting an absess on this same spot. He has been seen by two vets and about to be seen tomorrow, my question is this, now that we have tried a couple rounds of antibiotics (oral and topical) what diagnostic testing should I expect for them to figure out what is causing it and then to prevent them in the future. It is an awful hole into the neck after it busts and does make me wonder why. Thanks so much
Biopsy and culture would be my next steps and immune disease testing. Sounds like something chronic not just an abscess. FIV tests, skin and tissue biopsy and infection culture. Good luck.
My cat developed an abscess and the vet aspirated it yesterday and gave him antibiotics. The slides show an infection and some salivary cells. I had thought it may be a tooth problem as he is 13. The doc left for a conference. I’m applying warm compress and waiting for the antibiotics to kick in . She did not lance it for some reason. Could it be possible he may have swallowed something like a wheat needle? The other cause could be a puncture from a young cat we adopted who is passive aggressive and did swat at him.
Those are both possibilities and become more real if the infection does not get better in the first 3-5 days. If the abscess grows, gets worse or stays the same then you should bring the cat back to the vet for a further work up including dental xrays and looking for a foreign body. A bite from your other cat is the most likely scenario and the vet was probably right to start with antibiotics and compresses. Give it a few days.
In mid June I found a small, hard lump on my cat’s bottom left jaw. It seemed to be growing from either her gum or the jawbone itself. Within a few days it grew at least 3 times larger and extended the entire length of her left bottom jaw, with a much larger section ( ball shaped) protruding from underneath the jaw near the ear canal.
My vet suggested it was either an abscess caused by a bad tooth or a cancerous tumor. She gave my cat a shot of Covenia and the mass reduced a little. She then put her on a course of Clavamox which my cat stayed on right up until her death last night. I should explain that my cat was 17 and because she had Cardiomyopathy and CRF my vet felt it was unsafe to run the tests needed to determine the exact nature of my cat’s mass. The Clavamox did little to reduce the swelling, in fact the mass continued to grow until it pushed my cat’s jaw out of line and my vet feared the possibility of her jaw fracturing. She was never able to get a good look inside my cat’s mouth because she would resist too much. In a last ditch effort to help her my vet prescribed Prednisolone which did a remarkable job of drastically reducing the size of my cat’s swelling in just days. However, she had begun losing a lot of weight and blood work done previously had showed her kidneys had grown worse. After suddenly experiencing a few days of restlessness and poor appetite my cat’s hind legs began to grow increasingly wobbly and then she laid down and died. After her death we saw some blood around the now flattened area where the mass had been on the side of her jaw ( the ball at the back remained though was much smaller too). But we also thought we saw a large lump inside the bottom of her mouth underneath her tongue. We don’t know if it was growing from the bottom of her mouth or the gum. We asked that a vet at the emergency clinic where we brought her to be cremated look inside her mouth to confirm the lump but they claimed to be too busy. My question is, given everything I’ve written here, do you think it’s likely my cat had cancer and not just an abscess from a bad tooth? Thank you so much for giving your opinion on this.
Very hard to tell, it could have been either. They would likely both react the same way to the medications. I would guess cancer just based on the age of the cat, and the slow rate of growth of the lumps. I am surprised the ER would not look in the cats mouth, that seems like they could have done it at any time over the course of the night. Either abscess or cancer in an older cat these can be very hard to deal with. Sorry for your loss.
Hi, I took my cat to the vets Tuesday and he had a abscess on his chest above his left leg lanced but by Friday had more fluid built back up so took him back to the vet and they stuck a big needle in to see if it was Blood or puss and it was cloudy blood that came out. He is on 2 lots of antibiotics and anti imflamitys but he still has a abscess about yhe size of a bouncy ball,how long does it take to clear or does he need to go back to the vet?
Sounds like you cat needs to go back and make sure it is not something worse like a foreign object or even cancer. Those might be the “less likely” scenarios but need to be ruled out if you cat is not getting better. It is possible that the abscess just needs to be lanced a few more times or have an incision made and the area flushed. I would ask your vet about this. It all depends on the cat’s age and condition. Err on the safe side and have your vet take another look.
my cat has a decent abscess on his shoulder, i have taken him to my vet and they wanted to do general anesthetic and drain the absess then put the drain tube on him for a cost of around $500. I declined, I have just spent approx $3,500 there on my dogs and other cats and im all out of money. The vet I saw offered the two week antibiotic and I have the correct anti inflamatory meds at home. I have been giving him the antiinflam once a day, and to now the lump is still largish (no more heat in it though), cat is eating and drinking and very happy (he’s locked in his own room in house). Do you think this is satisfactory, will the abscess eventually disappear or must it be drained…….
Every cat is different, some abscesses will clear up with antibiotics and draining others will continue to grow and make the cat very sick. I would talk about the options with your vet or seek another local second opinion as to the severity of that particular abscess. I the cat is acting sick or feverish, or the abscess grows or firms, I would certainly have it drained. I’m sorry I cant give more information without seeing your cat. Time might be your best diagnostic here.
My cat just turned 15 years old he has is what i believe an abscess on his back ankle and is swelled from his ankle down to his toes. He wont walk on it and already is having some issues he was eating but stopping but he still contiues to drink i dont have money for a vet and have no idea what to do for him or how to help him he was fine untill this happened
That is a huge abscess. That needs to be addressed with antibiotics and care. Please try a low cost clinic or a shelter. Your cat needs antibiotics and care….not eating is terrible in a cat. Very sorry to hear this but there is nothing I can tell you to do.
A couple of weeks ago my cat had a burst abscess on his chest/leg. It didn’t seem to be bothering him at all until it burst and then he wanted to lick it (we knew not to allow that). It was a rather large wound (the size of a quarter) and deep looking, so we took him to the vet the next day. They shaved around it and gave him antibiotics and gave him a cone to wear, which he hated of course but we toughed it out and made him wear it until the wound healed up and he didn’t lick it anymore. Earlier today I was just looking at it and thinking how well it had all healed up and gone away, and then suddenly tonight it’s back, as big and wide open and deep as ever. It hadn’t looked swollen, it wasn’t bothering him, he’s been his normal active self, eating well, friendly and happy. I consider my vet’s a good vet, they’re certainly not cheap and I spent a lot of money that I really can’t afford right now (he was originally a stray that showed up, I didn’t go buy a kitten I can’t afford to care for or anything) because my cat’s health is a priority and I wanted it treated right, but now I’m wondering if there’s something more they should have done? Why did it come right back? Is it just going to keep happening and am I going to be forking over money every two weeks to the vets when it’s not helping? Is there anything I can do to help prevent it from happening again? the vet said to just leave it alone, but now I’m wondering if I should have been washing it or bandaging it up or something?
It is very hard to say without seeing your cat. It sounds like it might be more than a simple abscess if it keeps returning. Maybe there is a foreign object in there, or it is still infected, or worse… cancer??? It also might be the same abscess just never healed up. I would listen to your vet who has seen the cat and be honest about the cost situation. They might give you instructions over the phone to follow. For recurring abscesses I would certainly put the e-collar back on the cat and clean the area with a mild soap and water. Keep cleaning with a very mild soap solution as needed. Hopefully this will be enough, otherwise..back to the vet. Sorry I couldn’t be ore help.
Dr. Stewart
My cat had kitten s. Were she grabs them behind the next, this one has gotten an abscess on the side of it’s neck. I thought at first the momma would take care of it now I see I was wrong. It s so swollen now n infected that I don’t no what to do. The kitten is only 5 weeks old. It still eats n drinks . I’m taking it to a vet tomorrow , plz tell me he’ll b ok. I didn’t no it would get this bad.
See what the vet says, I’m sure it will be fine.
my cat has a lump on her side by her ribs. I am assuming that it is an abscess. She is eating a lot of food. I am keeping her inside from now on and I was wondering if an abscess can just clear up on its own. I read that hot compress works well but I am certain that she will claw bite hiss…she is already hissing at me when I pet her there. I just need some advice as far as making her feel comfortable before I can take her to the vet or possibly put a hot compress on it. Any advice on how to make her calmer during the hot compress process? I am really worried about her even though she seems to be acting like her normal self. I am thinking that I want to retrain her to become an indoor cat. We live on a lot of acreage and there are a lot of other houses with other animals and also the wild animals. This is really open my eyes to the importance of having your cat stay inside at all cost. I am considering using her harness for walks after we get this whole abscess situation figured out. At first she came home and she seemed different about 5 days ago. The lump on her side was hard at first then today it is more wiggly and puss filled feeling.any advice for this would be amazing and I would really appreciate it thank you so much.
So, a few topics. 1) a warm compress might help, but I would not risk getting scratched or bitten in order to apply it. 2) If it is an abscess then it can resolve on its own, but it can also spread and get bigger or open and get more infected (or be an open abscess) 3) It might be something other than an abscess. The best option is to visit your local vet and have them take a look. Until then, if you cat is eating well and acting otherwise normal you probably do not have to concern yourself with making her more comfortable. She is comfortable enough. I would highly recommend making her an inside cat if she will tolerate it. Each cat is different. Indoor cats are far less likely to get into trouble, and as important, are less likely to cause trouble to native animals (birds and wild rodents.) If you want to play by the “odds” it is likely an abscess and will need to be drained and possibly given antibiotics. Good luck. Hope this helps.
my cat was perfectly fine and suddenly started screaming in pain. I noticed he had a large lump under the skin on his left side on his ribs. I rushed him to the vet and he died within 5min of getting him there. the vet said it was likely and abscess that ruptured. if you notice a lump, take them in, it can be fatal!!
My cat has just had incisions made and drainage inserted,however she has pulled it out and it is oozing>does she need to go back to the vet or should we leave it and monitor.She is dying to go outside but i do not want dirt to go into the open area.
Thanks
It really depends on how big the incision and and how much drainage. If the drainage is slowing down and the incision is still open to allow more drainage then it should be fine to continue to stay open and drain. If the incision closes and a pocket starts to form, then you need to take her in again. I assume she is on antibiotics too? I would not let her outside to get the area dirty. You can always apply a warm soapy compress to the area to help keep it open and draining. Call your vet and ask what they think before making any drastic decisions.
Hi, I’m really in a tough situation here. My cat’s abscess just doesn’t seem to heal due to the dead tissue, as mentioned by my vet. It’s become so severe to the point where I may have to put him down. There is still a possibility of it healing but it seems very unlikely. I mean, my cat’s behaviour has been normal and I’m ready to pay for more treatments if possible but again, it’s highly unlikely for the abscess to heal up. Please tell me what I should do, whether or not the abscess will ever heal. I don’t want to put my cat down knowing there’s still a possibility of him healing.
Thanks.
Very sorry to hear that. Has your vet talked about surgery to close the wound? There are veterinary surgical specialists that can do miracles and fix almost anything. Have you tried washing it and wet bandages? There should be no reason to give up if your vet is willing to help and you have time (and money) to try drastic measures. An open wound will heal eventually if given the opportunity. Try a veterinary surgeon, they might use vacuum healing or even skin grafts. Good luck and dont give up hope. Antibiotics, pain management and time are your least expensive but none- the less good options.
I’m kind of in a tricky situation with my kitty, Mumford. He got into a fight (well ran away from one) and ended up getting bit on his back right leg/paw. It swole up, formed an abscess, and popped. I flushed it out with hydrogen peroxide and treated it with neosporin for a few days, until I thought it was fully drained. (All the while being on antibiotics).. It healed ok, however it’s been about 2 weeks and it’s back!! The puncture wound where it was the first time completely healed over however there is another one just a few centimeters away that is now open (it popped on its own yesterday). I’m wondering if both are from the same fight? Anyway, the closed wound, which is now hairless and almost a scar, is a bit swollen and red. I’m sure there is pus forming under it. Should I poke a hole or cut a slit so it could drain or do you think if I push in it hard enough the pus will come out of the open wound a few centimeters away from it ? Or are they completely different wounds? Do you think it’ll heal with just antibiotics on its own? He’s eating and drinking normally.. Very playful but in a little bit of pain when is leg is touched… What should I do?
It might heal on its own. Have you seen a vet? Maybe there is a foreign material in there or worse case it is a growth or resistant infection? It even could be another bite wound from a later date. I would be very hesitant to cut or open an abscess in an awake cat, just because of the potential for pain and more damage done. Hydrogen peroxide is not good for wounds and neither is neosporin (although this wont really hurt wounds, but it will encourage the cat to lick and the wound to not drain properly) so it is possible the would was not addressed correctly and is still not healed correctly. These complicated cases are best left to professionals. The vet might want to culture the wound and make sure it is not a resistant infection or a serious problem. If they do not heal with these kinds of supportive care, as many do, then I would seek professional help. Good luck.
Thank you! I did not attempt to cut anything open because the absess that healed over, ruptured sometime this morning and seemed to be completely drained. There’s no swelling and no more yellow pus oozing out. I will get him to the vet as soon as possible. Thanks again for the quick reply!
Glad it worked out. Might have been a second bite that too longer.
Hello I had this happen as well my cat had an abcess burst and a big hole appeared on either side of his tail. I treated the wound and it was healing nicely. Then yesterday he started breathing heavily and I could hear him breathing, I ended up taking him to the ER after he fell on his back and just layed there. At this point he would meow when I lifted him up. After taking him to the ER they told me he had FIP and had so much fluid in his lungs he wasnt able to breath. I ended up having to have him put down. He was only 8 months old and healthy up until yesterday afternoon. He was eating and drinking that morning. Then suddenly stopped eating or drinking when the labored breathing started. What I dont understand is how my cat was healthy and suddenly formed an abcess, started healing then suddenly his lungs filled with fluid. Could he have been having a reaction to the abcess and not FIP? And if so would there have been a way to save him? We are heartbroken he was our little mustache rusty cat. My daughter just got him for her birthday which he had been to the vet right before for shots and they never said he had FIP.
So sorry. FIP is a very serious virus and likely unrelated to the abscess. I have lost a personal cat to FIP as well and there is not much you can do. Sorry for your loss.
Hi. My cat had an abscess which burst itself while waiting for the appointment. the vet clipped her & cleaned it. I kept it open the next few days cleaning it and trying my best to get the antibiotics down! It seems healed although there is still a tiny lump underneath. My cat seems fine, playing & eating. Should there be no lump at all though? It’s been 6 days since the vet visit.
Sometimes there can be foreign material in the wound, like fur or sticks that cause another abscess and a lump; however, more often than not it is just scar tissue and healing. Monitor the area for a week and if it does not get better have a vet look at it. If i grows it might be a second abscess and needs to be looked at or lanced. Good luck.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
My cat has an abscess on her face which has opened up a hole right under her eye. I took her to the vet who told me to leave it be and let it drain and gave me antibiotics for her. It is now over 2 weeks later and not only has this hole not closed, but her face looks worse. She’s lost fur around the hole and it is just awful to look at. I’m going back to the vet tomorrow, but why isn’t this healing? She has been acting fairly normal but I’m obviously very worried. Any insight? Thanks.
It could be a very bad abscess, or a tooth root abscess in which case she needs her tooth pulled under general anesthesia. It could be cancer, but the likeliness of this is based on the cat’s age. Under her eye is a strange place for a non healing abscess, but it is possible that she needs more time and more antibiotics. I would closely look at her teeth…
Im needing to know if its too late to take cat to vet..we don’t know what happened because he was gone for few days and just seen him yesterday with a tennis ball size abscess on his chest with light blood on fur. cant see a puncture through all fur. He ate fine tho until today and now the size is bigger than a softball and about to go around his whole throught/chest area and blood has started coming out of eyes. he has not pooped or pee’d in few days either even with eating. He just sleeps in a corner by bed. he quit eating today and can hardly walk.. is it too late to get him treated or should we just have him put down if he makes it to morning?? We are so sad because had him for 6 years and feel bad for we were waiting to get paid so we could even take him in. we get pd tomorrow, that’s why waiting..Oh, and I still cant get anthing to come out of the abscess, still cant find a hole but his fur is coming out on the area of abscess and where blood seems to have been coming from at one point.
Not much I can say here. It sounds pretty bad. I would get him to a vet as soon as possible and be read in case the suggest to have him humanely put to sleep. I would be worried about tumors, abscesses or other serious problems. Take him to a vet ASAP.
About a month and a half ago, my 18 1/2 year old male indoor-only cat had a major tooth infection / abscess. He also had a corneal ulcer rupture as a result of the infection and has consequently lost his vision on that side. (The eye looks like Hell but he does not seem to be in any pain and the vet did not want to put him through the surgery to remove the eye.) The tooth was also removed but the abscess under his cheek keeps coming back. It gets drained once a week and consists of blood only (no more puss.) While we are there the vet gives him shots of antibiotics and steroids. I also give him low dose steroids and antibiotics orally each day. He is still eating (although not quite enough), drinking, snuggling, demanding belly rubs, using the litter box, etc. and does not seem to be an any pain. In fact, the cat just sits there and lets the vet pop the thing every week without so much as flinching! The vet says it keeps coming back because his immune system is not great given his age and the toll this whole thing has taken on him. However, since he seems happy and not in pain the vet thinks it is worth treating. What do you think?
Wow, sounds terrible. I would be suspect of something more than a simple abscess. This might be a tumor or another tooth root infection, or just a terrible abscess that is not getting better. I’m not sure why your cat is on steroids, or getting steroid shots? They will certainly reduce his immune system significantly. I would consider visiting a boarded surgeon if there is one in the area, or having some better diagnostics done (xrays and bacterial cultures) to help get the the bottom of the situation. Certainly keep having him treated if you think it is helping, but maybe do a little more to figure out why the abscess keeps returning.
Thank you for your reply. He has had xrays and blood work, but no bacterial cultures. The vet said that it is possible that there is an underlying tumor, but if it is cancer it is unlike one he has ever seen. I forgot to mention that he has had chronic upper-respiratory infections since he was 7 weeks old. The steroid/antibiotic “cocktail” helps with inflammation, pain, and for some reason has always helped him kick those infections. My fear about putting him through any further diagnostics, which I believe would be pretty invasive, is that I would be crossing the line between quality of life and quantity of life.
Sounds like you have done almost everything you can can do. I think you are right on track and need to always choose quality over quantity. When your cat stops enjoying life, it is time to consider euthanasia as an option. Sorry to hear about you cat, good luck.
Thank you so much. He’s always been so resilient but once his little body decides it can no longer keep up with his fighting spirit, we will have to put him down. Until then, he will be pampered and spoiled and worshiped and adored. Thanks again for your insight. I really appreciate it.
Hi went to vet with my 1 year old cat haze he has an open abscess and it looks like he making it worse by scratching I have a cone could I put that around his neck until it heals and how would I care for him if I do as for as like would I take it off for a cretain amount of time each day?
Put on the cone and after a few hours he will get used to it. He will eat and drink if he can reach the bowls (make sure he can with the cone) normally. You can take it off if you watch him closely but otherwise he will do fine with it on. Nothing major.
My cat had an abcess on his tummy we could not afford to get treatment so we did what we could to keep it clean and it healed up on its own and that was last week now the abcess is back only it is in a different place but in the same area. The first abcess was in the middle of his belly now this one is semi in the middle and semi on his thigh its looks pretty big but I can’t really get him to stay still long enough to look. We can’t afford medical treatment. We still are trying to pay of a 700 dolloar vet bill from last year because my other cat had a bladder issue. We can’t even afford to put this one down we can’t afford treatment and I don’t want to watch him die if this doesn’t fix its self I’m 16 and pregnant I’m highly emotional right now and the littlest things have been stressing me out. I can’t handle having to blurry another pet. Is there any advice you can give me?
Sounds like you have your hands full in life. I would want to know if the cat is old or young, indoor only or goes outside, and if there are other cats he can fight with, and if he is neutered. Assuming the best case scenario for all of these questions: he is a young indoor neutered cat that can play with other cats, then we treat this like another abscess. Antibiotics are usually needed, and you might be able to go to an SPCA or other low cost clinic to get those. If you can not get antibiotics then the bast at home treatment in my opinion would be warm compresses with a mild soap or diluted betadine to help clean the abscess and take down the swelling. I would do this 2x-3x a day and see how it looks after a week. I cant give you any more advice after that with out seeing the cat. If it is not an abscess but a tumor in an older cat or an FIV positive cat, then your options are very limited. At the last resort, bring the cat to the SPCA and surrender him so he gets good care. Good luck.
He is 3 years we haven’t neutered him. He is indoor and yes we have other cats. He has had a breathing issue his hole life he barley made it ad a kitten. When you listen to him breathe it sounds like I guess crackling sound in his lungs. But havent neutered him because he shows no interest in females and we are also afraid to get him neutered because of the medication they would use to put him under we don’t know if it would affect his breathing. But besides that he’s basically had issues. But the abcess has already popped back open and its a hole again. What’s the best way to keep the hole clean I know antibiotics would be best but all of our money goes to rent, cat food, cat litter, and other house hold items so we have maybe 100 dollars or less after all the bills have been paid and everything has been taken care of. How much do you think antibiotics would cost I know all vets are different with pricing. And whereo can I get a cone for his head at. Is there any stores that sell cones.
I just took another look at his hole and even with antibiotics I think he’s gonna need surgery and we can’t afford that so I guess the best option is to take to the SPCA.
I think your cat needs medical attention and a neuter. It is hard to surrender an animal to the SPCA, but it is sometimes the correct thing to do and in the animal’s best interest. The SPCA and other humane societies are incredible institutions that help animals while often receiving very little support themselves. We must always consider what is best for the animal, and if you can not afford care, try to find him a new home that can.
So my friend has a cat that had kittens they are five days old and as much as the female is becausbeing a good mother she doesn’t make them go to the batheroom regularly and I’ve noticed when I helped her wipe them to make them pee that the one little boy had blood in his urine and I was wondering could it be just a regular UTI or could he be blocked with possible Crystals?
Good question about what it could be. It seems way to early to be crystals and even too early to be a UTI, although that is more possible. I would monitor it for a day or two and see if it persists and if it does, bring him to a vet to get a urine culture. It most likely is trauma to the genitals that is bleeding superficially or maybe a sterile bladder infection…. hard to know.
My wifes cat caught a mouse she didn’t kill it but she was wondering if we should be concerned with any diseases she hasn’t had any shots at all to prevent her from getting anything. My main question is will she be okay I can’t affored to get her spayed or shots because we have a baby on the way and my money has been going towards our son
So… it is unlikely your cat will get anything from the mouse, but you never know about that. Fleas are a serious concern, ticks and other parasites for sure. These parasites can certainly cause problems with a pregnant woman. There are a bunch of diseases I would not want around my pregnant wife, including worms, toxoplasmosis, lyme ticks, fleas…. and more. You will also have a much larger cost when your cat comes into heat then gets pregnant (an almost certainty) and then what? I hate to say this but if you can not afford to keep your pets healthy and vaccinated and neutered, I would think about giving the cat away to friends until after the baby and when you get a little more money. This cat IS a risk, although not a huge risk. It is more of a well being issue for the cat. We certainly do not need more kittens in the environment and that will be a certain outcome. Rabies is not an issue from the mouse, but that would be my final concern with an unvaccinated cat in the house. Good luck with the new baby and maybe before then start to think about the cat.
My elderly (14 year old) cat has an abscess on his cheek from rough-housing with another of my cats. It isn’t slowing him down, he’s eating well and running around playful and curious, but his face is pretty swollen. Should I take him to the vet or is this something that will burst on its own? He’s old and I don’t want to stress him with a vet trip if it isn’t required.
Take him to a vet because it might be a tooth abscess or a tumor that mimics an abscess. Also because he is older, his immune system will not be as strong in fighting it off. Better be safe than sorry. The stress of the vet office is usually worse for the pet owners than the pets themselves.
My 17 ur old cat had an abscess in January of this year. When it burst I took her to the er. They put her on antibiotics and it cleared up two weeks later. Today I see that the abscess has returned. Do you think it will be ok to finish the antibiotics they have her in January?
Not sure about the antibiotics or the expiration date. I would call your vet and ask. Usually it is ok, but you might want to check and make sure. Remember it is very important to finish all antibiotics given to prevent resistance with pets and humans. You shouldn’t probably have any left over, or did they give you too much?
Cat got bit we think hole at above left eye and in left upper lip. 2 days later swollen at cheek. Vet drained abscess, flushed and commented that flushing drained out upper lip hole. gave pain and antibiotic shot. Same area swelled 1.5 days later, she reopened lip (above eye has scabbed and looks normal) and now lower hole is draining. Drainage mostly clear at start with little blood to final of just blood. How long should it drain till I should take cat back to vet. Cat is 13 years old and is back to normal attitute
I think 2-3 days of drainage is about what I would expect. If there is no color or pus or smell to the drainage you might give it another day. Clear drainage is a good thing.
Thanks a lot for answering. Yesterday afternoon something opened while I was out as a blood spot was found on chair about 2 in in diameter. No blood on cat and nothing looked swollen. Today Mon afternoon top hole leaked same stuff as Thursday just a lot less. Mostly was red color after initial primarily clear. Drained as much as I could. Due to my sched. Earliest app is thurs. Will drain daily till seeing vet or get in sooner if she turns. cat is happy and still has good attitude. Thanks again. I realize how difficult it is without seeing the animal
Thanks for the update. Sounds like it will wait until Thursday, but definitely get your vet to take a look. Clear or slightly blood tinged is not too bad. Might just be serum draining from a healing wound. Good luck
Since last writing did 2 more drains at 1530 and 1645 pst. Getting like sm blood clots out. Some very small, one was a lot larger out of 1645 drain After large one got a little like pus. No smell. Just like fresh blood and saline. Should I wait till thurs or go in to vet tues. Thanks again for your help. Office staff says thurs. Not sure should trust as they are not techs or the doctor
Sorry, without seeing the cat I really can not advise too much more. If you vet office feels like Thursday is fine, I would tend to trust them. If the cat is acting normally that too is a good sign. Good luck!
My cat had an abscess on his cheek from a fight with another cat, I have bathed it with warm water and salt, and drained it as must as I can, this has been over a week now, it has scabbed over, does that mean its healing, it still smells a bit funny
healing but the smell is worrying. I would make sure it is not just covering a pus filled pocket.
Hi Dr Stewart, I have a ferral cat, she is 9 years old, i have had her spayed and vaccinated. About two weeks ago she had a massive abssess on her cheek and looked like an alien. Before i could take her to the vet, it burst, healed and closed all by itself. Suddenly, she became very lathargic, loss of appetite and just slept the whole night, it is winter here, but the she went out during the day to laze in the garden and returned in the evenings. I noticed rapid breathing, took her to the vet. He said couldn’t sedate her or xray, just pressed her body, she screamed in pain and almost bit him, him gave me an antibiotic, told me to force feed her water and liquid canned pet food with a syringe, bring her back in 3 days should she not be well. She threw up the antibiotic, refused the food, bu i tried to keep her hydrated. Took her back and another vet told me that my cat is very ill unaware that she was already treated there at their clinic. I could not put her down without knowing whether she had a chance or been diagonised for whatever her ailment is? She has been x-rayed, both lungs fulls of pus, drained and on the drip for 5 days, i am still awaiting the diagnosis as up today. I call everyday and they say she is fine, i am very worried?
Wow, sounds serious. There is a lot of information that seems to be missing. Like is she FELV FIV negative, does she have some systemic disease that is affecting her her lungs and body or is this just the result of trauma. If it is trauma and there is pus in her chest, that is very bad but with excellent vet care maybe??? recoverable. If there is an overwhelming systemic disease then things are more grave. If her chest is full of pus, then I would want to find out what is causing that. 9 years old is not that old here in the states , but in some areas that represents an old cat. I would certainly be giving IV antibiotics and not force feed anything except food and water. Keep her on the IV drip and see how she does. The second vet seems like he/she is more aggressive in treatment and this is good. You really need to be aggressive in the fluids and medications. I’m sorry I can not give you more help. Keep me informed.
Hello!
I have a lemon of a cat…in the time I’ve had him (2 years, ages 3-5) he has been in serious renal failure (and then had an unexplained miracle recovery and now just gets watched for it), had anemia, fleas, 2 absesses, has chronic reddish conjunctivitus, and has a horrible case of dandruff…but he really is the sweetest! He recently just got an absess at the base of his tail which burst and was draining for a couple days. After I noticed it I cut some fur away and rinsed it with some hydrogen peroxide to help it along. Then the next day i read betadine is better so i bought that and switched to it! the wound is still open and is a little swollen and tender, obviously since he has had an open would on his tail for multiple days now. It’s now day 3 and it does not seem to be producing more pus. Does he need still medical attention in your opinion? I know they are commonly given antibiotics but we’re getting close to the top of this years vet budget and am hoping he can pull through without. thoughts?
Sorry to hear about your cat problems. 1) never hydrogen peroxide, it can do more harm than good. 2) diluted betadine is ideal, but the dilution is up for debate. You never apply it full strength, it can burn the skin and tissue. 3) Abscesses almost always require some form of antibiotic, but they can heal with time and proper care. If there is no more pus and the wound is looking better and closing then you might be ok. Impossible to assess without seeing the cat. See how he does for a few more days and then decide if he needs a vet visit for this problem. I always recommend seeing a vet if you are concerned. Better sooner than later. Tail abscesses can be really nasty if untreated….just keep this in mind.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
My cat got in a fight with another cat about a week and a half ago. We let him inside and he went and hid in the basement for a day or so–but we didn’t notice any sores so we thought he was just freaked out. He is skittish and doesn’t usually get in fights. He seemed to be getting back to normal and then we noticed a burst abcess on his back haunch. It was pretty nasty but it was the beginning of a holiday weekend so we couldn’t get him to the vet. He also seemed to be getting better, spending more time upstairs, walking around some, and eating a bit. We thought about taking him to the vet after the holiday, but his wound was already scabbing over and he does terrible at the vet–it’s majorly traumatizing for him and he usually has to be sedated, so we thought we’d wait and see. The past two days or so his wound looks great but he has been very lethargic–sleeping all day and not eating or drinking. I noticed today that he hasn’t gone to the litter box to my knowledge. With the wound healed, what do you think could be wrong with him? Is there anything the vet can do this late in the game? Thanks for your help.
The cat might be blocked (see blog for urethral obstruction) and the cat fight was just the stressor to help him get in trouble. YES!! Take him to the vet. If the abscess is healed and doing great then he should be back to normal. No urine and eating….these are terrible in a cat. It might even be too late now. I would not wait any longer.
Thanks so much for the response, Dr. Stewart. We took him to the vet today and it was thankfully just the abscess recurring. They gave him some antibiotics and shaved and drained and cleaned the area so he should be better soon!
Great, thanks!
Hello.
My cat was in a fight the other day and he was really hurt. The day after he would eat and was really limp I honestly thought he was dieing. Then yesterday we noticed a big lump on his back and a bit mark where it was. What do I have to do? Take him to a vet or try and drain it myself? Also we have a dog in the house to should I put it outside while the kitty has this issue??
Take him to the vet. Do not pass go, do not collect $50. You have a cat that looks like he is dying. Do not try and drain it yourself.
If people are using this blog to avoid going the vet, I will certainly have to stop posting.
So glad you finally said this Dr Stewart. Too many people posting here who haven’t read your original post and shouldn’t have pets. If your cat is sick – take it to the vet!
Thanks, if you look back you will see that “GO TO A VET” is often my advice.
My cat got outside the other night and he must have gotten bit by another cat or animal, and he now has a abscess on his hind side. I just noticed it today since It ruptured and it the size of a quarter… also it smells disgusting, like feces. I cleaned it with peroxide and put polysporen on it (with great difficulty). He’s eating and drinking, he’s a bit cranking and refuses to be picked up, but other than that he seems fine. Do you think a vet is required or should I wait 48 hours and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t worsen?
cranky**
Bring him to the vet for antibiotics if you want it to heal much faster.
I always recommend a vet visit. If it bothered you enough to google it on the internet then it should be seen by a vet. However, if there is just a small cleaned and drained abscess then you can watch to see if it gets worse. Make sure the cat is eating and drinking and acting normally otherwise. You would hate to wait too long and have this get worse. Having not seen the wound I can not properly advise. Closed abscesses are much worse than open draining ones that have been flushed and cleaned.
Hello Doctor:
I have a kitty who refuses to stay inside come weather above 32 degrees. Today when I picked her up to bring her inside I felt something warm & sticky under her arm.
When I checked it out (I almost fainted), I saw an area, up under her armpit & about the size of a nickle with a surrounding area missing any sign of fur and which is flat & open like a bed sore! It appears to be down to the muscle or maybe the subcutaneous fat layer (very scarey looking).
There is no sign of swelling, it’s not pathologically red or red at all, no sign of puss or discolored discharge. There’s no sign of a bite mark or any type of puncture wound.
A few days ago when I was holding her I noticed she stunk & I said to myself … gosh you need a bath! So, maybe it was an abscess that ruptured??
Her behavior is unchanged. She’s eating, running about as usual and doesn’t appear to show any discomfort. I understand cats can take a lot of pain but in the past she was in a fight & had quite an injury & I could tell she was having some discomfort.
I have other kitties which are her babies. They do not get along and so we bring her in during the day & let them out. However, there are times when she’s tired of waiting for us to let her back out & so we put her in the car (only after it has cooled down & with all windows open of course). However, one time in the past week she got out & two of the other cats were fighting with her under the car. I’m thinking that maybe she may have been hurt even though we ran out quickly to stop the situation. Could an abscess occur this quickly? Can a scratch & not a bite cause an abscess? We live out in the country surrounded by woods & so I’m also wondering if maybe she was punctured by a stick.
Any words from you would be appreciated. I will be taking her to the doctor on Monday regardless. I won’t take any chances with her health. Thank you in advance for your time. I appreciate it very much.
Kara
Sorry for the delay, I have been away for a week. I hope the vet visit went well. Seems like you dont have too many options. Make sure she is vaccinated and take care of all biites and abscesses that arrise.Good luck.
My cat got into a fight with a neighbor’s dog about three days ago and got injured on her pouch. I took her to the vet where she got antibiotics and painkillers. Now she is eating and drinking fine and has started hopping on the furniture too, but her pouch is swelling around the injury. I think it might be a abscess, but I’m not sure? She’s still got about a week and a half on her antibiotics. Should I take her to the vet again?
I would go back for a re-check because it sounds like there might be an abscess. It could just be swelling and bruising but better be safe than sorry. A vet visit is advised. Good luck.
Heya,
Constantly dealing with our cat coming home with Abscesses. I typically locate the puncture wounds, clean around the surrounding puncture pre abscess exploding with alchohol wipes and saline solution; i then shave and cut away 2cm area of fur around the site and then remove the scab by soaking it in hot/warmwater and epsome salts and then plucking at the scab until it comes away. I then apply gentle and constant pressure around the extremities of the swollen area and watch for puss coming out of the wound, as this exudes it is wiped away with a sterile wipe, I will do this until all puss has been removed and then flush the inside of the wound with saline. I will then apply a 1% stable hydrolized hydogen perixide solution with a couple of drops of Tee tree oil and 30mls of saline solution and eye drop this directly into the wound. This has worked across multiple abscess sites, ie rump, face, head, and back, but as of recent the latest one is on the inside back leg where we have had an abscess explode leaving a well drained cavity. I have cleaned and drained this site but the concern is the appature of the rupture site itself, it is roughly 1cm in diameter, and i can see either the subcutaneous or muscle layers. My concern is having this sealed up, as to minimize the potential for secondary infection. The cat is not currenrtly on antibiotics but is acting his normal self with full appetite and cuddly nature, the only thing different is the hole in the size of his leg. Im wanting to know can i apply a staple or stitch to this or are there sergical glues that could be better utilized for this application. I dont want to go see the vet without me diving into my own knowledge base….typically they charge you for the visit, which is 10 minutes to administer a simple antibiotic shot…
Man i wish we could buy can antibiotics….and or anesthetics…my partners pretty handy with a needle and thread….Im sure if i can stitch someones forehead up i can do the same to a cat….
Not sure how to answer this.
1) I would always recommend visiting a vet, their years of knowledge might not bet tested by a simple abscess but you will be sorry when the abscess is something much more serious and you are applying ointment.
2) no Tea Tree oil. It has been proven toxic to pets and has been shown time and again to delay healing in wounds. Hydrogen peroxide is not nearly as bad, but again delays wound healing by killing new cells. Use diluted beta-dine or chlorhiexi scrub diluted. If you can get these, then peroxide is the next best.
3) I have no idea, nor want to know how you plan to stitch up an awake cat with an open abscess. They usually struggle. Having said that, we do not advise closing open abscesses without he proper drainage and prep. They will just re-fill.
4) Constant abscesses? Keep the cat inside or have it neutered (if not already) you seem to have a lot of bad cats in the neighborhood. This will eventually lead to FIV or another disease or a really bad bite.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
About 2 months ago we started letting my cat play outside, when he had always been an indoor cat (since I had adopted him at least, about 4 years ago). We live in a city, and of course about a week into his new exciting life outdoors he got into a fight with a neighborhood cat. He was a little roughed up but seemed fine. About a week later, his left cheek was swollen and inflamed, so we took him to the emergency vet. It was a mild abscess, so he had surgery to get it drained and cleaned, then did a course of antibiotics. The cat kept scratching at the wound, so we put him in a cone for a few days and that stopped, and it seemed to heal up fine.
Now, about a month and half later he started scratching again! We just moved about a month ago, so I’m guessing he is stressed from the move. The wound is pussing and bleeds a little, but is not swollen like before. I’ve been doing warm compresses twice a day and put a cone on him, which of course he hates so he just mopes around all day.
Do I need to take him to the vet for another expensive treatment, or is it something that will heal with time??
Thanks for your help.
Interesting. It might be a tooth root abscess or something unrelated. It is possible that this is not the same abscess as it has been so long and after antibiotics. I would get him a quick exam by a vet. Tooth root abscesses are really bad and can get worse fast. They usually need surgery and tooth removal to heal. Sorry, wish I had a simple answer. If it is the same abscess then you have some nasty bug that was not fully healed and this would require longer stronger antibiotics. Good luck.
Hello. I noticed my cat acting funny. He kept his tongue out a little bit, almost like he was cleaning himself and halfway through a lick, just stopped. He was also drooling. Then he started acting lethargic, sluggish. He had sudden diarrhea, and when I saw, he had little drops of blood afterward. Mind you, he’s a year and a half old, not fixed. He also had tapeworm. But I made an appointment for the following day for him to be seen. This behavior wasn’t like him. But that night he seemed very unresponsive, he let me snuggle him under the blanket, which he hates. He wouldn’t even move his ears or open his eyes, no matter what noise was made. He was also breathing a little heavy.
The next day he was acting normal, eating, playing, drinking. We took him to a clinic to get his rabies and distemper shots. I noticed a bump under his lower lip, which seemed a little weird. He sat through the shots, let dogs sniff him, even rolled over for one.
We took him to the vet later. The vet said it was an abscess and ended up popping it. He had blood taken, but he became completely unresponsive. He went limp and couldn’t control his poop or pee. The vet recommended an emergency vet, which is what we did. All his blood work came back normal, but he had crystals in his urine. They put him on supportive care (an iv, all night watch, etc) we couldn’t afford to keep him more than 1 night, and couldn’t afford any xrays.
We picked him up the next day, the vet said he didn’t think he would make it. She had no clue what was wrong with him. We were told he had clear mucus type diarrhea that just leaked from him butt. We took him home and made him comfortable. He was cold to the touch, so he got a heating pad as well. Within 20 minutes of being home, he stood up and tried walking away. Over a dozen times. We noticed he had muscle spasms, and he kept uncontrollably kicking his hind legs and moving his head. We gave him pain meds the vet gave us and he calmed down. We spent the day watching him, giving him baby food and water from little droppers. We gave him some electrolyte water as well. He managed to jump out of a 12 inch tall box we put him in, and he took off running into the kitchen. He laid down on the cool ground, but I got him back into the box. I wrapped him in a blanket and put him in the box. I woke up every couple hours to give him water and feed him and clean him up. But today he was up, walking around, still a little out of it, but act it more like himself. He was able to maintain a warmer body temp, was able to control his movements, ate and drank on his own, was able to poop and pee when he needed, and even tipped his water dish over (like he always loved doing) but we still have no clue what caused this. We think it was shock, from getting the shots, and the abscess popping, then they went near his face with the clippers, because they didn’t feel safe having to sedate him. Any thoughts?
Wow, crazy story. Might have been a response to the vaccines and the abscess or sepsis from infection that he was able to clear. The only reason cats get that cold usually is heart disease, kidney failure, or sepsis (apart from being trapped in the cold or in a fridge.) There are other less common reasons but those are the big ones. I wonder if he was septic and the abscess was the tip of a bigger infection. Not sure. Hopefully he will make a full recovery. Did they give him antibiotics? I would give him antibiotics.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
I found this blog post through a Google search and was hoping to get your advice on a kitty we rescued. We recently brought in an abandoned cat that was roaming our neighborhood (I think she was abandoned as she is incredibly affectionate and sweet). I took her to the vet for testing and vaccinations and the next day I noticed an open wound on her upper leg (near her anus). I took her to the vet after work and the vet said it was an abscess that he missed the day before. She was INCREDIBLY lethargic after the vaccinations, I thought she was maybe reacting to them, but she perked up once the “sore” appeared/abscess busy. He recommended sedation to clean out the wound and stitch it back up and quoted me $300. We just paid him $300 the day before and I honestly don’t have the money right now. He gave us 7 days worth of
Antibiotics, and I’ve been putting a hot press on the sore for 5-6 minutes a few times a day to help. It seems like only a blood/clear mixture is draining now, no puss, no foul odor, just a horrible looking open wound (Nickle sized). If it doesn’t get better, of course we will find a way to pay to have her all better, she’s now 100% indoor and our new baby. My question is, is it okay if she licks the site? Do I need to put her in an E-collar? How fast can we expect a recovery (how fast is too fast?) Also, the vet did an anal exam and said that the anal gland was swollen? Is that something that will be addressed with the antibiotics? Thank you in advance for your help!!!
Sounds like the vet was right and did the correct treatment. Abscesses, like in the blog, are often missed because they are very hard to find on cats under fur and skin until they rupture and open up. I actually didn’t see one the other day until it opened a few hours later. Yup, hours not days. Keeping the area clean and giving the cat antibiotics will definitely help healing. Keeping the cat from licking the wound will help a lot too. I would get an e-collar to help with that. Cat tongues are very rough and very dirty and the bacteria they will place on the wound is much worse than the natural skin bacteria that would be there. If you can keep it clean with soap and water the cat will forget about it after a few days and you can take off the collar. The anal glands are another thing and should resolve themselves with good food and regular bathroom usage. If they do not, you need to have them addressed by the vet. Antibiotics usually do not fix them. God luck!
Hi Dr. Stewart,
I really appreciate the response. As much as I hate doing it, I will put her in an e-collar when I get home tonight. I’m hoping the anal gland problem will fix itself shortly. She’s starting to now have regular good food (who knows what she ate while she was outside in addition to the food we gave her). She seems to already have fairly regular bowel movements… and AMAZINGLY, only uses the litter box.
She really is a wonderful cat, I can’t imagine why someone would ever put her outside 🙁
Do you have a soap that you recommend?
Thanks, the soap we often use is dish soap like joy or dawn. It just takes a little and make sure to rinse it off after. Most every soap is antibacterial and you do not need soap labeled specifically as such. Just go with what your are using in your kitchen sink. Good luck!
I have a 5 yr old cat that was diagnosed with the start of kidney disease. So her weight is almost half of what it was. When I adopted her she was farrow and weighed 9 lbs now 6lbs. She is extremely thin and it has been a struggle for 3 years to get her to eat. I keep trying wet and dry foods but she is so picky. Yesterday I noticed her fur all wet and discovered a large abcess on her neck/shoulder. Took her to vet where they confirmed that is was an abcess. Reached the point of a very strong smell. Tonight I get a call that they want to operate to close wound. It is about 2 x 2 1/2 inches around. They said as an alternative I could monitor her and change the dressing every day but then started advising me to send her to a specialist (that they send everyone to) to have xrays, more blood work, kidney checked and also to rule out cancer. Prior to the abcess her weight was way down to the 6 lbs and she was not eating hardly at all. She has not felt good in a long time and I can see it in her eyes. What this vet is recommending will amount to over $2500.00 just for diagnostic. I am at the point where I need to make a decision on her life. My little girl is just miserable.
Am I being insensitive?
There are parts of the cat’s story that don’t make sense and need to be filled in. 5 years old with kidney failure is very young. That amount of weight loss is really abnormal at 5 too without obvious signs of kidney disease like vomiting, excessive water intake and increased urination. If the struggle has been 3 years, did she get the renal disease (kidney) when she was 2? I would not surgically close an abscess, but instead give antibiotics and let it heal on its own. This cat sounds like it might have a more serious disease like FELV or FIV or something really effecting its systems. You might want to seek a second opinion, a specialist would be great,at least just to see what they say. I would never imagine that it would be over a few hundred dollars to give you an idea of what is going on. $2500 seems like a lot of money for a few tests and a good second opinion. Do not be scared by specialists. If you want the answers get another opinion. I would say something is not right.
I have a cat that is about 12 years old. I got a kitten whos a little over 1 year old. The older cat was declawed when I got him, but my kitten is not. They play fight and about 2 weeks ago I noticed a lump behind his ear. I took him into the vet and they have him antibiotics through a shot. They said it would last for 2 weeks and it’s been 2 weeks today. The abscess popped 5 days ago and now its a big hole and I’m taking him to the vet again today to check up on it again. I’m worried about him developing another abscess if my cats keep playing like they do. Is it normal for cats to grow an abscess after fighting even if they’re both indoor cats? I don’t want to try to keep the cats apart because when they arent fighting theyre always sleeping together. They love each other but Im worried for my older cat. What do you think I should do?
All cat bites and scratched can form abscesses regardless of if they are indoor. I would get this one healed, as you care doing correctly, then see if it happens again. If it happens again you should consider keeping them apart more. I know its hard, but they obviously play rough. My guess is that the younger kitten will mellow out a little and the play will become less bite am more wrestle. Good luck, you might be ok after this abscess heals.
My cat got into a fight with another cat and got a chuck out if his leg, the next day it seemed to close up but he has not eaten or drinkin, he bearly moves he’s just laying around when he does walk its very short distance and he hops ad to not touch that foot on the ground… today it seems it has begun pussing and bleeding a little, he will not let me touch his leg and I can tell he’s in pain, what do I do?
This is a clear case of- bring the cat to the vet- advice. This blog is not meant to treat, diagnose or prescribe, but is designed to be more informational. I would seriously advise a vet visit before your cat gets worse.
Hi Dr. Stewart
I recently rescued a stray kitten about three weeks ago. When we found him we noticed that on his front paw the skin had been ripped off his second toe so we immediately took him to the vet. They rapped the cut up and gave us antibiotics and pain medication. We changed out the dressings every day as we were told for about ten days but the wound just wasn’t drying out. So we took off the bandages, kept him on the antibiotics and luckily a scab finally grew. Two days ago the scab fell off but I noticed a small abcess looking boil where the scab had been. It is now where near the size the wound was originally so we’ve kept him on the antibiotics also put a little neosporin on it. Today I noticed it looks dried out and a lot less swollen. I was wondering if this means it is getting better or should I take him to the vet again? His eating, playing, and sleeping habits have not changed one bit but I’m just a little worried. Also he is 10 to 11 weeks old.
I can honestly not tell from the description. If you are at all concerned bring him back to the vet. If he is that young, better to get him fixed early than wait until her is weak or not healing well. Good luck. Sorry I could not be more help.
My cat has had a large a abscess under his jaw / chin which burst. We took him to the vets and they cleaned it, checked his teeth (fine) gave him an antibiotic shot and told us it was fine and to leave it as he was probably just in a fight with another cat. It was okay for about a week and then it started to swell again, just as we were about to take him back it burst (a lot of drainage) and he was back to his happy self. But now it seems to have swollen again, more on one side than the other. We will take him back to the vets for more antibiotics but I am worried it will just keep happening again.
Have a dental xray done or ask them to check for a tooth root abscess. It could also be something worse like a cancer…. or it could be a resistant bacteria and you need to change the antibiotics. Maybe have them culture the wound, or look a little deeper. This should not be happening again and again….. good luck. Good question.
I work with ferals and strays, and use veterinarians, as opposed to google. We have a cat who came in emaciated, dehydrated, full of maggots and wounds on leg and tail from a wild animal attack in a park. She came in at 3.9 lbs. She was scheduled for amputation at 8 days in, but was then found by blood work to be severely anemic. She had a transfusion and has since received 6 treatments in a HBOT chamber. Hyperbariac Oxygen Therapy. Her flesh is now covering the bone and tendons, and is nearly healed. I highly recommend HBOT. I also recommend not getting a pet if you can’t afford a vet.
HBOT work is amazing and truly cutting edge. There is also vacuum wound healing as a step between HBOT and wet to dry healing. We have had great luck with vacuum healing at the surgical specialty office in our facility. Thanks for the heads up.
I am watching someones cats for 2 weeks with one week left, one cat has an abscess on her ear, I tried to lance it and some blood and puss came out not much and her ear is still swollen. the incision a made was very small, I didn’t want to hurt her, I have no money, no car, what should I do, should I try to make another cut and try to drain it or give it some time to see if she’ll cause it to burst, I saw her eat and drink, it didn’t look like much because I picked her up and checked her out it didn’t look any bigger, or should I wait until her owner gets home, she acts like it’s bothering her, she let me scratch it, it seemed to give her relief, I don’t want anything to happen to her, please help I don’t know what to do, thanks
Wow, no money and no car as a pet sitter might not be the best situation, but I understand the problem. I would not make another incision. You can try a warm soapy compress and see if it pops or the swelling goes away on its own with time. I would highly recommend a vet visit for antibiotics and maybe a lancing if it needs it. The risk is the infection gets worse, it might not be an abscess, it might get infected by a different bug…… If the cat is acting normally then I would wait for the owner to come home. If the cat starts to really act lethargic or not eat then I would be more concerned. Good luck, sounds like a hard situation.
well my cat is really getting bad these days, going out to fight some outdoor cats. i just can’t control it he always keeps on meowing randomly so i open the door for him to go outside because it is so annoying. Now he has a big cheek in the right and im scared if it’s going to kill him… what if i leave it? will he die? And can you tell me any treatment that i can do indoor without a surgy in the vet so he can get better? And do you know how to keep the cat quite? he is always annoying me… thanks!
Is the cat neutered or intact? Neutering a male cat makes them less likely to fight and go outside. I cant help you except to talk to your vet about his cheek. If he keeps getting in fights there is always the risk of an infectious disease like FELV or FIV and you should beware. Try to keep him inside with a litter box? Otherwise I really dont have too many ideas about keeping him away from other cats. Make sure he is neutered properly. Sorry and good luck.
sorry i mean without the vet
What if i bring a female to my home? Will she stay inside the home?
And if i brought a female will he stay with her in the home?
Because im thinking to bring a female so he will stay.
Thanks for everything.
No and No. You will just have kittens. This is a bad idea.
TSJOOM. WHY HAVE A CAT? Please get the poor thing a good home. If its hurt bring to vet. If you can’t i reiterate the good home suggestion. Also, if the cat is annoying you, i again reiterate – GET CAT A GOOD HOME PLEASE. Why suffer its annoyance and make him suffer at the same time. Irresponsible. Thank you!
My cat had a broken tooth, and later developed an abscess from an infected root, and the vet pulled the tooth and I gave her antibiotics (Baytril) for 6 days. The cat is an adult now partly tame feral (it has taken me 2 years) and I could not get the 7th dose into her. Her mouth was better, but now 3 weeks later or so, her mouth is very swollen and it looks like the abscess may have broken thru her lower jaw, because there is a big blood spot there. I gave pictures of my cat mewing with her mouth wide open to my vet, who said (I didn’t talk to him directly, it was thru the vet tech) it’s difficult to tell from pictures, but it could either be infection back again and do antibiotics longer this time, or else I have to bring the cat in to be sedated so he can look at it again. Maybe cancer (it’s a young cat, about 3 or 4 years old I guess, and her tooth was broken, so there’s an obvious source of infection, so I’d guess that’s unlikely, but what do you think?)
OK so for now I am giving her Baytril again, now for 2 weeks, and going to have to put her in tiny quarters because as I mentioned, she is only part tame. Restraining her is setting me back in my taming efforts, but she seems to eventually forgive me. Do you think I should take her in to be sedated, or better to wait and see and medicate her for 2 weeks? Is this abscess going to have to be drained to heal properly, or did the skin break through horribly accomplish that? I would guess my vet cleaned out the abscess when he pulled the tooth & this is a complication. I do not know her FIP/FIV status, but she has always been otherwise healthy and she’s vaccinated. I can’t find a webpage that discusses all the complications of dental abscesses. Thank you so much for this informative website – lots of helpful pointers.
Wow, great questions and good history. Her FELV/FIV status would help a lot in determining if she is immuno-compromised. If so, react accordingly. If she is negative then I agree with your vet. It could be a re-infection, continued infection, or another problem like cancer, or bone infection. If she has any of the problem other than cancer, I would continue the antibiotics for 3-6 weeks and try to get a culture and target the antibiotics. If it is cancer then you have fewer options. Sedating her and getting a great culture then really cleaning the area out and possibly getting a biopsy is probably the A+ treatment. Xrays of her jaw or better yet dental xrays would be ideal too. If you sedate her, you can also get a long acting injection of convenia to supplement the baytril (convenia lasts 10-14 days in cats.) If you choose not to sedate her you can only wait and see how the antibiotics work. I would consider adding a second antibiotic if you choose not to sedate and culture. Just to cover your bases. Hope this helps.
My cat has a ruptured anal abscess. I took him to the vet yesterday he asked us if my cat got into a fight, and we said no. We take him out to our small garden but we are always with him. The vet said that is not the anal glands so he says that is a mystery to him why he got that. I was searching in the internet and I couldn’t find anything besides anal glands. So I wonder what else could be?. Also It looks like he has a hole in his butt from the drain. Do you know how long it takes to heal?. Also the vet didn’t put a drain will be surgically placed so that the wound does not seal right back up. ?. Does it matter?
The vet is right, it is usually a fight that causes that sort of abscess but it might be a foreign material like a thorn or a bee sting too. Hopefully it is not something worse like a pre-cancer or even a cancer. These are rare but possible. If there is no drain in the wound it will close faster and heal, but you run the risk of an abscess forming when it closes. Just apply a warm compress to the area and try to milk any fluid out if the cat will let you , or just apply the compress if not. You vet has seen it and will give you the right advice. It should heal within a week, and if it doesn’t then go back for a re-visit.
Hi Dr Stewart . My husband told me that the abscess burst but itself when he took it to the Vet, and that the Vet put anesthesia and clean the wound he gave my cat a shot of antibiotics. We went back for a follow up, and he said that he din’t like the the way the wound look. He said it wasn’t healing properly as he would like it, and he was concerned because the hole was close to my cat anus and that could be dangerous so he refer us to a specialist we took him there and the Vet specialist told us that hole looks deep and they will have to open Rocky and maybe put a surgical drain if needed they performed the surgery and remove dead tissue and they said there was not infection so there was not need to put a drain.
My question is that should we have gone to a specialist in first place? should we ask to surgically put the drain next time if It happens?
We also forgot to mention we have another cat a female half the size of the male one so we didn’t think It was possible for the female to hurt the male one but do you think is that possible? . They do fight a lot but the male one has the upper hand. Also any advise about any questions to ask the Vet specialist?
Thanks a lot for your help
Almost definitely the female caused the abscess in my mind. There is no “stronger sex” in neutered cats, the females fight just as well as the males and a stray claw or tooth could have caused this. I’m not sure what you mean by questions to ask the specialist. They should be able to direct you to the best course of action. It is always better to go to your regular vet first and then get referred for a number of reasons. First the regular vet can help you choose who to see, second many specialists will not take “walk ins” without a referral. Also, your regular vet is cheaper and if they can fix the problem you might save money. Finally, your regular vet often does follow up and subsequent work and the specialist will want to keep them in the loop to help. Sounds like a nasty wound or was it a fistula or something more dangerous? Once it is cleaned and healed it should go away, and this is something to ask the specialist. Will this happen again?
Dr Stewart,
We went to a specialist that was referred by our regular Vet. He is the one who performed the surgery. Anyway the wound was healing and look better but last night we noticed that he had a small abscess It’s not the same is in the other side.So we took him to the Vet specialist and Rocky is going to stay in the hospital for the day so they could look at the abscess. The Vet resident pinch the wound and she said that was a little pus mixed with blood. So we are not sure why he is getting this again. Is this common in cats. We think maybe that antibiotics given by his regular vet worn off.
Regards,
Carmela
Good luck, you are doing the right thing and in good hands.
Hi Dr Stewart
It happened again we noticed that Rocky had a small abscess and he was bleeding.The abscess Burst on December 19th so we took him to the Vet, and she said that it was an annal gland abscess so she gave him antibiotics for 2 weeks. Then on January 14th we noticed a little bleeding so so we took him to the Vet and he said that it looks like that annal gland abscess and we asked why this is happening again almost a month after.He said he didn’t really know. He press the annal gland he didn’t prescribe antibiotics since It looks that It was healing. But then on January 22nd we noticed that he was a little red and then the next day he was bleeding again. We took him to a Vet specialist and he said that It looks that the annal gland infection that may need to be removed. My question is that why is this happening all the time?. We find curious that it happened after he had the big burst in August . Also is happening in the same place?. Is this normal? Do you think could be a foreign object?. We asked the Vet if we could do other test to rule other things. My husband thought that Rocky had megacolon and we had been giving miralax all this time but the X ray shows negative. So do you think maybe the miralax is hurting him. He is always being a healthy cat. H head a good appetite and he is in a good mood otherwise. He even once to fight with his sister Nova.
Thanks for you reply
Carmela
I would stop the miralax if there is no mega-colon as this can cause a while bunch of other problems….including maybe anal gland impaction and infection. I would trust the specialist and if they recommend removal of the gland, then I would certainly do that. Some animals have chronic anal gland impaction and abscess and these need to be addressed and then removed. It just happens. Sometimes it can be a growth or pre-cancer that can lead to worse things. Go back to the specialist and have the gland removed. There is no harm except $$ and healing should be easy. It will certainly solve your problem. Unless the cat is constipated, slowly wean off the miralax, then stop.
Hi Dr,
well heres felly’s story. about monday the 18th my male cat came home from his nightly run and that night i noticed he had a gushy lump on his back with a scab, i knew it was a attack but not knowing exactly what it was i left it alone. on thursday the 21st i saw him with something on his back so i went up to him and saw yellow pus coming out. so all morning im looking for a vet that does free exams because i have NO money. so i take him to the local vca animal hospital and the doctor told me it was a abscess. he told me i can drain and flush it with peroxide and water 1/2 and 1/2 but i decide to dilute it 1/4 peroxide 3/4 water because he mentioned it irritates them. the only thing i did get because i knew i needed it the most was the liquid antibiotics. but the doctor was rushing because he had other rooms backed up so im left with a bunch of questions.
so first i bought liquid antibiotics that i give him every 12 hours, i have a cone for my cat, flushing with 1/4 peroxide 3/4 water every 12 hours. the opening of his wound is the size of a pea, and the infection area that was full of bacteria is 3 quarters the size of a computer mouse. so through these few days thursday through today its been going well. its stopped draining pus on its own, when i do flush his found it went from yellow bubbles on thursday and friday to mostly white bubbles today. i try to open his scab to let it breathe as much as i can through the day but i dont want to keep opening it if i dont have to. when do i know that its healed?? today when i opened his scab it was harder to get the liquid in than thursday and friday because his infected area wasnt as flabby as these 2 past days have been, plus the bubbles arent forming as much as they were and so todays flushing consisted more of only a little amount of white bubbles and some blood from me opening his scab and its only swelling up when i reopen his scab and flush but after the swelling goes away.
so my questions i have for you:
how do you know when its healed?
how many days should i make sure his scab doesnt close so the pus infection doesnt start all over again?
is he going to need surgery??
how many days should i flush his wound because i dont want him to be irritated and in pain for more days than he should?
am i doing too much, do i need to do more, or am i doing just fine??
in notice i am going to take him to another free exam at a different vet (because im that broke) on monday or tuesday to follow up and explain everything to them as well, but in the mean time i want to know if its going okay until i see the vet again because the dr. rushed me out so fast.
hopefully you read this and can explain at least a good amount of what i would like to know with the absolute most detail i can explain. i just really want this to heal under the circumstances that i have to home care him because i cant afford all the surgeries and days stayed at the vet, because the dr. scared me when he said a lot of the time they dont fully heal.
I can not go into great detail without seeing the wound or the cat. I would not do the peroxide more than 2-4 days. I would make sure to give the oral antibiotics until it is finished or 14 days (whichever is first), I would not open the scab after it has healed for a week, and if there is no more pus or pocket do not open the scab, I would make sure he is up to date on shots and neutered to prevent future fights and bites and cover for disease, and it should heal within a week or two. I think you might be doing the right thing in the beginning but then doing to much toward the end of the healing. Bring him for another follow up to see how he is doing. You will know when it is healed or healing when the pain and swelling is gone and the scab is getting smaller and healing. When you see any signs of this, stop messing with the spot. Cats are great healers.
Owning a pet is a serious financial responsibility. Start a jar with change to cover future costs or maybe volunteer at the SPCA or vet office to try to cover future costs just in case he needs surgery or more medicine.
Good luck!
hello, i take care of a stray cat outside, he refuses to be an inside cat, and he got into a fight a month ago and an abscess started and popped on its on but the ‘hole’ has spread from the top of his head down the side of his face and is dangerously close to one of his eyes. It has scabbed over and he just scratches it off making everything worse. He is eating fine and seems energetic. I can’t get him to the vet since he is never here during the day or during office hours. He only shows up at night looking worse and worse. Is there anything that can be done for him? I worry if I can get him to a vet he will have to wear a cone which won’t work for an outside cat. Anything that I can do at home? Is he in danger of getting really sick? thanks.
He needs to see a vet to have his face treated. At least get him an injection of long acting antibiotics like “convenia” and try to get him tested for FIV FELV and neutered. Neutering him would prevent future cats and future fights. Nothing easy you can do at home. Sorry, he needs to be seen.
I also take care of stray cats and treat for worms and all other sicknesses..I saved one that was dying from a upper respiratory infection..was horrible to listen to it scream in pain 🙁 But I used all natural apple cider vinager with the other mixed 50/50 with water internally…I put it on its paws for 2 days along with one good dose with a oral syringe the first round..I swear that cat was 100% in 2 days and is healthy today..it also had a horrible case of ear mites..pure organic coconut oil in liquid form (not hot tho) and used cotton balls to clean all the debris that came out daily,takes about a week to get it all flushed out the ear canal,do not probe into the canal only the folds it will come out each day naturally with the oil..Both work as a natural antibiotic and can be used topical aswell once the abscess is open and drained..cover the would while its healing to keep out dirt ec. Since its outside..I have done all these and proven it works
I do not know enough about these treatments to support them. I would worry about too much vinegar orally. The coconut oil in the ears sounds like it could help but again not sure it will last. I would rather have have veterinary involvement and safe treatments. But I’m glad they helped this kitten.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
I’m very worried about my neighbour’s cat. She often comes into my house to eat my cat‘s food and sleep on my wardrobe. She’s been around more so recently, since she appeared one day with a sizeable wound behind her ear. There are plenty of cats around and she’s the littlest so I’m pretty sure it will have been a fight. Since then she’s developed an abscess on the same side of her face. Though I did also suspect her teeth as her gums are looking rather black, but it could be her colouring, she doesn’t hold her head still long enough for a proper look. Up until now she’s seemed perky enough, but it just keeps getting bigger. I came home from work today and had to double take, it’s like an extra head!
I called in to my neighbour to alert her to the situation a few days after the abscess appeared, she thanked me for bringing her round and told me she’d meant to visit the vet on Friday but couldn’t find her, she assured me she would take her Monday.
I visited my neighbour on Monday morning to drop the cat round (as she often gains access to my house via the cat flap of her own accord), but when I returned on Monday night expecting to see a clean wound, shaven patch, drained cyst and cone, or better still nothing at all as she’d be in her own home healing, sadly it looked as though nothing had changed.
I visited my neighbour on Tuesday to ask after the cat and see if I could offer my services, perhaps a lift to the vet would speed things along for the poor creature. My neighbour advised that she had taken the cat to the vet on Monday and that she was on antibiotics.
It’s now Wednesday, and as I said before, this cat’s face is huge! Looking bigger than ever today. I called my local vet and they advised that for a cat fight wound antibiotics might be all that’s prescribed, but I just find the whole thing very fishy. I know that my neighbours don’t work or walk their dog or treat their pets for fleas, but would they lie about having given the cat treatment?
I suppose what I’m basically asking is, would a vet have sent her away with a lump as big as half her head again and only prescribed antibiotics? Should I trust that she’ll start getting better? Is she going to be okay and I’m simply acting like a crazy person harassing my neighbour about her cat all the time? Though if my hunch is correct and this little kitty doesn’t make it, I’ll feel absolutely terrible that I didn’t help her.
Great questions. Sadly there are good vets and bad vets in the world. Any vet who would just prescribe antibiotics, if the owner authorized better care, is on the….. less good side of the field. We do not know the story and the owner might have declined all treatments except antibiotics and maybe did not even bring the cat in (again not a good idea for a vet to prescribe without seeing the cat.) If a good vet saw the cat and was allowed to proceed, I would have expected a shaved area, drainage and possible temporary drain placement. Certainly shaved, drained and flushed would be the minimum. Keep in mind this often involves sedation and some larger expenses. Money might have been an issue. At the very least I would have shaved and drained the pocket. I think you are correct in your concerns is my ultimate answer. The cat likely did not see a vet, but might be on antibiotics or not.
On a side note. Antibiotics works through the blood and need to contact bacteria. In a huge pus filled abscess the medication will never get to the infection and the core of the wound and therefore will do very little to heal the wound. More likely the cat will scratch it open and then the medication might help.
Hi Dr. Stewart:
Yesterday afternoon, I noticed that my indoor/outdoor cat had a swollen upper right lip. Last night it had become worse and she could not close her mouth completely. She is drooling terribly and she cannot eat or drink (I have tried syringe feeding but she growls and flips her head away). When I went to try to feed her this morning, she was trying to paw her face just a little and there is a very foul odor. She is also a lot warmer than usual. She is about 7-8 lbs. Could I give her Benadryl or an anti-inflammatory to help the swelling/fever? If so, how much should I dose? We have called 3 vets, here, with no response as they are closed until tomorrow morning.
Thanks so much in advance
That is not good. I would try to find an after hours or ER vet office or leave messages for a reply. Benadryl will not help, especially with a fever. It seems like more than a simple allergic reaction. Try to find an ER vet or go in first thing Monday morning. This sounds like an infection or maybe worse. It could be tooth abscess or tumor??? Try to find an ER.
Hi Dr.
My very friendly cat is always being attacked by stray cats that live in the river bank close to our house.
Any way, i heard the fight and when my cat came inside i took him and immediately washed the wound with warm water and a bit on antiseptic. the next day i left him to see what happens as i could not see the wound. on day three the morning, i took my cat and saw the a small hole forming, i took hot water and a towel en placed a bit of pressure the abscess went open and started to drain, so for three times a day i take my cat, push on it slightly, wipe away the puss and then wash the wound with Saline solution then apply betadine. i have been doing this for 2 -3 days now.. the wound does not look swollen or red, there is very little puss coming still out. But it smells like terrible like puss the discharge colour is cream, should i wait a day or two more before taking him to a vet? as last time this happen the Vet kept the cat for 4 days, cut him and charged a hunk of cash. my cat is in no pain playing and running around just annoyed with me.
The longer you wait the more likely the cat has to be cut or surgically drained. If you went day 1, there would likely have been just antibiotics, but after day 4 there is a need to drain and open the wound. 3-4 days of a pus oozing wound is not a good thing. I think the “fear” people have of a vet bill usually leaves people to wait longer and have a bigger bill. Go see the vet.
Hi Dr. Stewart
My cat just had 5 kittens on August 15th 2014. One of them passed of unknown circumstances on September 17th. Three of them are very healthy, energetic, and happy. Those three are eating VERY well. But the other kitten is VERY tiny, some would call her the runt of the litter. She isn’t eating too well unless I feed it to her and put water in front of her. I noticed a couple days ago sh had a hole in her chest and she was a little bloody. I’ve checked on her every day and it seems to have gotten worse. The hole is pussing and festering. She has been licking her paws and seems to have post hair where she has been licking. I also noticed that her ribs are very prominent. I am a 16 year old girl with no money for a vet. I want to help this kitten SO much. It makes me cry just thinking about it. I would appreciate it if you could help. -S
Sounds like the kitten might have an abscess and need antibiotics. Can you bring the kitten to the SPCA or local shelter to get care? I would bring the mom too and get her spayed (or you will have another litter soon.) You can try warm soapy compresses on the wound but my guess is that it is not enough. The Kitten might just be a poor doer or have worms or a virus that the mother gave her. There are a bunch of things that create runts and they are often not good. If you really can not get to a vet, shelter, rescue or have anyone that can help then warm compresses on the wound, flushing the area with soapy water and force feeding are all you can do. Good luck!
Hi dr stewart.
My male six yr old cat is an indoor outdoor cat. I noticed today he wont let me touch his stomach or even him. Its right on his side by ribs. A little scab kinda maybe a nail got in there from another animal. I graze my fingers over it and he goes craxy crying hissing biting. Im starting to feel a little lump under this scab and his stomach is like vibrating like jumping up n down.. i can not afford a vet i just had my first child n i have no money saved i dont know what to do for him but lwt him sleep.. he isnt reallt drinking water or going to bathroom i look at his gums and there white.. any suggestions on what this could be and if it will heal on its own.
Wow, sounds odd. How could another animal get an indoor cat? Sounds like maybe an abscess or something worse. Abscesses do not make their gums white or tremble or are that crazy painful. I would be concerned about something else. Could he have been shot by a pellet or BB gun? Could there be a deep trauma like a puncture through his body wall?
You need to get him care, or checked at the very least. How about an SPCA or discount low cost clinic? I do not have enough info to tell you what that is, but it sounds serious. If his gums are white, he is really really really sick! Try the SPCA or ask a friend for help. Sorry and good luck! Maybe take his temp too. If it is over 103 maybe there is just a serious abscess, but if it is under 98 then he is very very sick…. just an idea.
No he got outside and goes outside every so often its something on his side witj a tiny scab . But i can just graze my finger over it and hes crying and biting me.. hes doing nothing but sleeping going on almost 20 hrs. I try n pet him n he just criies 🙁
The spot is trembling tho when i touch it . Hes weezing while hes sleeping. Hes just not hiself
Sounds like might be a puncture or abscess but the white gums and lethargy (sleeping all the time) are very worrying. Warm compress the area and see if you can get some pus out as a last resort. Again I would suggest an SPCA or vet visit.
Hi
My kitty has a bad heart murmur
And last week he got attacked by the neighbors cat two days ago we noticed a lump I looked it up and saw it could be cancer or an abscess he has had a tumor removed so I hoped it was not cancer we took him to the vet the next day they just took him in diagnosed it as an abscess and I think drained and placed a drain tube in it it’s on his back. I do not know much about it at the the vet did not talk to is much at all, they said clean it and come back in 5 days can you give me some insight on it I don’t know what to expect at all thank you
Without seeing it I have a hard time telling you about it. I would certainly make a list of questions and ask ALL of them next time you see your vet. The drain needs to come out in 3-5 days and so make sure you visit the vet then. I would assume they will explain more to you. I also assume they gave you antibiotics to give the cat. Im not sure the heart murmur has anything to do with this infection, but it might be something to watch for in the future. Good luck. An abscess should heal in 1-2 weeks and be 100% normal then. The drain is a very good start.
My older cat was his normal self but had chronic itchy ears. I had to leave for the day and didn’t get back until very late at which time the entire side of his head had swollen to massive proportions. I thought he had scratched it causing an absess. I had antibiotics for an aBsess my other cat had so started that. When I woke up to take him to the vets, he was panting heavily, his eyes were fully dilated so I scooped him up very gently and he began gasping then passed away. He was drooling excessively when i woke up too. How did he succumb so quickly? Im devastated and can’t afford a necropsi but would like some kind of help as to why.
Sorry for your loss, I really don’t know. It must have gone septic and killed him if it was the abscess. It is possible it was something else unrelated as well. There are many cancers that manifest on the skin and can be very serious. Sorry.
My cat had a nasty bite to his face which created an abcess, so I treated him for the last week, warm compresses, betadine diluted and cleaning the area with salt and boiled water. It drained really well the swelling went down. He was eating and drinking it all healed really well. This morning when I let him out of his room ( he’s been kept indoors) I noticed he had a slight limp. This afternoon he can barely walk, only eaten half of his dinner and noticed a massive lump on his shoulder/ chest and neck. He’s not himself again. I put a warm compress on it and he started to growl. I have given him some anti inflammatory medicine leftover from one of the other cats we have. There is no bite marks around this lump, not sure if I should take him to the vet? Or if this will go away on its own, I’m concerned that he is lethargic and off his food. The lump wasn’t there when he had the abcess, only now that it’s healed. Is there something I can do in the meantime to make him more comfortable?thanks in advance
TAKE HIM TO THE VET! Off food, limping, painful, massive swelling in an area with no bites, and not himself….. there is nothing you can do at home to make him more comfortable. Most likely his abscess infection spread and is now in a much worse spot. I know I advise warm compresses and flushing abscesses but this is ONLY if a vet is not an option. Antibiotics are one of the most important parts of treatment and without them you can get secondary infection and worse signs. I would definitely take him in as soon as possible. A cat that will not eat is never a good thing.
Thanks Dr Stewart am taking him in this morning he’s eating a little more today and walking a bit better, but still not himself. It was late at night when I wrote this vets weren’t open 🙁 I’ve shaved the area thought he may have had a puncture wound there but is none that I can see. Hopefully the vet can help him out this morning.
Great to hear! Thanks for the update and let me know what happens. I’m glad he is eating better too.
hi, my 12 year old cat had his first cluster seizure 2 nights ago. he was rushed to the emergency vet who insisted he had a brain tumor and he should be put to sleep, that he wasn’t going to recover. We went to say our goodbyes and to our surprise he seemed fine. He purred immediately when i touched him and the only problem was he was temporarily blind. I took him home where he re-gained his eye sight the same day but refused to eat or drink and had a very swollen tongue, thinking he bit it during the seizure i took him to the regular vet who said it was an abcess on his tounge. he gave my cat sub Q iv, a shot of antibiotics and take home antibiotics, its almost been 24 hours and my cat still refuses to eat I’m taking him back to the vet tomorrow as instructed. the vet also said he thinks the seizure could have been caused from a toxin or irritant he had eaten hence the abcess on his tongue, but i am wondering how long it would take for the meds to start working?
WHOA, not sure what is going on here. Are you sure you cat did not get into anything or bite an electric cord or get stung or envenomed? Very hard to guess based on the history, but if it was an abscess why the seizure? Cats can have post-ictal (after seizures) confusion for hours and feel crummy and not want to eat, but this should not be days. Brain tumor would still be on the list, toxin, venom, or disease could also do it. Cluster seizures in a 12 year old cat is not good but not 100% brain tumor. Give him time with fluids and antibiotics to work, at least 3 days, but if that is not working then you need more diagnostic tests. One thing might be renal disease, it can cause many of the symptoms you are describing. Check his kidney values next time you go in. Good luck.
the vet i took him to believed the infection in his mouth was related to the seizure and had said he wanted to take care of that first. He said he understands why the emergency vet would say a brain tumor but since he’s a indoor/outdoor cat he was leaning more towards a toxin which would be why his mouth has a infection. we did do some testing and his kidneys are fine. he’s acting more like himself but refuses to eat or drink because his tounge is so swollen. he’s been on antibiotics about two days and I’m not really seeing to big of an improvement in his mouth, only his drooling decreased.
Most of this is good news. You can ask for a different antibiotic if the first one is not working and you can try to look closely in his mouth for anything that might be making things worse. Is there something caught under his tongue or something? Try giving him pain medications for his tongue or mixing up wet food and water and dripping it into his mouth. Cats need to eat very regularly and his not eating is a serious concern. You might need to get him a feeding tube until his tongue gets better. Good luck! Sounds more like an envenomation now like a insect or snake? Swollen tongue and seizure? Strange case.
he was doing a lot better eating on his own but ended up throwing a thrombosis and then heart failure, we had to put him down last night.
Very sorry to hear that. Sorry for your loss.
Hi, my 10 yr old cat (Mostly indoor but sometimes outdoor) has now her 3d abscess near anus. The first time, 2 yrs ago, it was small and diagnosed as possibly infected anal gland; last time – 6 months ago- they thought it might be a bite, as it was large (the size of quarter). Now she has another open abscess, small, about the size of a bb ball; she is licking it and there is a little blood but she is active/cheerful, just a little sensitive by that spot. Maybe anal gland infection again? Should I try warm compresses? Any other home treatments? My husband put neosporene on it – is that ok? If there is recurrent gland infection, how do we change her diet to treat it?, or what else can we do. We will likely take her to vet tomorrow (Monday). Thank you for any help you can provide
Warm compresses of soapy water might help. Neosporin will not do anything and might make her sick if she licks it off. Either she keeps getting anal gland abscesses in which case you need to ask the vet to show you how to express them and monitor for swollen anal glands, or she is fighting with other cats and they keep getting her as she runs away. The only solution for that is keeping her indoors. Make sure she is up to date on all her vaccines and the wound heals fully before letting her out again is another thing. Diet will likely do nothing to help, sorry. Good luck!
Hello – I have a 12 year old kitty with a history of anal abscesses (and a couple of other abscesses on her hind leg). This is bad enough, but to make matters worse she hates the vet and has to be sedated whenever she goes in. Anyway, I had to take her yesterday because i noticed some swelling and redness. The vet drained her glands and said he thought there could have been an abscess forming but it hadn’t yet. So he sent her home with pain meds and antibiotics. Today however she has a huge lump around her left anal gland. I called the vet right away and he said “no it’s not an abscess, probably just swelling. There was nothing there yesterday”. But I’ve seen her abscesses before and she’s not comfortable. He told me to wait a couple of days for the swelling to wear off and for the antibiotics to work. Should I wait, or go somewhere for a second opinion? I just hate to put her through unnessecary pain, or a burst abscess 🙁
Good question, but without seeing it I have to trust the vet opinion. Try warm compresses to see if the swelling will go away and/or rupture in to an abscess. If she is on pain medication and antibiotics already then waiting is not too much of a problem. I’m sure its not comfortable but you will be able to see a noticeable change in a day and can decide tomorrow or call the vet back. Many vet offices have an email address and you can take a picture with your smart phone and email them to get an opinion if they just saw the animal. Good luck.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
My cat is an 8 year old neutered male and came in the house at 11:00pm Tuesday night, yowling deep. I’ve never heard that before. My son and I were up all night with him, trying to comfort him not knowing what was going on. We finally fell asleep. Four hours later when we woke up his front leg under his elbow was warm/hot and swelling. Within 3 hours his whole leg was swollen and his paw was huge. We didn’t know if it was a snake, dog or cactus (which has happened twice) got a hold of him. Wednesday afternoon He became very lethargic and we don’t live anywhere close to a vet. I picked him up and sang to comfort him and cradled him in my arms to see if I could see anything. I felt a 3mm cactus spine sticking out that was only as thick as my hair but strong. I pulled it out and OMG it was like I opened a fire hydrant. I grabbed a towel and just called my daughter who trains horses and is as close to a vet as we have and she came over and shaved the area. We notices a 2 4mm punture wounds one on the inside and one one the outside of his upper arm. I think the cactus actually lanced an abscess when I pulled it out. I kept him in the tile bathroom to let this thing drain and by Saturday night his leg was just about the same size as the other. He wasn’t eating or drinking though. I have Amoxicillin so i made a mixture of about 75mg with wet food juice and used a syringe and put it in the back of his mouth which he swallowed and I’ve been doing that twice a day. The abscess not only drained but opened up a quarter size on the out side and 2.5″ long and 1″ wide on the inside toward his armpit. He has as of Thursday began drinking a lot of water, eating wet food (which we normally feed dry) and he’s been laying on his back sprawled out which he never does. He seems almost back to his normal self but we hear him licking almost sucking sounds in the middle of the night and his wound smells so bad. No fever, nice moist cool nose, rubbing against us but will this heal on its own now that the pus seems to be gone? Is my cat debrising his own wound?
Without seeing it I can only offer generalized advice. It seems like it is draining and doing well. He should not be able to lick it, it will only make it worse and might be introducing new bacteria that the amoxicillin can not get. Cats have very dirty mouths and do not help wounds. You nede to put an e-collar on him or prevent him from licking any way possible. I would use warm compresses with clean soapy water o help clean the wounds. There is not much else you can do, except see a vet and get much better antibiotics. Good luck….smelly wounds are very very very bad. He is making it worse. Keep him inside (obviously.)
Thank you for your reply! The smell went away after two days of maggots. I bought betadine and began flushing it out twice a day. They apparently ate dead flesh as I’m told by a vet I called in Albuquerque. He did however tell me to flush it twice a day make sure they are gone. They made their own way out as we flushed. Talk about gross. He’s back to his normal spry self. Even though it looks good, you are right… It could be filled with bacteria. We started warm wet compresses and let them sit and then rubbed gently and the cat was licking the air so I figure it must have been a place he couldn’t get too. He’s eating like a cow and drinking a lot of water. I’m scooping the litter box so I’m grateful he is functioning. I never not lived where we couldn’t get to a vet. Born and raised in Southern California where you have everything at your finger tips. Thank you for your response, you confirmed everything for me. – Lori
Great to hear.
My cat four days ago I noticed a bite mark it was pussing I cleaned it now it’s not pussing I just noticed blood there was stuff inside the wound I cleaned it out I’m just concerned he’s acting like his normal self eating drinking playing around should I take him to the vet or am I overreacting n it will heal on it owns
Very hard to make that call with so little info, I would always recommend a vet visit at least to put your mind to ease and hopefully prevent an abscess. It might be ok without antibiotics but these bite wounds can often get worse very quickly. You would also want to booster a rabies vaccine. Good luck.
My cat likes to go inside and outside but we have an owl and had possems come up in the past. He got a bite on his cheek by something and his behavior hasnt changed much besides that he stays in at night and sleeps in my room (which if he does want to stay in at night he dont like sleeping in my room) and i saw an owl swoop at one of my cats before so i think thats wat got him. And he just threw up everything hes ate today. I had a dog who threw up alot one day because my dad left out some stuff that goes inside of a car and she died so im worried maby he ate something bad like that. And he had a wound on his cheek in the same spot last month and when it healed another one apeard. The wounds blead and puss and take up about half of his face, and the fur was ripped out so it wasnt even close to being hidden. Hes outside alot because the other cat just had babies and he dont like them so he likes to be outside but we have started keeping him in during the day now to. Shoud we take him to the vet or will it heal on its own? And what do you think got him?
Wow, a lot of info there but I’m really not sure how to answer. I think the most likely thing that got him was another cat and if the wound is not healing, you are concerned, he is vomiting, the wound is big a pus and blood is coming out….YES take him to the vet to get booster shots, antibiotics and a check up. Is he neutered? That might be a problem with why he is fighting or getting wounds (you are also having kittens!) and you might get him fixed. I would say the most likely thing is a cat bite and yes take him to a vet. Good luck.
Thank you, we took him to the vet and they agreed that it was probably another cat and told us that it will get infected if we dont keep it clean and gave us antibiotics . Its finally beging to scab over and heal but we are gonna keep him in for a while even after it heals. The kittens arent his he has been neuterd for a few years
Great to hear on all fronts!
My cat keeps getting abscesses but me and my mom heal her bye our selves every time and she is old as dirt
Hi could you tell me how youve done that ? Currently needing advice
Hello,
A stray cat showed up at our house about a week ago. The vet said that she had an abscess that had burst, leaving her with an open wound about 3″/4″ inches wide on her Belly. The vet said that its all external, and that with time she will heal. She was also severley under weight. We have her on a course of antibiotics and pain medication along with lots of love & care, however the last couple of days she has been limping and her back leg have also swollen, which the vet seems to think could be all the infection through her body 🙁 She’s about 3yrs. Do you think she will get better? The vet says that we shouldn’t give up on her as she’s an adorable baby. But how long will it take for her to heal completley. Am I right in making the decision by keeping her even though she’s not mine, but a stray. I just dont want her pain, if there’s a possibility of her not making it 🙁
I would commend you for helping a stray and bringing her to the vet. If the abscess is systemic then you need a stronger antibiotic and more time. If she is really bad you might need IV fluids and IV antibiotics. It is VERY rare for an abscess that ruptured to go systemic, more likely it is another abscess you didn’t see the first go around. I would call the SPCA and make sure no one is missing a cat. Stray cats are very rarely nice and sweet. They are usually guarded and semi feral. Just make sure she is not someones beloved cat that escaped. Also, beware of rabies and other diseases if you have other pets in the house. I would say overall you are doing the right thing and keep going with more time. Try a change in antibiotics possibly.Good luck.
Hello!
I have a 4 yr old female cat, that i have been having issues with. My one male cat presented with ringworm, so i took him to see a vet and they prescribed me two medications in treating his ringworm. I gave him the liquid meds for as long as suggested/needed and the topical spray i used when advised. My female cat about a week after the male cat was all done with his meds, had ringworm on her upper lip (both sides), and, in front of her ear. I started to treat her with diluted all natural ACV, it seemed to work great but she is so finicky that it was a battle putting the mixture on her. I have seen less and less of the ringworm and just to make sure i brought her in to see a vet. At the time she had another spot on her nose that was dry and flaky (it also glowed in a blacklight), the vet said he wasn’t sure that it was ringworm for sure. The day before her trip to the doctor, i noticed she had chin acne (black spots and missing fur under her chin), i asked the doctor about it upon her visit and they gave her a convenia injection. I read horror stories about these injections but, my cat was perfectly fine after it. About a week later she now has a swollen and fat bottom lip. I have absolutely no idea where it came from. So, again i took her to a different vet that said it could possibly be related to the chin acne, they were not going to give her another shot of antibiotics because it had been only a week ago that she received the convenia injection. The vet said to just leave the lip alone and if it didn’t reduce in swelling to bring her back in and they would give her a steroid shot. Now, with all that explained, my question is, the vet did not seem so concerned about her lip as i am, is this something that i should just let them give her the steroid shot or wait a little longer and see if it goes away on its own?
She is eating and drinking, playful, ect. I have been treating her acne with hydrogen peroxide for about two days now and it’s clearing up nicely. I just have no clue what or how to treat her lip naturally vs. pumping her full of more drugs that i honestly don’t want to give her.
Ok, first I agree with the vet. It should not be a huge deal if it is chin acne related and convenia is a GREAT drug (the internet will tell you martians are running the world if you believe it), but it is not perfect. Chin acne is a pain and can be treated with benzoil peroxide but it is never really cured. I usually tell people to change the food and water bowls to stainless steel or high quality porcelain because I find plastic bowls cause a lot of reaction and acne. Try it. Other than this, listen to the vet and see what it looks like in a week…..
Really, change the food and water bowls…. try it.
I have already changed the bowls to ceramic and as mentioned from cleaning the area the acne has started to clear up. I changed her food about a year ago to blue food. Her lip is still swollen, any ideas on what I can try and treat it with, if any?
Not sure why it would be swollen unless there is an abscess brewing or an ingrown hair. Check her teeth and make sure her breath does not smell — infected–. Other than that, without looking at her I really can think of much. There are certainly auto immune diseases that can start with swollen gums and lips, but these are rare and I would expect your vets to catch it. Give it the weekend and then take her back early next week for a follow up. Wish I could be more help. Sorry and good luck.
Her breath does not smell and they said her teeth were fine so, I guess I just have to wait it out. Thanks again for your words.
Good luck, I hope it resolves.
My wifes cat is 15 yrs old and it has an air pocket under its right eye and if you rub or push on it you can hear the air come out of its eye with some blood and same with its nose. It also acts like it hase a cold the vet removed one tooth on top and one on the bottom and know it looks bigger then a week ago when surgery was. No word on the sample yet but I’m not sure if the vet will know what it is sence she looks about 18yrs old. Two diffrent meds four weeks later no change any ideas?
This sounds very serious, like air is leaking from either a ruptured oral abscess under the tooth, or through the nose. I would definitely go back to a vet, better yet, a specialist and see about getting xrays and a consult. At the very least a second opinion sounds like a good idea. 2 medications and four weeks = not working. It is possible your vet is totally correct and the treatment is appropriate, but a second opinion would help confirm that. Cronic nasal discharge wit blood and air is a very serious problem. Good luck.
I have just noticed my kitty has a little abcess on his butt hole he’s an inside kitty and it stinks a little what can I do to treat it at home as I am very broke right now I think he might of just licked it like crazy and tthis is how it happened
Might be an anal gland abscess or wound. Not much you can do except keep it clean as you can with soapy water and do not apply any cream. You can try to make or buy him a comfortable e-collar so he does not lick it raw. Good luck.
My cats paw had swollen 4 days ago. I took her to the vet and he gave her two injections. One was an anti-biotic ( in her system for 14 days)and the other was for pain. The vet said it was a cat bite. However the swelling still has not gone down and the after phoning the vet he said it may be an abssecc. I am worried that the visit will be just as traumatic as it was last time. Is it ok to wait until Monday to take her? Just in case she is a boy better by then. The procedure for an abssecc removal sounds very scary.
The vet is correct that it might be an abscess. There should be no abscess removal procedure. Usually we just wait until they get big enough to drain or they pop and we flush them. Your cat might need more pain medication, but that seems like all I would do for an abscess. If there is a foreign material in there (like a thorn) then it needs to be removed. If the bones are broken or there is a cancer, this is different as well. My advice is that you wait and try to soak the foot in warm clean water to help regain circulation and maybe bring the abscess to a head. Warm clean compresses can do this too. Then bring the cat to the vet on Monday and have it rechecked. The 14 day antibiotic is great and that should help. Good luck!
Hi there,
My 8 year old cat was bitten about a week ago. We took him to the vets immediately and they found 2 puncture wounds on his tail and back! After a few days he still cowered under the table and didn’t seem himself I took him back to the vets ( 4th visit ) as I thought he had loose stools and had soiled himself however on inspection by the vet he noticed an abscess that had burst. The vet advised me to wash it once a day with warm water and keep an eye on him if he licks the area. I had to place an inflatable collie on him as straight away he started licking! Sounds awful but when he flicks his tail it makes a funny sound, it’s a bit stomach turning!
The hole looks slightly bigger and is right next to the anus, he can still reach it with this collar and we tried the cone collar but he absolutely hated it and moon walks!! I can’t watch him struggle/ will he get used to it! I have even tried nappies but this was unsuccessful too! So at last my question is how can I stop him licking it? He means the world to me and it kills me to see him struggle!!
I forgot to say, he had a two week lasting antibiotic injection on his first visit to the vet and he has pain relief daily. The wound looks fairly clean and no longer oozes any fluid however it seems larger than 3 days ago and I have noticed a slight smell from the area ( not too offensive)!
He is due back at the vets on Monday but after reading some other comments on the blog I am scared it won’t heal and he might loose his life!!
He is eating and drinking but just wants to constantly be on my lap! I have a blanket on the sofa and I use it for my lap but he preferred being on me rather than the sofa!!
What should I do??
Kind regards
Sounds like he is doing well. The larger wound is fine, it will get smaller starting this week if it is healing. Take pictures of it or measure the wound, because looking at it daily is hard to judge its true size. No ooze and no smell are great and the 2 week antibiotics and pain medication is perfect treatment. Keeping the cone on him and giving him time is totally correct. His new found affection might be a good thing and this wound might bring you two closer. I highly doubt he will die from the wound. Worse case scenario, he needs a minor surgery to close the wound and place a drain, but I doubt it and suspect your vet will be very capable if need be.
He will certainly get used to the cone, all cats eventually do. That is really the only option. You can try the soft cones, a little larger but they are made of a softer material that lets the cats move better (they are lighter too) or you can try to make your own cone out of canvas or something. Abscess take a while to heal and with good antibiotics and time they should be fine. Keeping him from licking it is hard but you must try. He will get used to the cone.
My kitty Isabelle seems to be having the worst luck lately. A few weeks ago, I tried to introduce a new cat to the home and she became very stressed and stopped eating/drinking and started vomiting. I found a new home for the new cat ASAP, but my girl seemed to keep deteriorating. Blood and urine tests, and X-Rays, showed that everything appeared to be normal. The vet and I decided to try an esophageal feeding tube since she was refusing food and water. Shortly after the procedure, Isabelle vomited so hard that the tube came out and the vet did not want to repeat the procedure. I brought her home with some pain medicine, and medicine for nausea and miraculously she started eating and drinking again, and there was no more vomiting.
Over the past 2 weeks, she has really seemed to be well on the road to recovery when a few days ago, I noticed her incision from where the feeding tube was, was bleeding. I figured she must’ve scratched it open. I cleaned it up but kept an eye on it…there hasn’t been any more blood, but a few times I noticed it was looking a little wet and puss-y (shes been trying to lick at it). I sent photos to my vet and they asked me to bring her in. I did so on Wednesday morning and the incision was actually looking great at the time and her temperature was normal.
This evening after I fed her, she hid under the bed and started growling and hissing. When she came out, she was pawing at her neck a bit, when I noticed a bit of an abscess under the incision. It is not draining at all. I’m wondering if I should bring her to the Emergency clinic so they can look at it, and possibly drain it, or if you think it would be okay to wait until the morning when I can hopefully get her in to see her usual vet?
The Emergency clinic is very expensive and a bit of a hike away, so I would prefer to wait and bring her to the vets who are familiar with her case and avoid ER fees (I’ve recently spent well over $1000 on tests and procedures). She is currently resting peacefully, but I know cats are pretty great at hiding discomfort. I’m a total kitty hypochondriac – is this something that sounds like it warrants an immediate trip to the ER, or do you think it can wait until morning?
Not sure if you will get this in time, but thanks for the consideration, regardless. Any advice would be great!
Sorry for a late reply, but you can imagine I only have a limited time for replies here.
I think waiting would be ok given her history and a good antibiotic might help fix her neck wound. Also I would certainly add an e-collar to her treatment to prevent future licking and scratching. The real question is what is going on underlying??? It seems like she was really sick and the idea of another cat being the cause leads me to think it was contagious. Have you looked for Guardia, coccidea or other intestinal parasites? You might want to treat for them even if you dont find them. Other problems like esophageal cancer or stomach cancer should be on your list. Did she get a good ultrasound? That would be my next step probably diagnostically. As for her neck wound, that should heal with time and antibiotics. Use a warm compress if you have to to get the pus out and encourage healing. Keep the area clean and keep her from bothering it. Good luck. Let us know what happens. I hope this was helpful.
My 1 y/o baby has developed a swelling on her face. It started about three days ago-first day it was mild enough I wasn’t even sure if it really was swollen. By day two it definitely was, and today she has a giant lump on the side of her pretty face. Now that it’s swollen I can see the scab in the middle of the swelling, and also hair loss around a vicious scratch on the skin outside of the swelling-hard to believe that escaped my notice before so maybe the latter is from her scratching herself. I think she might be mildly feverish, and she’s a little less frisky than normal but still eating & drinking okay. I presume the swelling is an abcess, although right now it’s firm & not soft.
I cleaned the wounds with alcohol & applied a topical antibiotic. I’m very financially strapped at this time. My question is, can I apply a warm compress at regular intervals and see if the wound opens and drains on its own? Or is a vet visit necessary before I try anything at home? If I can apply a compress and the wound opens (or it happens on it’s own overnight or something, what is the proper way to clean the wound, and should any kind of disinfectant be used?) Any advice would be much appreciated.
Ok, it is likely and abscess and a warm compress 3x a day is a good idea to see if it can open on its own. The minute she gets “sick” you have less choices and need to bring her to a vet. If you are totally financially strapped (not just busy buying holiday gifts, but really strapped) you can try cleaning the area with a diluted soap and water mix (dish soap is fine) and keeping it clean until you can get to a vet is essential. You might need antibiotics, or in a young cat (cat I guess??) it might heal without. Just use lots of water and mild soap and warm compresses. Good luck!!
Thank you for your advice. Thankfully since I messaged you the wound seems to be closing and we invested in a larger inflatable collar which he tolerates. We are still cleaning the area with saline and he forgives me instantly!! 🙂
Once again thank you for humouring a very protective cat owner.
Great to hear.
I came home from work a few weeks ago and noticed my cat Rocky was not acting like his usual happy self. He seemed tired and had no appetite. The next morning he woke up and I noticed his tail appeared to be really swollen. I had to leave to work but when I returned his blanket was covered in smelly, yellow-brown stuff. Some of it appeared to be blood, but it was hard to tell because the liquid had already dried up. I noticed his tail was no longer swollen and that’s when I discovered the wound by his tail. We have dealt with cat wounds before, and my mom decided it would be best to put some hydrogen peroxide on the wound to disinfect it. We thought the wound was all healed but just today I picked up my kitty and he meowed as if he was in pain when I did so. About 5 minutes later I noticed there was discharge coming out of the wound. The discharge appeared to be yellow-white, and smelled really bad. We have tried cleaning the area but my kitty keeps trying to lick the area. He is neutered but I’m really worried about him, would it be best to take him to the vet and have them treat the wound? I’ve also seen there are over the counter medications sold on amazon and was considering purchasing one of those. Any idea on how much a visit to the vet would cost for this?
Thank you.
Definitely take him to the vet before the abscess gets bigger and you need surgery. The over the counter medications are a total waste of money and will sometimes make things worse. Your kitty needs antibiotics and a good flush. The vet visit cost will vary from region to region, just give the vet your budget before you start! Good luck!
Hi! My male cat is 3 and is an indoor/outside cat. I noticed he had a swell on his right chest for around some days or so before the swell seemed to pop(yesterday), leaving a small hole( around 1 cm) behind. I took him to the vet the moment I noticed it, and they gave him one convenia shot, and shaved around the area as to not get hairs in. I have an E-collar on him, and the abcess is still leaking pus (sometimes a bit bloody). How do I continue treat/clean the leaking at home and what can I do to ensure it heals? Thanks.
You did everything right so far. Apply a awarm clean compress to the wound daily and just give it time. It should heal. If it does not look better in 5-7 days then bring him back to the vet for a re-exam. It should heal on its own with convenia and an e-collar.
I found your blog while trying to find a way to easily administer buprenorphine to my cat while he recovers from a lanced abscess. I just wanted to say I’m so impressed and shocked (in a good way) at how you answer each of the questions. I have a blog myself (not about cats) and I know how difficult it is to keep up with the comments. Bless you for taking the time to respond to people. Any tips for getting my cat to take oral buprenorphine (with a syrine)? I’ve tried wrapping him in a blanket/towel like all the YouTube videos suggest, but he just spits it back at me. I understand it’s not as effective if I mix it with food, but will he at least get a little benefit that way? He was supposed to have 4 doses since he came home, and I maybe have gotten 1/2 dose in him. Thank you very much!
Thanks!! It can sometimes get a little overwhelming and I get delayed, but I enjoy my job!
Ok, so the buprenorphine works best on mucous membranes and not digested. In fact it likely doesn’t work well when digested, so don’t mix it with food. You just need to get it on his gums, so…. I would wrap him or hold him and get small drops on the inside corner of his cheek if possible. Shooting it down his throat is not the goal (like with normal medication.) My honest opinion is that lanced abscesses do not hurt too badly, and the stress for you and him of getting medication might be far worse than the benefit of some mild pain relief. You need to decide that one.
Finally….. um….. you can give it rectally to if you really feel the need (mucous membrane and all) 🙂 Good luck.
Thank you! I think you might be right about the pain relief not being worth the stress it causes us and him. I was just worried that he was in pain because it’s been about 24 hours since he was treated and he’s still a bit lethargic and not eating as much as he usually does. However, I think he might be more upset at wearing the e-collar and being locked indoors (he’s indoor/outdoor) than he is in pain. I’m supposed to take him back tomorrow to have the drain removed, so I’m sure they’ll re-check him. Thank you again for responding to quickly. Happy holidays.
Sounds good, Good luck with him. Happy holidays.
I took my cat to the Vet 8 days ago due to her not eating and not wanting to move, she also had a high fever.
The Vet said that he thinks that she was in a cat fight. He gave her an injection of antibiotics and B12.
She started eating again 4 days ago, she is peeing but still hasn’t pooped.
She also has swollen feet and it hardly walking as she won’t put weight on them.
I am guessing that she was bitten on the feet and that is why they are swollen.
Should I be concerned that she is not pooping? We know for a fact she isn’t due to the fact she won’t walk and we carry her to toilet.
Take her back to the vet. Not pooping will lead to not eating and become a serious problem. She might need fluids or enemas to help her Colin hydrate and get her moving again. I’m worried that swollen feet might bevfroncsomething other than a cat fight. Rarely do cats bite feet in a fight. Bring her back to your vet. Vitamin B shots are usually indicators of older vets (it was more popular 20 years ago) so he/she should have more ideas for her. Good luck.
Hi Dr.Stewart, I pray your still answering questions. My cat had an abscessed wound at the base of his tail and he was too himself for a while and wouldn’t eat. But then it burst and he went back to normal and I was finally able to see where the wound was. So I cleaned it and put peroxide on it. He seemed so much happier and it was healing. But then he went upstairs to where my inlaws lived days later and was playing with his brother (another cat) and I guess maybe his brother did something to his wound and it started to puss because I took him to the humane society to get neutered and they said that his wound is infected (because of the puss) and needed antibiotics so they couldn’t neauter him. But I just cleaned him up real good and did warm compression and the next day the wound looked so much better and 2 days later it looks like it’s healing very well and it doesn’t hurt him, and he is normal, eating well and happy. Should I be worried and take him to the vet still? I can not afford it at all right now. The wound isn’t pussing, it is healing and drying up and everyday I clean it. He had it for about 2 weeks now and seems perfectly fine.
Try taking him back to the humane society, because it sounds healed. They will give you another opinion. It seems like it should be ok now. If there is no moisture or pus and the cat is doing well, those are good signs that it has healed. Good luck.
A seemingly stray cat has been staying over at my house for a while. He’s not neutered, and recently came over with a ruptured abscess on his head. I’ve been warm compressing it and draining best I can and putting antibiotic ointment on it. I’m pretty sure he was abandoned and I want to take him to the vet but can’t afford it right now (jobless college student). The swelling is down I haven’t noticed anymore pus but the hole is maybe half a centimeter and there’s dead tissue. What should I do?
Take him to the SPCA to get treated and neutered, that is what they are there for. Hopefully they will treat the wound, and neuter him to prevent future fighting. Otherwise all you can do is keep the wound clean and dry, and make sure the dead tissue starts to harden and fall off. Prevent flies and infection with constant cleaning and drying. I would call the SPCA and see if they will help.
Hi Dr Stewart,
I’m so glad I found this site and I think it’s great that you are helping people with their queries. My cat has a very swollen toe pad on his right foot. Took him to the vets as an emergency as he wouldn’t eat or drink, couldn’t walk on it at all and was sleeping all the time. Vet examined him, said there were no obvious breaks and it could possibly be an abscess. They gave him injected antibiotics and painkiller for us to administer at home.
I took him back 2 days later as it seemed to be getting progressively worse, the vet said she thought it was an abscess and made a small incision in the lump without sedation. It ruptured slightly but all that was coming out was blood that was a bit watery, but not overly. She told me to bathe it in dilute salt water (which I tried and he hated) and to try squeezing it myself every half hour (which he really hated and I gave up on because I couldn’t bear causing him so much pain)
I’m taking him back tomorrow to be sedated and for the lump to be lanced but I’m very worried that they may have gotten it completely wrong and it could be broken. I have no idea how he has done it either which isn’t helpful, I know.
What would be the main telltale signs that it is a fracture/break rather than an abscess? Also, if they lance it and it is a break could this cause further damage? And as it is on one of his middle toe pads could this cause any lasting issues?
Thank you so much in advance
Wow, sounds serious. Ok, so if its broken, then draining and lancing it would not be a great idea. They should certainly xray the foot and see if its broken, infected, cancer or maybe even a foreign body like a staple or thorn. If they are going to sedate him and do all the proper work under sedation they should probably biopsy and culture it as well. These are WELL worth the money. The sedation should be a one time event so you should do all you can while he is under. Other than that keep exploring options and good luck. I think you vet seems to be doing all the right things.
Our 9 year old outdoor cat had an access on the top of his paw. We took him to the vet where he had surgery and a drain placed. He stayed at the vet’s office for 5 days while the wound healed and the vet administered antibiotics daily. The day we were to pick him up the vet called and let us know kitty could not move his hind legs. Being a bit of a hipochondriac whose condition extends to all members of our family, I immediately began researching what the cause of this may be. The vet had already informed us during his phone call that he x-rayed kitty’s legs and spine and found nothing out of the ordinary with the exception of spondylitis. Kitty was (and still is) eating as heartily as ever (he is a bit of a chub, not unhealthy just a good eater) he was (and still is) playful and affectionate. My (admittedly limited) research came up with two possibilities; kitty threw a clot, or immune induced neuropathy. He doesn’t seem to have any of the other symptoms of a clot. No pain, no lethargy or lack of appetite. Vet took a wait and see stance, said if he improves daily we should wait to see if he regains movement in hind legs but if he doesn’t, we should get a neuro consult. We took kitty home and he did begin to improve. A few days later, he was holding up the abcessed paw again. We took him back to the vet. His abcess had filled again and he had to have a drain placed in his leg for the second time. This time the vet let us take him home right away. He was on antibiotics and had to wear “the cone of shame” to prevent him from biting off the drain. yesterday we had to take him back to get the drain taken out and my husband pointed out to the vet that kitty’s paw was swelling slightly and he had a small abcess where his previous antibiotic shot was placed which started draining on the way to the vet. The vet put a staple on the new access but left it slightly open so it could continue to drain and gave him an antibiotic shot that is supposed to last two weeks. He is still also on the antibiotic which was originally given after the second surgery. Tonight when my husband got home and went to give him his antibiotics he saw that his leg and paw look like they swelled up again and worse than ever. We are very concerned because our vet made us think kitty would get better after the antibiotic shot. Why would his abcess get so swollen again? Also his hind legs are regaining strength and movement but extremely slowly. Kitty still seems happy and loving. He poops, pees, eats and drinks normally. He even takes the time to go in his litterbox although I’m afraid he’s using his abcessed paw to cover the poop. Should I trust the vet and wait and see if the abcess gets better, or should I take him to a different vet and get a second opinion? Thanks so much in advance for taking the time to read my rather lengthy post.
Wow, there is a lot going on with your kitty. First, the swollen front paw is concerning because if a cat needs 5 days hospitalization and a surgical drain placed, that is a major abscess. Usually cats do not need all that. The 2 week antibiotic is very good and should usually do the trick with TLC and a cone. I would be concerned about more swelling and another abscess at an injection site??? I would possible want to have a second opinion about this situation. I think your vet is probably doing the right thing, but a second opinion can not hurt and will put your mind at ease.
The paralyzed rear legs are a real concern. This is usually a saddle thrombus and is very serious. Your vet should be able to take a few simple tests and determine if this is the case. If so….I would want to see a cardiologist or a vet very experienced in cardiology. These are usually secondary to heart problems and we start these cats on heparin or aspirin to prevent further clots and start them on some type of heart medication if needed. You should follow up on this. They can resolve on their own but are often very painful off and on.
I would seek a second opinion about the rear AND front legs, but assume your first vet is possible on the right path. I just want more info on the rear legs and wonder if the two are connected. Is it possible the front leg swelling is edema from heart disease? That needs to be explored.
Good luck!!
My cat Yui was feral when I got her she was still a kitten, but after a few months she was tamed and spoiled. A few weeks ago her tooth came out and she had a little piece hanging so I got it pulled and made sure she wasn’t in pain. She acted completely normal as her happily self. Well last night she disappeared all night and we couldn’t find her, my fiancé found her this morning and her entire face is swollen and one of her eyes are swollen shut. I have heard allergic reactions, swollen lymph nodes and toorh absscece.. I’m not sure but I’m very worried.
Bring her to a vet, it sound like it could be any of the things you suggested. Tooth abscess would certainly be high on my list, and that needs immediate medical care. Your cat certainly needs to be seen by a vet ASAP if the swelling is still there after 12 hours. If the swelling is down it might be an allergic reaction and not so bad. Good luck.
Hi, I have indoor cats and then a stray started hanging out. He was skiddish for a long time but we would feed him and now he is friendly. He comes and goes. we made a little enclosed box for him with bedding to keep him warm. He came around yesterday and his face was all swollen and draining, his eyes looked a mess too. I immediately brought him to the vet and the vet was concerned that since he is basically a stray that he had feline leukemia. He did not do a work up on him, just gave him a rabies shot and a shot of pennicilan and some antibiotics to give him for 7 days. He does have a huge abscess on his face but can that cause eye issues as well? They look red and gunky. He came home once this way before but I could never catch him long enough to get him to the vet. He is eating great and is energetic. I’m hoping for the best so I can get him all the needed shots and get neutered. Thanks for your thoughts on the eye issue with the abscess.
That vet seems to be really doing the bare minimum. There is a great test for FELV/FIV (leukemia and aids) and that would be easy to test for. I would highly suspect an abscess or a combination of abscess and upper respiratory infection. I would keep that cat away from your other cats as a MUST, then treat him with the antibiotics and see if he is better. Get him fully tested and vaccinated and neutered asap. Maybe TELL your vet to run the test and know for sure?!? Antibiotics will work wonders on his face and then go for all the other stuff he needs.
My cat was recently bitten by a cat that terrorizes our neighborhood. He now has an abscess which I thought I could take care of at home. I got him some anti-biotics recommended by the vet. After I gave him his first dose his fever immediately dropped and he started eating and drinking again, but now instead of one place, he has three. The original wound from the abscess seems to be healing, as well as the smallest one but the larger gash seems to be very deep. I’ve been using hot compresses and no more puss seems to be draining. I’m just worried it might be too deep to pull the rest of the infection out. What would you recommend? Do you think it will heal on its own as long as I keep it clean and go through with the anti-biotics? I’m just worried, please help…
Almost impossible to say given that information and the not seeing the wound. Cats are amazing healer but deep wounds are hard to heal sometimes without drains and surgery. I would certainly visit a vet for an opinion about the wound and see what they think. Sorry I can not be more help, but this is something that needs to be seen and worked up by a vet. Good luck
My cat had to have a second surgery after he reforms his leg. Two of the staples from his first surgery were left under the skin. I have to take him back in three weeks for a check up on the leg. Can I wait until then to have them removed?
Hard to say. It depends where they are and what they look like. Usually staples are very inert and will not cause much of a reaction and can be left in. The hard part is if the skin grows over them and the cat needs to be sedated to get them out. If the cat is ALREADY getting sedated for surgery then it should be ok.
Dear Dr. Stewart,
My husband and I are hopeful that you are able to help us solve the mystery of our 14 year old kitty, Belle. On New Year’s Eve we noticed Belle had a large open gash on her side about three inches long. We immediately took her to the vet, who charged us a hefty after-hours emergency fee, and she was there for a couple of days. She was released, put on an antibiotic, and we were informed it had been an abscess that had ruptured. Her wound was healing, and at our follow-up appointment a week later, she was given an antibiotic shot to continue treatment of any possible infection.
Fast forward to February 1, 2015…Belle now has a wound that looks exactly the same, but now on her other side- right behind her shoulder blade (same exact location, opposite side of her body). We are perplexed by this, and our vet has called in another prescription for her, but doesn’t have an explanation for this oddity. We do have another cat in our house, but the wound isn’t bloody, or pussy…it just looks as though her skin has pulled back in a circular pattern about two inches in diameter.
She is up to date on her shots, blood work didn’t show any abnormalities, and she tested negative for feline leukemia, although she does have significant tooth decay.
Hopefully you have some ideas as to the cause of this mirror image wounds. Her coat has been looking somewhat abnormal lately (6 months or so), her previously glossy gray coat is now messy looking, with a couple tufts of hair that look as though they are going to fall out.
Thank you for any suggestions/ideas you are able to offer!
Interesting? You might try a thyroid test on her for hyperthyroidism. However this would only maybe make her skin more brittle it would still require a trauma to open up. It is possible that she has a skin cancer that is opening the are under the shoulders but that seems unlikely. The most likely sounds like another abscess or maybe part of the first bite to the shoulders that never healed both sides. It might just be a bite where one side developed an abscess sooner. If this clears it up (more antibiotics) then that is what you had. If it keep returning then you need biopsies. I would still check for thyroid disease. Good luck.
Dr. Stewart, thanks for your efforts in helping so many
pets and their owners. I found your site to learn more
about abscesses/cellulitis. I’m amazed at what I’ve read
here. I must echo the sentiments of one poster…..
if you can’t afford a vet visit you can’t afford a pet.
Seriously, having pets isn’t cheap. Pets need more than
a bed and food. They need regular vet visits and
proper care.
Dear Dr. Stewart, it’s too late to help my cat, but I have lost her without knowing quite what happened. She was a stray that came to me 17 years ago, when I was financially stable and could take really an option when this incident happened about 2 months ago. We noticed she was getting thin and her hind legs were withering, but have seen this with older pets before, assumed it was her age, and administered hip & joint meds. Soon she began exhibiting another strange symptom- she’d suddenly have some kind of bad twinge in her sides & would bite & pull her hair out. I then noticed what had been hard to see- there was a large, soft, squishy abscess on her back. I’ve treated my cat’s abscesses at home sucessfully before, & hoped I could do the same with Minnie. I gave her warm, wet compresses several times a day until the abscess came to a head & broke open. I spent a half hour draining it til nothing else came out, then kept doing the compresses in the following days. It stayed open & draining.Still, her walking deteriorated, although she was alert as always, hungry, thirsty, wanting to walk around (I’d help her). I thought she was healing, & then one night she veru suddenly stopped eating, was exhausted, and passed away in the night. Would a vet have been able to put an old cat under anesthetic? Would they have just said to put her down? i was both broke & afraid to take her to the vet. She had a fractured pelvis when young, and the bite on her back might have come from a raccoon. Would the abscess have caused the side biting/twitching, & the slow loss of strength in her legs? (They were not paralyzed, but just weak). I loved her, i know I let her down, but how badly? Could this have been several things at once including her aging body? Thank you so much.
Nothing I can say with help with your loss. It is possible to link some of these symptoms to multiple disease. I think there were options, but if you were unable to afford vet care at the time then you did what you could. I do not know for sure if vet care could help her or fix the abscesses. Antibiotic certainly would have helped, but ultimately there was likely an underlying cause to her weakness that might not have been able to be fixed. Please don’t punish yourself with second guesses. 17 is a ripe old age for a cat, especially a stray that could have been much older.
Dear Dr. Stewart, thanks for taking the time to respond with a thoughtful message. Your information was helpful in dealing with her loss. I think there were a couple of other things going on with her, too, and ultimately there probably wasn’t much that could have been done to extend her life much longer. I still know that I’m am guilty of not doing all I could- or ,at least, all that I wished I could have done. Thank you so much for bringing me some relief. -Roni
Hi- I am sorry- a sentence went missing in my message. I meant to say that I have been in reduced circumstances for a while, now- scarcely able to pay bills- so the vet visits had to be decreased. She had been well until 2 months ago- and at age 17.
Hi my cat is about 15-16 years old and about a year ago developed a small crusty stalk like thing on the back of his neck that was about a centimeter in size. It felt like a crusty bump that must have been oozing causing it to seem like a stalk in his long hair. It has only grown bigger since then to about the size of a nickel. The vet said it was probably just a skin growth when I took him in. Then a few months ago it fell off and bled. It is not in an area he can lick but seems to keep getting punctured again and then looks red and bloody/wet. Now he also has developed one on the side of his neck that is very small like the large one started out as. When I touch it it feels like a scab but he is an indoor cat. What could this possibly be? I have a picture of it if there is a way I can submit a photo. Thank you.
You need to bring your cat back to the vet or a differnt vet and they should culture the wound or biopsy the area. This could be a resistant infection, or cancer or just a growth (as they said.) This is a common area for cancers in vaccinated cats and we address any wound in that area seriously. Bring your cat back for a re-check, start antibiotics and have the area shaved and fully examined by a good vet. It might just be a growth or cyst (very common) but the risk of something else is worth the visit.
I took my cat to the vet three days ago because of an abscess on her stomach. I’ve been giving her antibiotics but noticed more small lumps forming all over her stomach. Should I bring her back to the vet? Or just keep giving her the antibiotics? She has 7 days left to take the medicine. The vet didnt drain the abscess, he said the meds would make it go away.
I would be concerned if the lumps are growing or the abscess is not shrinking. There will likely be little harm waiting a day or 2 to see which way things are going, but if in 2 days the lumps are growing or the original abscess is not shrinking bring her back. Good luck!
Thank you very much.
Hello my moms cat just recently got bit. We are not exactly sure by what, but we took him to the vet. Sadly they are outdoor cats and my mom is a nurse. She works far away so his bite went unnoticed for a day. He got bit on the center of the head, and there was an abscess. His eye was leaking. The vet and my mother think it’s just from the infection in the abscess, but is it normal for this to happen? I’m really worried about him. The bill was expensive so she only got the antibiotics, pain meds, and rabies shot. The wound closed up literally the next day. We were going to flush it on our own but now it’s healed up. Is it okay to just put hydrogen on the bit. My mom kept pushing the pus out so I’m not sure if it needed more. Is there anything more I can do because the vet didn’t really do an extensive check, and his eye seems to just look uncomfortable. Sorry for the rant. Any advice would be appreciated.
No peroxide, but if there is still pus in the wound you can warm compress it and try to open it up again through the scab and get more fluid out. Leaking around the eye is not uncommon but not ideal either and very hard to treat. Warm compress, antibiotics and maybe the cat needs a drain. You mother, the nurse, should be able to help medically. Keep a close watch on the cat and if you see the abscess getting bigger or the eye swelling shut you need to bring him back to the vet. NO PEROXIDE.
Thank you for the help, I really appreciate it. I’m afraid we may have to drain it but it keeps closing up. We have other animals so the doggy door is always opening and he wants to go crawl through the gate. That’s what has me worried. They don’t know how to use the litter box, so should I leave him locked in the room and maybe he will figure it out? He keeps pawing at his bad eye, that’s another downside. I’m afraid I might just have to say at my moms and keep him close. He wants to play and roll around and he’s eating.
Good luck sounds like you are on top of it.
Hi Dr. Stewart:
Our kitten, who is approximately 8 1/2 months old, started acting quiet and not being as playful as usual. This started this past Monday. My daughter stayed close to him last night. She awoke around 3:00 a.m. and Buddy was sitting in a whitish liquid with what appeared to be blood. She woke me up and immediately we took Buddy to the Vet. They diagnosed him as having an abscess. When we arrived, it looked as though he had a puncture wound on his lower left side with swelling and blood. The wound was cleaned, etc. by the Vet. You can tell he feels much better, eating, playing, etc. PROBLEM….we had to switch his normal litter out to a something that wouldn’t get into his now quarter sized wound….he wants to go to the bathroom, as he keeps going over to the litter boxes, but, he will not use the litter we brought, which is pine fresh, which look like pellets. We even tried shredding paper, to no avail…even shredded paper towels. HELP!!!!! Thank you.
Sorry for the late reply, I was on vacation away from a computer. Have you tried “cat attract” litter. It seems to really work. Try using a little cat nip in the litter to entice her in the box. Otherwise, you can certainly wait it out, the cat can not hold out forever. If you use the old litter just fill the wound with neosporin to prevent anything getting inside then wash it off after if any litter is stuck to it.
Hello. My kitty has been having ear issues. He’s been treated for ear mites and an ear infectuom that looks to have healed. I noticed a small lump (maybe 1/2 inch in diameter) on the top of his ear. Yesterday morning when I woke up there was a hole in the center of the lump and about an inch of hair loss. The hole itself looked slightly deep but not very large and was split in two almost like fang marks from a spider. It just seemed odd that it was in the center of an already existing bump. He has not been outside and I never saw him get bit by a spider (although there have been large ones spotted inside very recently) and I didn’t notice him scratching it (although he could have while I was asleep). It doesn’t seem to hurt him at all, even while touching it. He doesn’t have a fever and he has had no behavioral changes at all. It does still bleed occasionally but there is no puss or funny discharge. I’d like to avoid going back to the vet if at all possible since he’s racked up quite a vet bill recently, of course I will if it doesn’t get better. Any advice? Thanks!
Sorry for the late reply, I was on vacation away from a computer. Without seeing the wound I cant really comment except to say there are other things that can look like that like certain cancers (bleeding is the key to these) and other animla bites like rodents, insects and bats. You might want to get it checked out and even if it is a spider, sounds like some antibiotics might help. Sorry, but I cant tell from the description.
My cat developed an abscess on his right cheek and I took him to the vet on the day it burst. The abscess was drained and my cat was also neutered. He’s currently wearing a collar and he seems quite down. I’m presuming this has something to do with the anesthetic or tablets. My cat’s an outside cat soif he needs to go out I will usually accompany him. He’s been given a tablet which contains pencillin, I’m presuming they are some kind of antibiotic. Today, I noticed the wound was slightly bloody, although there wasn’t much. It looks better than yesterday. I will probably phone my vet tomorrow but do you think it’s healing or should he have a check up with the vet? thanks in advance!
Sorry for the late reply, I was on vacation away from a computer. Sorry, but without seeing it there is nothing to go on. I assume it is getting better, but you should have a vet visit to be sure. Sorry.
Hello,
My cat was in a fight with the neighbors cat two days ago. Yesterday we noticed her limping slightly so we took her to the vet, who said she was sore on her leg, but didn’t have an abscess. She gave her the antibiotic injection however to prevent any abscess occurring.
Today she is quite obliviously in pain, and looking quite ill. She is eating food, but I think she has an abscess.
Do we need to drain the abscess? Or is it okay to leave it since she is on antibiotics already?
Thanks!
Good question. You cant drain an abscess unless you know where it is. You can try to warm compress the area in the hopes of finding it,but that might not be comfortable or possible with your cat. For now the antibiotics will help, but if an abscess is brewing it will be visible soon. Monitor eating, drinking and temperature closely and bring her back to your vet if you are concerned or anything changes. Otherwise, sadly just see how she does for another 1-3 days. If you are not happy with how she looks, go for a recheck then. Good luck.
Hi there! My cat, Pork, went out this morning for about an hour and came back acting a little strange, like he was in pain. It seemed like picking him up under his front legs made him cry. Later we noticed his neck was swollen on his right side. He hasn’t eaten all day, but he has drank a lot of water. He’s been sleeping all day, so we’ve been checking on him every couple hours. We think he might have fallen, he’s a climber. The swollen neck looks like it’s moved more under his chin now, so I tried looking in his mouth, but he pulled away. He doesn’t seem to be in pain anymore though picking him up, so that’s good. But I worry about this swollen movement business.
Thanks,
Amy
Sounds like it could be an abscess or a bruising. Best thing to do is get a vet exam. If you are unable to do that you can watch it and make sure he eats and drinks and it gets better in a day or so. It will get worse if it is an abscess and better if it is a bruise. A good et exam will determine that for you get pain medication and antibiotics if needed. Good luck.
My cat has had this abscess for 3-4 WEEKS. I didn’t have a way to get to the vet so I’ve been treating it on my own. It will get better for a few days, no puss and little swelling, and then the puss and swelling will return. Should I take him in to be seen?
YES!
Hi Dr. Stewart,
My indoor/outdoor cat is around 12 years old and still very spry (the vet thought he was 5 or 6). About 3 weeks ago he came inside obviously hurt and hid, but he was more himself the next few days and we couldn’t find any injuries. A week later, he stopped lifting his tail and I noticed hair loss on his back near the base of his tail–there were two puncture wounds. The abscess popped on its own and a river of white-ish pus came out. I took him to the vet and they said it was draining well, so they gave him an antibiotic shot (good for 10 days) and said to keep it clean and keep the scab off so it could continue draining.
I’m away from home half the week and my dad wasn’t able to keep the scab off, and now (a week since the vet) there is still a lump there which I assume has pus under it. However, he is acting like his normal self in all ways, including raising his tail up fully. My question is, will the antibiotics help the pus go away somehow? Or do I need to go back to the vet? There is still a small scab there–could I open it and hope that the pus comes out?
Thank you so much for your help! I read through all your answers here and think your advice is very good (and I assume you’ll tell me to go to the vet, but I wanted to double check).
Good question. You have some options. You SHOULD always go back to the vet (but you knew that) and they can evaluate it better then anyone. They did exactly what needed to be done the first time. You can also leave it an see if it goes down with time. Your risk is that another abscess builds and you need to repeat the first steps. The last option is a warm compress to loosen the scab and regain circulation. You can “try” to soften the scab and see if pus comes out or if the hole is closed and sealed. This is more dodgy if the cat is angry or if they hole is still large, because then you need more antibiotics. It is impossible to advise without seeing the area and the “bump”, but you sound reasonable and can make a smart decision. Good luck.
Hello Dr. Stewart,
Please help!
I adopted a street cat that kept showing up at my house 2 months ago.
So over 4 weeks ago he got injured on his right hind leg, i took him to the vet a couple of days later because an abscess had formed. The Dr cleaned the wound and cut a little piece of skin to help it drain on its own. She did not put a tube or anything as a drain. She injected an antibiotic that lasts 2 weeks and gave me a gel to apply to the wound everyday.
He seemed to be healing fine and i was supposed to bring him back after 2 weeks when the antibiotic ran its course. However, since he is a street cat he would disappear for 1 or 2 days sometimes and that day he did not show up so i had to bring him 3 days after the antibiotic ran out.
At this point the infection was back and since he disappears sometimes i couldn’t get him on an everyday antibiotic so the Dr said we could try again with a higher dose of the same 2-week-antibiotic even though there was a chance of it not working anymore and gave me a cream to apply.
Again, for the second 2 weeks he seemed to be healing but one day before i had to take him to the vet i noticed under the hair that grew on the wound that the abscess was growing back and on the day of the appointment i guess it ruptured at one point cause i noticed it draining.
The Dr said the infection was back and had to change antibiotic. I had to opt for pills to take orally every day and continue with the cream.
Im really concerned because its been a month and she said if the infection went into the bone the leg had to be amputated. Im trying to do my best getting all the meds but its hard with the money and i already have another house cat to take care of. Also im scared he might disappear again and miss the antibiotic dose.
I would really want to know if there’s anything i can do to speed the healing process. I really want him to get better 🙁
Please help us!
Wow, sad story. It is really hard to treat “street” or stray animals because of all the reasons you are seeing now. The best option is to confine the kitty or at least tame it enough to be able to treat it every 12 hours with a stronger antibiotic and really watch the wound. Another thing that might be worth testing is whether the cat has some immune-compromising disease like FIV or FELV or something. Maybe the cat is just not able to heal well? After that I dont have any better answers. The vet seems to be doing all the right things and the cat is getting good medication, but keeps disappearing and maybe getting re-injured. Try 2 weeks confined?
I’ve got a cat that got into a fight 7 days a go. He was limping on left leg and I took him to the vets and he had a few injections and antibiotics for 6 days which he finished yesterday. He is now acting normally but has got a bald swollen patch on his left shoulder which he keeps kicking but when I squeeze it (as told by vet) itI does not seem to cause pain. The vets said on the phone as it isn’t causing pain leave it for a while but l I just wanted a second opinion. What could it be? Will it heal by itself?
Thank you
Sounds like a second abscess. You can likely leave it like the vet said, but I would warm compress it and try to either have it go away or come to a head. If it pops or opens your cat likely needs more antibiotics. OR, you can bring him to your vet for more antibiotics and a possible drainage if it looks big enough. I think you will find that it will open on its own. As soon as it gets painful, much bigger, or opens, bring him in. Good luck.
We noticed a couple of weeks ago that our cat wasn’t eating and seeming sluggish. There was also a bad odor to him. We took him to the Vet and although he couldn’t actually find any obvious swelling or abscess, he felt he was probably suffering from an infection due to a bite from another cat which had closed up. Our cat had a fever as well. He received an injection for the fever and pills for 7 days as well as some syringes of pain reliever to be given as long as he was eating. After a couple of days of the antibiotics, he seemed to perk up and did eat a bit. After the 7 days, he seemed better although not for long. For the next week, he just seemed to get worse so we brought him back to the Vet. He had a fever, higher than the first time. The Vet gave him another injection and a different, more inclusive antibiotic, to be given for 10 days along with some liquid pain medication. It’s been almost 72 hours since his first pill and he just isn’t getting better. He barely moves and is still not eating or drinking. I also noticed today that his third eyelids, are covering his eyes a bit. That’s something new. He doesn’t cry when you pick him up, so it seems he isn’t in major pain, but it’s hard to be sure. You can definitely see that he just doesn’t feel well. I did give him some watered down food in a syringe this morning so that I could give him a syringe of pain medication. I also gave him some water tonight in a syringe. The Vet said if he didn’t improve after this round of antibiotics, the next thing would be blood work. Do you think after 72 hours, he should be eating something or at least appearing to feel a bit better? We are thinking we should go back to the Vet right away and not wait until the rest of the antibiotics are given. What do you think?
Go right away. In my experience if antibiotics are not working in a few days then there is a bigger problem. You tried multiple antibiotics and medication and you kitty is not better. Time for blood work and xrays. If your vet is reluctant, time for a second opinion. I would start with blood work right away! Good luck. That sounds like it is going on for far too long to be a simple abscess…..
Thank you so much. We took our cat back to the Vet today and had bloodwork done. He has been diagnosed with feline leukemia :(:(. We were given Prednisolone in hopes that this steroid will help him feel a bit better. We know there is no cure, and that we will likely have to make a decision very soon, but we just couldn’t give up without trying something. We would never allow him to suffer. The Vet told us his liver and bone marrow have been affected already. We were also told the antibiotic, Baytril, would likely no longer be needed as now we know it isn’t an infection that is making him sick. So sad. Thank you so much for responding. This is a wonderful site. To be able to ask a question and get an answer so quickly is so rare. Thank you again. If you have any suggestions, it would be appreciated, like should we get a second opinion?? I trust our Vet though and it’s obvious our cat is very sick, but I hate to give up hope.
Sorry to hear about your kitty and thanks for the complement. FELV is a terrible disease and there is very little you can do to help it. I think your vet is right about the steroids and the antibiotics. The baytril might help keep secondary infections down, and the steroids will encourage eating and help for a BRIEF period of time for quality of life. There is nothing else that you can do at this point within reason for great success. Sorry.
Thank you again so much for your help. Just one more question…I think this is right, but just to make sure…Baytril and Prednisolone CAN be given at the same time? I’m pretty sure the Vet said I should wait 24 hours after giving the pain medication, Meloxicam, before I start the Prednisolone so I think it was those two that can’t be given together. When you’re upset, sometimes things get confusing.
Baytril and Prednisone are fine to give together. I would wait at least 24 hours before giving the prednisone after the last meloxicam. If you cat is “stable” I would wait longer but it doesn’t sound like that is an option. Good luck.
Hi there! I’m pretty sure I know the answer to this, I just want to be sure! My indoor/outdoor cat had a ruptured abscess repaired last week; he got his drain tube out yesterday and is supposed to be getting his stitches removed in another five days. Problem…he is dying to go outside! He uses the litter box just fine and is not licking or biting at the stitches, just suffering from cabin fever I think! I’m assuming I should wait for the stitches to be removed before letting him outside again? Seriously considering buying a leash just so he can experience the outdoors while we wait!
Buy the leash, but keep him in until the sutures are out. Even after that consider something else living outside gave him the abscess…. might make him indoor only. 🙂
Sorry, but could I ask one more question? I know you said it’s fine to give Baytril and Prednisolone at the same time. I only gave him the Prednisolone today for the first time. He’s also having Pepcid an hour before the Prednisolone. I stopped giving the Baytril as the Vet said it probably would do no good as we now know he has Leukemia and not an infection, but he is crying today every time he moves. He can barely walk. I don’t understand why he has become so much worse in one day although the bloodwork and the trip to the Vet was traumatic for him, unless it was the Meloxicam. He had 3 doses of it earlier this week with very little food in his stomach even though I tried food in a syringe, but not much. I’m feeling like I might have made things worse giving it to him without much food :(. What would make him barely able to move in one day?? It seems to be more his back legs. The vet did say the bloodwork shows the leukemia is in his liver and bone marrow. My question now is would it help his pain to give him the Baytril? I know it’s not a painkiller…just an antibiotic, we are feeling so badly that he seems to be in pain and we aren’t doing anything other than giving him the Prednisone and he’s only had the one dose. We plan to take him back to the Vet on Monday because as much as we don’t want to, we don’t want his suffering to go on. Is there anything we can do in the meantime?
Give the prednisone time, and you can ask for a better pain medication on Monday, but the baytril will not help. Sadly there is not too much you can do. With most animals they do not let you know how sick they are until it is too late and then they get worse very fast. It seems like you are near the end, sorry.
Thanks. We will continue with the Prednisone and hopefully, get some pain medication on Monday as he hasn’t had any for a few days. All that being said…yes…it does appear we are very near the end, and I feel the Vet will recommend that on Monday. I just hope he doesn’t suffer too much until we get there. Thank you so so much for responding so quickly, Dr. Stewart. I can’t say enough good about that. To be able to send a message and get a reply almost instantly is quite a comfort and almost unheard of. Thank you again. I’ll let you know how things go on Monday.
Good luck, and sorry again.
Hi Dr. Stewart. Just wanted to let you know that we called the emergency number early this morning and had our cat put down. He cried all night every time he moved. He couldn’t stand up. It was like his whole body was shutting down. There was no way we could go a minute longer seeing him suffer. It was awful. His breathing was not good either. The vet said it was likely he would not have made the day today. His heart rate was 50 and it should have been 180 :(. We are so glad he is at peace now. There is one thing I need to ask you. I know it doesn’t matter now, but I just realized that yesterday, I gave him a whole Pepcid pill (10 mg.) instead of 1/4 of a pill 🙁 before I gave him the Prednisone. I don’t know how I could have done that. I always read and re-read instructions. I’m so scared that overdose did something to him that made him worse than he already was, especially where his liver was bad and having leukemia. The vet had given him an injection of Pepcid the day before as well. I know you won’t want to tell me if it made things worse, but I need to know. Thanks.
It had no effect. The dose range is very large and this did nothing. Do not worry. I bet there was 0% contribution. Sorry for your loss
Im fairly certain it’s not an abcess, but my older cat came in a couple days ago with a black bump on his nose with no hair on it. It looked like it had a shallow scrape, so we cleaned it a bit. He ate and drank and cuddled as normal, but just tonight he came in with some weird black stuff on it. After wiping it away with a clean tissue, the bump seems to have a small hole in it. it’s not too deep, and it didn’t bleed long at all, but im still concerned if this is something i need to take him to a vet for. I’m willing to go a bit into debt or sell some stuff because i lack the money to take him in for a checkup, but i thought i’d ask first. Please respond ASAP.
Sounds like it could be a scab, a small abscess, a pustule, acne or worse a cancer (very common place for feline melanoma.) Without seeing it I would have to say bring him in to get it looked at. Hard to otherwise advise. There are minor and major things it could be and without a vet visit we might not know what it is.
All right, thank you. The hole seems to have healed over and i don’t know/think tumors heal over, but i’ll definitely get it checked out as soon as i can. Perhaps i could take a picture and email it to you?
I can not accept a picture, but tumor is lower on my list, especially if it heals over. Good luck
One week ago my cat had an abscess on his lower cheek. I took him to the vet and he was taken care of. The vet gave him a two week antibiotic shot and said to make sure to clean the wound with a wet rag so the would did not crust over. While cleaning the wound through the week I noticed the wound getting smaller and smaller until today, while cleaning it, the scab came off onto the towel and now the wound is completely exposed again. Is there anything I need to do in this case? Is there a certain amount of time the wound should heal in?
I would think the wound should be healing by now, but it is possible he is a slow healer. Every animal heals at a different pace. If you are concerned bring him back to your vet, if not let the wound air out and see if it starts healing faster without the scab. It should look much better in a week. If you are not seeing vast improvement by then, bring him back to your vet.
Hi. My Cat has been bitten by something. Either a cat or a snake. it’s been over 48 hours and I don’t think she’s been injected by any venom if it was a snake. Now that isn’t to say that she couldn’t have still easily gotten infected because of the bite. I first noticed she was acting strange 3 days ago, and I saw that her left leg was convulsing involuntarily and she’d jump as if something was still biting her, run a little ways, settle down for a few minutes, and then repeat the process. I saw the bite wound and I noticed it looked strange and I tried to clean it with a warm wet rag, and I only got a little bit accomplished before she started hissing and warning that she was about to nip me if I didn’t stop. She’d let us pet her everywhere else but near there, and she started going off by herself and hiding in the woods during the day (I once found her lounging underneath a discarded door lol) and she’d come back at nightfall. I figured she was just being a recluse because she was embarrassed, as she has a very prideful queen-like personality. She didn’t seem to be limping, so I put it down to another fight wound. (There’s a new stray in town and my cat is territorial. The problem is that this cat is just as strong willed as she is. Not exactly a good match, plus we have yet to determine the strays gender as it is skittish of humans. It has a yellow-orange coat so I affectionately nicknamed it Marmalade, but it looks like little marmalade might not be the friendliest cat in town) She usually recovers in a few days or so, and she usually starts feeling less pain after the first two days and we can get a good look at it and clean it. Not this time. Yesterday I noticed that she was still acting like something was bothering her (Doing that little routine I mentioned earlier) and she still wouldn’t let us touch it. She let us look at it, but if we got close enough she could sense us and would give us a warning meow and look. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were missing something, and I asked my friend’s older cousin who is in Vet school and works at a clinic what she thought and she said it was an abscess, and that she needed a vet visit. Now that isn’t exactly a problem for me, but it is for my parents. They refuse to take her because it’s expensive, and I respect that, but I want to get her at least checked out to see if there’s anything else we can do.
I’d take her myself but i can’t drive yet. (I’m only 17). I’ve been trying to get them to take her, and they might if it isn’t too expensive. I offered to let them use my money on it (I have an extra $110 laying around that I was saving up for a converse shoe haul, but obviously my priorities are cat first), I just wanted to know is there some kind of range of price for an abscess treatment? Can you offer me an estimate to go by, because if I can, I’m going to raise the money myself to pay the vet bill. I don’t want my parents stubbornness to let something worse happen to her.
I’d greatly appreciate your help,
Sam 🙂
Wow, that’s a detailed story and I’m glad you are going to try to help the cat. I can not offer you any estimate because the vets in different areas charge different amounts due to overhead and cost to do business. Example: a New York City vet might be double what a country vet would be. The best thing is to call a few offices and see who will give you an estimate on the the phone and explain the situation. A simple abscess should not cost too much and you should tell the vet/office what your budget is before you start treatment. They can hopefully work with you. The key would be to keep her inside in the future if that is possible and prevent future interactions. She is going to get repeatedly beaten up if the new cat doesn’t like her. I would call 3 closer offices and ask what it would cost for a cat abscess clipping, cleaning and antibiotics with an exam. You might want her to get her booster shots then too, just to keep her safe. Good luck!
My cat stop eating after bitten by a cat. It eat but don’t eat as much as like before. It drink water rather than eating. Is it a serious issue. If so what should I do for his treatment. Can you suggest any remedies.
Please give me some suggestion. I will be grateful to u……………
I do not understand why it would stop eating. Is there infection? Did the cat get a disease like FELV or FIV from the bite and is now sick? I would bring the cat to get it seen by a vet but otherwise I am not sure. Sorry. It is painful?
I am away from my home. I only heard about the condition from my mom. My uncle only told about the condition to a vet. He then prescribe some medicine for it. The bitten area is fine now. But it don’t eat as much as like before. It drink water rather than eating. What Should i do now. Please tell me about some primary initiative. Should I bring the cat to get it seen by a vet??? please replay to my Question as soon as possible….
Thanks for your replay…….
Yes, bring any cat that is not eating well to a vet. Have it blood tested for kidney disease or other infections and viruses. Have a vet look at it and maybe it is easy to fix like a urinary infection or unfixable like kidney disease. Go see a vet.
Dr you always give such great advice. help if you can. I have a cat someone threw out about a year ago took long time to get him to come to me. looks to be an old boy. showed up about two weeks ago with small lump and then a week ago both back legs not working right. the lump has exploded and puss is coming out of it that smells horrible. he will barely let me clean it but I try. I tried to get him in the car to take him to the vet even though I cannot afford it and he used to be feral. he will not allow it hurts himself trying to fight me. can’t even get him near the car and he hurts himself. now another lump has formed and exploded. he is dropping weight and barely able to walk. I am trying to take the best Care I can’t have him he will not let me bring him in the house. I do not know what else to do I feel several other lumps. I’ve called my local vets no one will help me because he is feral. no one else can even get close to him except for me and my husband. his quality of life is horrible he goes from the housing I’ve made for him on the porch and when the Sun gets bright he hides under a tree. I don’t know what to do anymore. I feel helpless do you have any advice that can help me? I know it is at the point I should have him put down even being a stray they all own my heart. this little feral sweetie protected me from a snake one day. have to return the love somehow but I don’t know what to do. I cry everytime I see him but my hands are tied what can I do if I can’t get him into a car to even end his suffering.? I don’t even know if I could get the money together if it would help save him with as many lumps is there are I don’t know how old he is or anything about him. I just could use any advice.
Sadly there is very little you can do without getting him seen. I would call animal control and ask for a trap then you can bring him to a vet or the SPCA to get some treatment. Sounds like he is really sick and needs attention. The SPCA or Animal Control or Police will have live animal traps and you can “rent” one for a day. That is about all you can do. I wish there was more, but you need to get your hands on him. Good luck.
Hi Dr. Stewart, My 4 year old cat has an abscess on his cheek, the vet gave him a shot of antibiotics and anti- inflammatories. He is now on a dose of antibiotics for the next 10 days, and I have been cleaning the area with warm, salty packs- and he is wearing the Elizabethan collar. I’m wondering about the likely hood of the wound closing up, it is about an inch in diameter. Is surgery always necessary for the skin to close back up? I think i should make a follow up appointment in a weeks time to see how it is healing. The operation is very expensive, and i just need to know what our options are. Thank you for your time
Cats heal amazingly well and you sound like you are doing everything correctly. I would highly suspect it will heal or close on its own. Keep doing what you are doing now and have your vet check the wound every week as needed. Once the wound is clean and starting to heal, then I would stop touching it with anything and stop flushing it. You can apply some moisture like neosporin as long as the cat can not lick it or it does not bother the cat. This might help keep the scar moist, but otherwise let nature work. I suspect it will be all fixed in weeks. Good luck!
Hi
My cat had a small apses burst, we drained it and took him to the vets. The vet gave him antibiotics for 5 days, he said to drain it again when we got home but nothing would home out. He has finished the but the antibiotics now but abses is still there and now the wound is so small that nothing will drain from it. He is eating fine, and doesnt seem to have a temperature and he doesn’t cry if i poke at it. Iv applied a hot compress, he doesnt like that but thats probaly just because he is contrary, should i see if it gets any bigger or heals. I cant get him to a vets for another 6 days because its only open on Mondays and its Tuesday.
It sounds like it is healing well and you should leave it alone for a few days and see how it does. It might close up and fully heal. If it doesn’t look better in a week, bring him to your local vet.
Hi, my cat all of a sudden appeared to be swollen on his right cheek, I’m so scared.. I read it could be cancer. But where it’s swollen theirs a little bald spot and it seems to be dry blood! I cleaned with a towel and cold water, then put my baby nephews lotion for infection and it seems to be healing.. should I still take it to the vet still? It’s really hard too because of how expensive it is here. What can I do?
Bring him to a vet, it is most likely an abscess and needs antibiotics and vet care….but you are right it could always be worse.
Hello. One of my cats, who has yet to have his balls cut off, keeps fighting with everything. He broke his leg a few weeks ago somehow. It healed for a while and he got better, but 2 days ago he came home limping again. Worse this time. He barely made it home. He hasn’t walked since. He barely eats, even though we put food in front of him and water. He won’t even get up to go pee. He peed in my bed. I’m highly worried because his foot is extremely swollen and puss is starting to come out. His paw is really about 3 normal paws right now. There was also blood on his mouth (either from the fight, hurt tooth, or internal issues). I really want to take him to the vet asap but don’t have the money exactly yet. Is there anything I can do from home?
Sadly there is nothing you can do that will make a major difference without antibiotics and proper vet care. You can try to keep the leg clean and maybe soak it in warm soapy water but that will not be nearly enough. You MUST seek vet care or get to an spca asap! Also, until he is neutered he will keep fighting and get this again and again. You need to consider the best for your cat.
We noticed a few days ago out 2 year old cats inner eyelids was covering half her eye, we cleaned it daily with saline, after a few days it turned red and had blood seeping, we got over the counter eye antibiotic for her, her eye cleared up over night, but she’s acting lethargic since we 1st saw her eye, she just sleeps all day. she will eat if we bring it to her, she has urinated but hasn’t had a bowl movement in a few days
Sounds horrible, bloody seeping eyes, severe lethargy and no bowel movements? Bring her to a vet immediately it could be very serious. The eye lids (third lid or nictitans) are often a sign of body distress and are not always a separate problem. They might be the first signs of serious systemic problem. She needs a full workup. Sorry I can not give you more advice.
Hello Dr. Stewart
My cat Whisper is a 17 month old calico. I adopted her from the humane society when she was 3moths old. A week and a half ago she started limping I thought she sprained her paw jumping from the window sill, but a week yesterday I came home to find a hole the size of a silver dollar in her left front leg just above the elbow. It was leaking green pus. I rushed her to the vet. She gave whisper a sedative and flushed out the abscess she had to cut out some dead tissue. She gave her a shot of antibiotics that lasts two weeks and game me some pain medication to give her at home for five days. I have had to bring her back 6 times since for regular bandage changes. The first three times they had to remove additional dead tissue. When I was there yesterday they said it was looking a whole lot better that there was no more dead tissue. She has finished her pain medications too and no longer seems in pain. The wound is still open when the bandage is off I can see the fat or muscle moving underneath but its pink and healthy. The vet assures me its healing properly and not to worry. Today however Whisper sounds like she has a cold her breathing is crackly and she sounds stuffy. Her nose is cold and her inner ears are only mildly warm so I don’t think she is running a fever. She doesn’t go back to the vet to get her bandage changed again until Wednesday evening should I be worried she has a respiratory infection? Should I take her back sooner?
I should add she is eating like a horse, drinking plenty of water and using the litter box regularly.
If it concerns you it concerns me, so that should be my starting statement. It doesn’t sound to serious, but you should certainly keep a close eye on her eating and drinking and activity level. It might just be a cold or allergies and nothing, or a URI might be starting. I assume she is vaccinated and hopefully she is indoors with her injury. Give it a day or two and see how she looks. If you are concerned……. I am concerned (but it doesn’t sound too serious yet.)
Hi my 8 month old cat binx just had a shot of beauprenorphine and was given antibiotics recently to help cope with the struggling of passing blot clots from a bad UTI last week ( which passed fine BTW) and now a week later he has a large bump forming on his back and in my opinion growing rapidly ! Can this be the dreaded fibrosarcoma from the beaupnorphIne shot! ? It was not a vaccination and i dont believe it had contained any aluminm , but it’s worrying the heck out of me because I feel that an abscess wouldn’t grow so fast being he was on antibiotics when the bump started forming, and it dosnt seem tender to the touch . I don’t have alot of money but I’m bringing him back tomorrow to the vet tomorrow but is fibrosarcoma possible this fast and from a pain med shot!? Thanks in advance for your response. I can see you are an extremely helpful person from your responses
Almost 0% chance of fibrosarcoma from the buprenophine. I have never heard of that and it would never grow that fast. More likely a seroma, abscess or immune reaction. Have the vet stick a needle in and see what comes out, that will be your answer. Could be an abscess that is resistant to the antibiotics you are using, or just a bruise? Have the vet look, but I highly doubt fibrosarcoma UNLESS it is bad timing and from earlier vaccines. 8 months old seems too young for that too though. I think you are fine.
Our cat’s face has swollen so bad he left eye is almost closed! she gotten N2 a fight! at first was a small pin hole scratch under her lip and on the left side of her face. Now has swollen like the Elephant Man. I know is an abscess, because when I touch it, is soft and jell like underneath. Is there a possibility it can be lanced at home with sterile items, say a sterile needle some cotton swabs and warm water dilute with peroxide?
GO TO A VET!! Ugh, I’m never going to recommend you stick a needle in your cat’s face!
Hi, my cat recently became an outside cat within the past 2 years. He has been happier ever since, and he stays around and comes sleep in his box we made on our porch at night.
2-3 days ago we noticed he wasn’t using his right leg. It was swollen really bad at the joint and he wouldn’t put pressure on it. We have been massaging and babying him.
Today, after 3 days, we noticed a seeping and draining from it and the swelling has gone down. He still has not put weight on it since it just popped a few hours ago.
Should we squirt water or alcohol/peroxide on it? And what about baby aspirin? I know Tylenol and ibuprofen is bad for cats.
Thank you, I appreciate it!
TAKE HIM TO A VET. I really can not advise anything else. He needs antibiotics and pain medication and the leg looked at. What if it is broken? What if it is a joint infection or cancer?!!!! Water:no Peroxide :no Alcohol :HAHA NO!!! Aspirine NO NO NO, Tylenol is euthanasia solution for cats so…NO! If you can not bring him to a vet, then bring him to a shelter to be treated or relinquished.
My baby kitten has a cut on her belly and was cold when we found her. She also has been acting funny. What should I do?
Bring her to a vet to be seen. The cut you can keep clean and treat, but a cold kitten is trouble. Acting funny? BRING HER TO A VET! Sorry, no way I can diagnose or help from here.
my 14 month old cat has just had a abscess removed 3 days ago, stayed in vets and got him home yesterday. How soon can I let him outside again, im frightened in case it gets infected so soon. He keeps going to door to get out. Your reply would be appreciated.
I would let him out as soon as it looks fully closed and healed. No open wounds. No pink or discharge. Remember, he will probably fight with the same cat outside and get it again. Cats never learn. Good luck.
I did not mention where the abscess was, it was on his cheek. I have anti biotic for him, and his settled down, keeps following me all round house. Is it ok to let him out before the anti biotic is finished,
thank you for advise, I am trying to ring vets up but cannot get answer, always engaged.
You can let him out early with the conditions as before, but you might not get him back every 12 hours for the antibiotics….that would be very bad and leads to resistant infection. Keep this in mind.
thank you for your reply, I got through to vets this morning, and they said, I should finish the anti biotics first, but the cat is trying to get out, so they advised as long I think he will come back, let him out and try.
I fed him this morning, and let him out after speaking to vets, and is sun bathing! and running around garden.
bliss! I have the door ajar so he is coming in and out. He has two more days of anti biotics. thank you
hello, just updating you, the cat 14 months, has been out in garden for 20 mins and came back in
sleeping with the door open, looks cosy, so glad did not go off too far.
My 12 year old indoor female cat has had a very small pea-sized mass on her side for the past year or so (at first I thought it was a pimple, though a strange place for feline acne I will admit – I’ve been keeping an eye on it and there’s been no growth at all since it was first noticed) and I was just petting her now and my hand became wet. I instantly assumed it was her spot so I grabbed a tissue to see (I think I was expecting blood, maybe clear fluid for infection or something) and the colour of the fluid was GREY…. It literally appears as if she inked on me! It certainly isn’t anal gland secretion (didn’t come from down there and has no obvious odor at all). Is the leaking and/or strange colour relatively normal or should I rush to make a stressful vet visit for my girl? I also just want to say how awesome it is that you’re replying to messages here – so thoughtful, thank you 🙂
Probably just a cyst that ruptured, but it is always wise to get a vet visit to check it out. if it starts to come back or get bigger, have her seen sooner than later. If it goes away…..all good. A cyst is not a huge deal.
My cast had kittens a week ago and a few days later stopped eating and drinking and lost all energy and her nipples started turning black and blue and really sore. The vet said she developed an infection where her milk is stored. They gave her antibiotics and she is doing much better. Then I notice today that she has a raw spot by her nipples that is leaking yellow stinky ooze but she is still acting fine and just cleans its. Is this normal or something I should worry about?
Sounds like a nasty mastitis and the antibiotics you have might not be strong enough. I would go back to the vet for a re-exam and talk about upping the medication. Mastitis is a very hard problem to solve and it can be very involved. Keep the vet involved before it gets out of control. Good luck.
It has been nearly 6 days since my cats abscess burst and the hole seems to be getting smaller.There is no scab formation, it just seems to be getting smaller.My cat is perfectly alright and is in fact eating slightly more than normal.Is the wound healing or is another abscess going to form?the hole is slight reddish colour and I gave him antibiotic for first 3 days.
3 days of antibiotics is not a good idea and might breed resistance, but otherwise it sounds like it is healing. Sounds like it is healing and draining. Always use at least a week of antibiotics or dont use any at all. I think it sounds good.
Ok thanks for replying. I gave the antibiotics for 3 days only because the first time he got into a fight (he had localised swelling in his leg) the vet told me give the med for only 3 days.
I would always give 7 days, but that can be info for next time. Good luck.
He doesn’t mind if I touch the wound, nor is he limping.
Thanks
hi sir,
my cat really don’t like to go outside, also there is no communication with other cats, he really don’t like, he will cry if we bring him outside, so still i need to do vaccination ?
You need to ask your local vet. Here in Virginia USA you can bring diseases inside on your shoes. It is very rare but possible. I do not know about the diseases where you live. He might just need one set of vaccines every 5 years to be safe? Ask your local vet.
Hi, I stumbled across your blog in my search for information on abscesses in cats with FIV. I found a stray male cat, est 8 yo, that is now with my local no-kill shelter, and they informed me today that he has an abscess on his mouth that will not heal. He has apparently already had “surgery” on his mouth (not sure if they meant lancing or what) but the tissue is inflamed and bleeding, and it is difficult for him to eat. I am going to assess the situation tomorrow and hopefully they will allow me to take him to an emergency vet if I feel the need before they can get him to a regular vet on Monday, but I was just wondering if you can provide any information on abscesses that won’t heal in cats with FIV. Especially with it being on (possibly in?) his mouth, I am hoping for the best but fearing the worst. Is there a different kind of treatment we could try if it refuses to heal? I’m willing to do whatever it takes to save this sweet boy. Thank you for any information you can provide, and thank you for taking the time to respond to each post on your blog.
The truth is they are variable and some are easily fixed with antibiotics, some need surgery or a dentistry. There will be a likely solution, you just need to find the right vet and the solution. I would see what it looks like and then try an ER vet. They will give you the full prognosis. Good luck.
Hi Doctor,
My cat started having some sporadic clear discharge from her left eye about 6 weeks ago. It cleared up but would harden on her cheek and then when I came home from work I wiped it off. This started to leave a red open place and the hair was gone. It healed up and just became white skin, and I keep checking for hair growth. Today when I got home, I saw she had blood there. I wiped it off and see a small circular hole, perfectly round.
Could this have been an abscess? I never saw any pus, just blood. The reason I thought about an abscess is that a couple of months ago that side of her face seemed to be slightly swollen and she didn’t like us to touch it. I figured it was a tooth issue, and then it seemed to resolve itself.
I just put some bacitracin on the hole and will monitor her. What else should I do? I’m a little freaked out that she has an open hole on her face.
Thank you for any advice.
Sounds like it could have been an abscess or maybe a severe retro-bulbar eye infection. You know what I’m going to say. Take your cat to the vet and have them take a look. Sounds like your cat might need some strong oral antibiotics at the least. Might be a tumor or something simple…..check with a vet. Sounds serious.
Thank you so much for your reply. After a visit and stay with the vet and a biopsy, it turns out it is not an abscess. Unfortunately, it’s squamous cell carcinoma, and it’s at the point that the vet is not recommending surgery but just to keep him comfortable until we can’t anymore. I just wanted to leave this update to echo a point you made earlier – if you suspect something is wrong with your cat, please take him or her to the vet ASAP. The information on this blog is very helpful but no substitute for prompt and complete veterinary care, especially if it turns out to be something more serious. I suppose the positive is that he found us in time to spend his last days in comfort and love. Thank you again for your help.
Hi, my cat is an outside cat and he got bit onhis tail. Its pussing and I have no way nor the money to take him to the vet. What are the best things I can do for him?
Shave the area, then use soap and water and clean it. You need to get him to a vet for antibiotics. Read the previous thread and comments.
Hi, my cat got an abscess and received antibiotics yesterday. She has muscles contractions along the spine which scares her and she tries to run away, not understanding what is occurring. The vet said this is from the fever and should be OK the next day which is today, at the end of the day.
She still is not her perky self and when she chases something her contractions start which have moved further down along the spine. The contractions have definitely decreased, yet are still occurring.
Is this normal?
This is not normal, but might be either the fever or the antibiotics. If they last another day I would have her re-examined and make sure there is no nerve damage or complications from the antibiotics injection. I have never seen this reaction from a simple abscess. Good luck.
ps: what is the cats temperature?
Hi, I’m seeking advice on what I think is an abscess. It started out as something that felt like a human pimple. Took him to the vet, who said it was build up of oil under the skin and unless it changes I shouldn’t worry. Months later, A day or 2 after I brushed him I noticed it scabbed over. I assumed I did it brushing, it’s been a week and the scab was hanging off, when I took it off of him a hard mass of what I think is dried up puss came out. Now there is a hole in his skin, I cleaned it with peroxide. He has not been outside in 9 months, but does cohabitants with 3 other cats. There is very little interaction, he’s the new kid on the block and they all just avoid each other. Could this be the oil blockage or something else? There have not been any fights, just some minor hissing between the kitty residents. Thanks for taking the time to read this!
Lindsey
Sounds like a sebaceous cyst. That is the oil the vet was talking about. Might have been a small abscess or ingrown hair. If it does not get better or continues to be a hole, then have the cat looked at. Worst case scenario is a skin tumor, but this is unlikely and would not look like that. I think I agree with your vet.
Question: my very healthy 12 year old cat became lethargic last week. When I would pet her and get close to her tail she would growl. I couldn’t see anything around her tail and she wouldn’t let me touch it. After a few days of the same I took her to the vet and told them the same thing. Due to her disposition they sedated her and gave her a “thorough” senior exam with blood work and xrays. They found she was very healthy but her red blood count was low and they said she had evidence of a UTI. She got the 2 week antibiotic shot and sent home. The next day was no better. I called them and mentioned the tail again. They said the tail was on the xrays and they couldn’t see any trauma. They gave her pain meds. The next day we saw what looked like a shaved place near her tail. She let me touch her tail finally with no problem and it was an open wound near the top of her tail. I did some research and assumed this was an abscess. I called again and they said the original antibiotic shot was sufficient for healing. My question is: how did they miss this on her exam? Is this common? It’s visible now as an open sore but what did it look like before?
It is very easy to miss this. Hair covers the tiny hole if there even was a hole, and the cat has enough skin to not feel a bulge or mass on palpation. Abscesses start very small and grow and grow until the rupture. This could have been just getting tight (middle of the process) when the cat was in pain and then ruptured at the end. Long and short is that it is very easy to miss, and rarely shows up on blood work or xrays. It is why they are so hard to deal with and why they gave the cat antibiotics, not just the UTI but to cover for abscesses. This is normal and the cat should recover.
Hi, I have a 5 year old cat and about 3 months ago I noticed a rather large absess on his back about 2 inches from where his tail should be but he doesn’t have one, it popped, I cleaned it and kept it very clean, snipped the hair away from the rather large hole in his back and it healed up fine. There was no change in his behavior or eating habits at this point so I felt no reason to take him to the vet. A few weeks later, in the same area as the first hole there was another absess, again I cleaned it up the same way I did the first one. The second hole was odd to me because he is a 90% indoor cat but occasionally gets out, but in this case he had not been let out between the first and second absess. Since our vets in town do not accept any form of payment plan I was unable to take him to the vet. This second hole healed the same as the first and his behavior never changed. In the past month he has been getting constant holes in the same area but not the same exact spots as before. Each time a new hole appears there is a small amount of puss/blood that comes out, I of course clean it up and the hole starts to heal up again but before it is completely healed, another hole appears. I would love to take him to a vet because I’m scared that this isn’t normal and I can’t find any explanations online for it, but as I said earlier our vets don’t accept payments and right now I am not financially able to handle a large vet bill at this time. I understand the best solution is to see a vet but I though I would take a shot at asking you. I have googles numerous suggestions and answers and all the pictures that show the large hole after an absess has burst are exactly what his holes look like. The only difference in his behavior is when I pet him, on his sides near his mid section he seems to be tender and he always tried to nip at me when I touch him there. Could these two things be related? Do you have any idea why the hole keep on appearing time and time again?
Not sure but I would expect either a foreign body under his skin that keeps getting infected, or cancer, or a severe infection. Unfortunately they all need veterinary attention. Can you try a local SPCA? Until then you can only keep it clean and shaved. You can try topical antibiotics and cleaning solution but you might do more harm……
My son noticed a big lp on his cats neck that formed overnight. He took the catvto the vet and when they lanced it yellow FLUID came out, not white puss as she said is normal
I worry about cancer. He loves this cat. Is it possible that FLUID would come out as opposed to puss. We wont know the results till Monday and its worrying me.
Could be cancer or just an abscess or an infection. Wait for the vet to give you the results. It is not anything FOR SURE, as they can all look like this. Good luck.
I had my first episode with a cat abscess and was so grateful to find this website and hear more about it. I have a 21-year old little torti. I had noticed her appetite wasn’t great over the past few days, so was actually worried she might be getting close to the end. I was out of town overnight, and when I got home I found this open, gaping hole on her left cheek. I also have 2 males about 8-years old and they think she’s ‘Mom’ although they are all rescue cats. (All are strictly indoors and have been spayed/neutered.) The 2 males were very subdued and nervous acting, so I suspect she’s been in pain while I was gone and probably not welcoming their attention before I got home. It was late, so I immediately took her to the emergency vet clinic. They knocked her out, shaved the area and cleaned it, gave her an antibiotic shot and take-home meds/pain killers. Overall, she’s a very healthy girl – takes meds for hyper-thyroid-ism and a low-dose of Prednisone to keep her feeling better overall. She is having some issues with her kidneys, but it hasn’t been a problem at this point, but I keep an eye open for renal failure. The location of the abscess definitely could be tooth related – the vet said they found a large piece of tarter and removed it, but the tooth appeared good overall, so we’ll watch it. When she got home, she ate quite a bit of soft food and has been drinking and voiding, so seems to be doing a bit better overall. I hadn’t thought about this until today, but I have a prescription steroid (Clobetasol Propionate Cream, USP, 0.05%) that my Dr. gave me for a wasp sting that wouldn’t heal. Could I use that to help the abscess heal on top of the antibiotics, etc. she was given, or should I leave it alone? Thank you for sharing what to watch for and when to take her back to the vet if she doesn’t get better. At her age, it’s the old ‘quality over quantity’ issue, so we’ll see how it goes. Thank you again!
Good story, do not use the steroid. They can actually delay healing and/or increase the time to healing. I would just use the antibiotic and give it some time. Steroids are great for certain things, but wounds are definitely not one of them. Good luck.
My cat sparkle is six years old and he was very healthy and at his best when he got bit by the neighbor dog on his stomach, he was in bad shape for a week or so but he started eating and drinking normally and his cut healed, about a month later now he still is low in weight and not exactly the same and he has a egg sized ball where the bite occured , I’m wondering if it will go away or do I have to bring him in to get it lanced? Will the absese eventually kill him?
Bring him in, he is clearly not doing 100% and the abscess could kill him. It could also be a hernia or a torn body wall. This could be serious. Bring him to a vet.
Dr. Stewart, thank you so much for that info. I won’t use the steroid cream. Fingers crossed the antibiotics work for her!
Hi, my cat Boon has had an abscess halfway down his tail for a while now. It was open and I was cleaning it with salt water every day, they’ve gotten over them on their own that way with a bit of care before, but for the last couple of days I’ve been finding very bloody stools on my bathroom floor. I have three cats so it’s hard to tell but logically I’ve decided it must be Boon since he’s already unwell, but just wondering if you could tell me if bloody stool (was basically blood the first two days, seems to be getting better) could be related to abscess and if so what should I do?
I do not think the bloody stool is related unless sit is a stress colitis. The salt water might help a little then it will probably delay healing after a while. I would only do that for a day or 2. Bloody stool can be a real problem if it does not resolve in a few days, I would take the cat to the vet and get both addressed at the same time. You might find that they both resolve but I would closely watch the bloody stool.
My cat is an outdoor cat and he has a swollen left front shoulder and a whole on the top, so I was wondering if their is any home remedies that I can put on it to take down the swelling and to close the hole.
Not sure what caused it, but might be an abscess and need antibiotics. Shave the hair around it and keep the area clean is the best you can do.
My cat gave birth about a month ago and didnt properly feed her kittens, resulting in clogged ducts in her breast. The vet prescribed Calcium, prednil and clavunalic acid. few days after taking the medications, puss began to came out from the swollen area and now there are about 4 holes with approximately 1 to 2mm wide. Is that normal?
Sounds like ruptured abscesses and the cat needs warm compresses on the area every 6 hours and more antibiotics. I would maybe go back for a re-exam to the vet to get some stronger antibiotics. These are mastitis infections and very serious. The area is very hard to treat well without strong antibiotics and time. I like warm compresses to get circulation going and milk or infection to release.
Is it okay for me to bandage it and keep it covered?
Apart from warm compresses, is there anything i should do to make sure everything is under control?
I’ll attach along the picture of how it looks like currently.
http://i1314.photobucket.com/albums/t561/simplysherr/IMG-20150821-WA0009_zps7fuhhmtt.jpeg
No bandage, let it drain. Needs better and more antibiotics.
Hi. I was hoping you could help us out a bit. Our Maine Coon got a stomach wound when he slipped outside a little over a month ago. He was surprisingly fast for his size. We finally got him back when he was laying under a bush in the front yard. Now, before I get to the actual problem, I’ll give you more information on him. We took him in as a stray and my mom loves cats. We don’t know his age, but he appears to be neutered. Another cat hangs around the house and usually appears pretty docile, but has recently become somewhat aggressive. Leo, our cat, is always calm and lazy and only fights when provoked. We can’t afford a vet. Please don’t tell me “If you can’t afford a vet, you can’t afford a cat.” I know that very well, but I have little say in the matter. My mother refuses to give him up or have him killed. Now to explain how his situation came to be. He refused to let anyone near him, even my little brother, who he adores. We examined him once he was brought inside and found a huge bruise across his stomach and a small scab. We figured someone kicked him. A day or two later, the scab fell away, leaving a hole. The hole got bigger, despite our efforts to stop it, and it smelled like rotting flesh. I thought for sure he was a goner, but I would get in trouble for even hinting at death. The hole eventually grew to about the size of a fifty cent piece and we could see his insides. Luckily, the membrane that protects his digestive organs (I’m not sure about the exact name for it), didn’t seem to be damaged. Due to my mother’s efforts, the wound finally stopped and began to heal. She gave him gentle, warm sponge baths, warm compress, bandages, antibiotics… Now it’s down to about a centimeter in diameter. It seems to be healing fine, but unless forced, he hasn’t eaten or drank anything this whole time. He’s basically skin and bones and some of his fur is falling out and his canines are beginning to rot. Papa says he’s cannibalizing himself. Last week, he wasn’t responding to much. He just laid there. This week, he seems much more alert, but his stomach is still really warm. I really don’t want to bury another precious pet (Two of them were killed because we have cruel neighbors. We never let the cats out on purpose and actually take pains to keep them from getting out). Do you think he’ll at least live? If he does, will he go back to how he was? Is there anything we should keep an eye out for? Is there anything else we can do at home to help him? I hate seeing him suffer like this.
Wow, there is really nothing I can help you with with out seeing him or getting more “vet info” like blood tests and suck. He might have a serious virus like FELV or FIV or kidney failure or septic infection from his wounds. Sadly I can not tell you anything helpful except gather some money and try to find a vet or SPCA that will work with your. From the sounds of it, the cat sounds gravely ill. Good luck.
That’s more or less the answer I expected. Thank you, anyway.
Hi my cat got attacked yesterday and got a cut in the inside of his ear which didn’t seem to bad, woken up today and ear is slightly swollen. He’s scratched the cut and blood and puss has come running out and it’s got a unpleasant smell to it. Is there anything I can do till Monday when the vets open.
Keep it clean and try to milk as much fluid out as possible. Try NOT to let it scab over and seal again. The more drainage the better and he need to see a vet for antibiotics and a proper clean up Monday. Most warm compresses and try to apply pressure. Good luck.
My cat had a large lump at the bottom of her chin, it was still covered in fur, couldn’t see any bites or puncture wounds. She wasn’t in any pain, didn’t hurt to touch. It grew larger over the course of a few days, then she ended up scratching it and opening it herself. A lot of blood and pus drained out. Now there’s no bump, but there’s hair loss where the bump was, and there are two small, deep punctures, and one small, what appears to just be a scratch. It has been a few days since it drained, wound seems dry until I put a small amount of pressure on each side of the area. A very small amout of clear, almost watery fluid/puss comes out. Was this an abscess? Will it heal ok on it’s own? How serious is it? What should I do about it?
Probably an abscess, watch it for regrowth and pain and more fluid. If anything look odd, go see a vet. It might just go away now that it drained.
My cat has hole near its bum. He is an indoor cat though so I don’t think it’s an abscess. I only realized it because he was licking it a lot. Any kind of home treatment I could use ?
Not sure what it would be. Keep it clean and watch closely. Have it looked at by a vet if it looks like it is getting bigger or not healing. Could be an anal gland abscess and that would need veterinary attention and likely antibiotics. At home warm compresses and keeping it clean is the best you can do.
Hello Dr. Stewart,
I have a few questions for you.
My cat had a litter of kittens 4 days ago. She is okay with everyone in the family, except my 7 year old son, being around her kittens. When he gets too close, she will become nervous & start moving her kittens, so we try to keep him away as much as possible.
Tonight I was taking a video of the sleeping kittens, as they were dreaming & kicking their legs adorably, & I noticed this hole on the little runt’s neck.
My eldest daughter then informed me that this morning the mother became nervous & tried to move the kittens. At one point she apparently grabbed the runt by the side of her neck, instead of the back.
I am assuming that this is how the hole got in the kitten’s neck.
The kitten is acting fine, nursing well, & the mother is tending to her very well.
So my questions are: Do I need to treat it? Will it heal without a vet visit? What, if any, actions do I need to take?
This was a simple accident on the mother’s behalf, & she has no ill intent towards this or any of her kittens.
I just want to ensure the proper healing & survival of this sweet baby.
Here is a larger version of the above linked image. I had originally sized the image down, since I had planned to have it posted as an image in my question.
I realized that I should have posted the full size so that the hole is easier to see.
Here is the larger version’s direct link:
http://s19.postimg.org/6qsr0ukxd/Kitten_s_Neck_hole2.png
Looks clean and not infected and the kitten is doing well then you can keep an eye on it and keep it clean. If you have ANY concerns visit a vet for antibiotics and help, but it looks like a tear of the skin and it is not yet infected. Keeping it clean with soapy water and rinsing with lots of fresh water will help. No peroxide! If you smell anything or see discolored discharge then time to visit a vet asap. Especially if the kitten acts sick.
Okay, Thank You SO much! 🙂
At this point I’ve had to remove the mother completely, because for no reason at all (since no one has been around her nor the babies other then my husband & myself since we discovered the first baby’s injury) she has freaked out & incorrectly tried to move them all, giving them all puncture wounds. The other two are not as bad as the first luckily.
Since I’ve had to remove her, I will have to supplement their milk. Do you know if LM Farms Milk Replacer is good for them? It is the cheapest I can find online so far, so I was considering purchasing it for them, but I want to be sure that it is healthy for them as well.
Also, if you have any tips for their care without their mother, I would truly appreciate it.
This is not a first time mother, but this is the first time I’ve had to remove her babies. She is usually so great with her kittens, & nothing has changed as far as environment or anything since her previous litter, so this will be a first time for me.
Any advice would be wonderful.
Thank You SO Much again for your response 🙂
Oh, Also; I was wondering if I should put any Neosporin on the wounds to prevent any bacterial infections & to speed up the healing process.
Please let me know if this is a good idea or not. I just want to take any steps possible to ensure a proper healing process.
I think you might want to call a local vet for advice on the kittens as they have better ideas about milk replaces in the area. I have never heard of that product, I use KMR. You get what you pay for. No neosporin, just in case the kitten licks it. Just clean water with a little mild soap that is washed off.
Okay, Thank You Again SO Much Doctor 🙂
Here is the official web page for the product I was speaking of:
http://www.hartz.com/LMFP/LMF_Products/Cat_Products/Nutrition/Milk%20Replacers/3270013410_LM_Farms_Powdered_Milk_Replacer_for_Kittens.aspx
Would you mind taking a look & letting me know if it looks like a suitable product? I am currently trying to compare ingredients with KMR. They look like they have the same ingredients, but differ on the percentages, so I figure you would know the proper percentages of the ingredients for their health.
Also, What is the best way to keep the kittens comfortable/warm without their mother? Right now, I have them on a clean towel in their birthing box, with a baby blanket draped over the box.
I know I’ve asked a lot, but your information is very helpful & VERY appreciated 🙂
I really can not comment on another product. I would never recommend a Hartz product in general, just my preference. Kitten husbandry can be tricky and the best thing to do is find a good source online and follow their advice. I think you are doing well. Keep in mind there is a very high mortality rate in kittens without mothers and there is even a high rate with mothers. I think it is time to establish a relationship with your local SPCA or vet and get them involved to start being a good point of reference in your area. The SPCA sees more kittens then anyone and would be a great resource. They might even have free KMR or milk replacement for people. Good luck.
Wow! you’re great! glad I found this… wish I’d found it months ago.
I heard my cat (7 y/o, spayed) yelp or cry out about 2 months ago, but never found out what happened. About a week later I noticed a bump (a little larger than a quarter) on her back on the right of her spine. She started sleeping more and not eating much, getting skinny too. Then I decided I’d give her an eye dropper drop or two of castor oil. Also I put some of it = CO on the bump on her back. The next day or maybe 2 the bump was gone and after sleeping lots, she started eating like she was hungry. I thought that since the bump was gone she was well. Later when her long hair thinned around where that bump was, I could see what looked like a slit in her skin which was weeping and she kept licking it. It kept weeping until about a week or so later it looked like it was healing. Then a week later I noticed another place on the other side of her spine that also was weeping and she was licking. I tried putting more castor oil on it, but she’d run from me so I stopped. She started wanting to stay in the house and I let her. I put a cottonball of h3o on it a few days in a row, but finally just started leaving her alone. She has been eating and acting normal and happy but she now looks like she has maybe 4 or 5 of these spots on her back. They weep, clear liquid, she licks them and because the hair is gone around each of them it looks ugly. They look like slits in her skin, Is that an abscess? And the look like they may go a little deep into her skin. I looked up online what it could be and found that it might be just fleas, since I had taken her cat collar off and didn’t put a new one on her for about a month. Last week I almost bought a $37. bottle of Derma-IonX, whatever that is, b/c I want to help her, but now I’m wondering if this is the abscess your are talking about. I wondered if I should bathe her, but she hates baths, and it would seem it wouldn’t be good for those sores/holes in her skin. I feel that natural is best, so if the clear liquid is a good thing, then maybe we need to just not look at her back for a while and let her heal herself her own way. Is that possible?
I looked up castor oil cures and found that it is a natural antibiotic, antiviral, anti fungal and anti bacterial, oil so I’m about to start using it again, internally and externally, since you say she needs to take antibiotics to help her get over it. It seems like it’s been 2 months now and since I didn’t see what happened to her, I’m not sure whether these spots were abrasions she got from whatever attacked her or if they are actually spreading from one place to another. Can you please help me and my little Maggie Mae?
Let me start with the castor oil (CO). I think this is a very dangerous liquid and the toxic does for cats is very low. I would certainly stop this and beware what you read on the internet. Sure it can be helpful in CORRECT dosing to people who do not have access to other better medication, but I have never heard of good things with its use in cats. People might disagree but that is my experience. It can be very caustic on wounds too. You need to see a vet it sounds like. I can not help you without seeing the cat. If you are willing to spend $37 on and unknown non prescription shampoo, you can certainly see a vet for not much more. This sounds like a more serious infection or other problem.
I just wanted to applaud you for you sincere and pleasant advice to the largely repetitive questions being asked. You obviously truly care on each and every individual basis. Something of a standout these days and thought recognition of such was deserved. Thank you
i need help, a kitten my friend is having me take in has a huge swollen hot lump under her jaw almost to her ear. last week i saw her she was fine but today when i when to pet her she was warm, kinda sleepy and wanted to be held with that huge lump. my friend keeps her in her garage but she gets out sometimes and her fur is kinda thick so i didnt see a mark. im really worried and need to know how urgent it is. she wouldn’t let me hardly touch it, like it was painful.
Sounds like an abscess that is in a bad spot. Can you get her to a vet to lance it and get antibiotics? That would be ideal and not that expensive.
My cat was limping on his front right foot last week. We found a small cut on the back of his leg after recently having our paddock slashed cutting down some small trees and sharp grass.
My vet diagnosed him with an abscess and cleaned the wound and gave him an injection for anti-inflammatory and a two week antibiotic injection. It will have been a week today and his is still limping and barely weight baring on his leg. Would you suggest I take him back in for a recheck or wait until the antibiotic injection has completed its two weeks?
Thank you
Kirsty
Good question and well done on the vet visit. I would likely have treated it the same way. Now, if the foot is showing signs of infection or swelling, then return to the vet because I know that antibiotic and it is very good and works very quickly. It is possible there is some deep tissue damage or a torn ligament or other structure. The question is how bad is the limping. If it is 3 legged lame like none weight bearing, then yes got to the vet for an xray and further analysis. If it is minor hitch limp but fully weight bearing then you can give it more time. You need to see how painful and how bad the limp is, the worse the pain and the limp the more important a vet visit is. That antibiotic should have cleaned the infection up, so you are looking for something else. Hope this helps.
Hi Dr. Stewart.
I have a 12 yr old female cat who never had and any health issues at all but noticed this passed week on the outside of her left back leg she had and absess and a little swelling. I kept my eye on it and looked things up on line to see what could cause it as she has no fleas eat and drinks well and no bowl or urine issues well now the absess is 3 times the size on the inside and and outsideof her leg and bleeding and pussing and leg enlarged. She is an inside cat and has not been in any fights with my other 2 cats or my small dog as they all get along so I do not understand what is happening. Can you give some advice why this is happening for no reason and out of the blue. I plan on taking her to the vet but she is a non touchable cat unless she wants to be so I cannot even rap it for her so she leaves it alone. Please help. Thank you.
No idea without seeing it. Maybe she did fight with another animal or maybe she has something worse (cancer?) or it is just a lick wound gone bad. You need to bring her to a vet ASAP to have it checked out. Sounds like it is growing and getting worse too.
Please help! I have a kitten that is 5 to 6 weeks old. She has swelling in her shoulder, puss in her paw, and she is limping. She is in so much pain. We don’t have the money to get her checked. Please can you tell me what is going on and what I can do to help her. Thanks
She needs a vet. There is nothing the internet will do to help. She has a major infection it sounds like and needs to be seen. She needs antibiotics and care. Try the SPCA or a shelter for help. “She is in so much pain” means you need to get her help!
My cat had an abscess on his cheek(smelly green pus) which was treated at the vet, shaved and all which was 4-5 years ago and it healed nicely and hasent been a problem since, this year he got a bite on the base of his tail and an abscess formed which made him completely reluctant to do anything, took him to the vet and it was cleaned out, given antibodies and healed up pretty good(green pus again so im told), his hair grew back and all…now it seems to have come back 2 months later assuming its the green stuff again as its squishy/sensitive so he tells me with his claws…but looks a little higher up than the previous spot but cant tell for sure because of the hair, im going to take him to the vet asap but…why is it one comes back and the other doesnt? was it a procedure gone wrong? or is there a slim chance it could recure and how because the procedure left no skin about the size of a quarter which was to be assisted in healing by iodine…clarity on this very confusing subject would be greatly appreciated.
It sounds very likely that the cat is getting NEW abscesses and these are not recurring. The face and near the tail are the most common spots for cat-bite abscesses. It is likely they are caused by the same or similar causes. I dont know anything about your cat but if it goes outside or gets into paly or fights with other cats I would start there….. have it treated. The sooner you treat and the better the less likely it would ever come back.
My cat has an abscess on his neck. He is licking it and keeping it open. I have used warm compresses several times and am giving him Colloidal Silver twice/day in his food, as well as applying it topically. The abscess is not swollen although it is still red. He is playful and has a good appetite. How do I know whether it is healing or whether he needs to be seen by a vet?
Thanks so much!
Without seeing the wound there is no way I can really help you. It will certainly heal faster without the silver orally or topically. That is great for the first day or 2 but after that it might delay healing if the tissue is healthy and alive. If there is any sign of infection like discharge or smell then he needs to see a vet. His licking is probably the worst thing for the wound and you need to get him to stop (easier said then done) like an e-collar or neck wrap. I would always advise a vet visit and possibly antibiotics if there is infection.
My cat is an outdoor cat and we notoced a small bump on his back. The bump got larger & it hurts him when you touch it. It popped when I pressed down on it and yellow puss came shooting out. Any clue on what it could be?
An abscess, read the earlier posts and the blog.
My cat went in for a abcess after a cat fight and he was given an antibotic and pain meds as well as liquids. It has been two days and he is eating. He just has no desire to go outside, which i am greatful ( but that was his favorite thing). He has been resting alot. How lonh until he is a 100% again.
Depends on the cat. Usually within a week, but others can take longer. He might be scared or just happy being an inside cat. We have a cat that never went outside again after her experience.
Hello Dr. I am fostering a kitten that was found in my work parking lot. She appears to be about 4 months old but a fighter. She was limping at the time she was caught. I got her from the animal shelter after about 2 wks in their care and she had 2 small open abscess, which now are 4 that wont seem to heal. its been 3 wks that I got her. I feed her Hills science (dry) for kittens and Hertz Delectables (wet). The Vet gave me antibiotics that I have been giving her for about 7 days now. And the Vet Dr. did state she may have an autoimmune condition, not going into details, and honestly, I was scared to ask! One thing is, she eats heartily, plays and romps but those wounds wont heal. its obvious she is in discomfort, but she is a happy kitten over all. Do you know what I should do at this point? I have other cats and not sure if I should keep them separated. At this point they are already integrated and get along. Thank you!
I would certainly find out about “auto-immune” disease which i assume are the viruses FELV, FIV. You should certainly have the kitten tested before full introduction with your other cats (sounds a little late…) But time, antibiotics and a healthy kitten usually equal healing. There must be something going on, I would go back to the vet for blood tests. Sorry can not help more.
Hi, I have an 1 year old cat unneutered. I recently moved in Norway for studies and brought her with me, at first she was afraid of my boyfriend and stayed under the bed not eating or being active ( she isn’t such an active cat in general). Anyway, after a couple of weeks she started coming out and everything was fine until 5-6 days ago she went under the bed and stayed there until yesterday. She was coming out at nights however, when we went to sleep, to eat and drink but a very small amount of food while she usually eats the whole ball.
Last night I asked my bf to move the bed so as I can take her out to pee because she was under the bed for three days in a row without peeing. When I went to get her back inside, I got her on my arms and pus starting coming out from her neck. It was so much pus it went all the way from the wound on her neck to her tummy. I called her vet in Greece and told me that it’s possibly an abscess and that I should squezze all the pus and blood out until it’s drained. I told her I can’t afford a vet since I am alone here for studies and my budget is limited until the end of the month when my mother sents me money. She told me to clean the wound and then buy an augmentin syrup for her and that it will heal on it’s own.
However I am still worried, she isn’t swollen anymore but the whole from the abscess is open and I am worried it might get infected or something like that. The vet here told me that it would take up to 250 euros and I literally have 40 euros on me until the end of the month. Will she be OK until then?? What should I do until I get her to the vet??? And in addition the last time she was out of the house was one year ago when I found her as a stray baby, so I Dont know how the abscess occurred since she hasn’t been in contact with other cats since the day I found her. It doesn’t look bad, the only problem is that she isn’t energetic and she doesn’t eat much. Thanks a lot in advance 🙂
Sounds like she needs vet help, but if you truly can not get to a vet then I would follow you vet advice with the augmentin syrup (if that is what is available) and clean the wound with soapy water and then rinse it all out. You need to find out why the kitten has the abscess and make sure it is clean and not spreading. I would see a vet as soon as you can. Sorry I can be more help.
OK thanks a lot for your comment, I discovered that here in Norway you can’t get an augmentin syrup or any other antibiotic without prescription so for the days that has passed I cleaned her wound with NaCI. Tommorrow I am taking her to the vet, I convinced my mother to sent me the money earlier! She seems better and thanks a lot for your advice!
My cat was bitten by another the first part of September and I took her to the vet. He gave her a shot of anibiotic and 4 weeks later I took her in because she had developed a large pus pocket on her head, near the eye that was bitten. It was lanced and she was given another shot of antibiotic. She now has yet another pus pocket developing. At this point, I am also concerned about her recovery should I take her in yet again. She is almost 14 and I feel that maybe euthanasia may be better. This struggle has become very hard on her. Is there something I can do at home to make sure another pocket doesn’t develop should I take her for lancing?
Good questions. I would do a few things WAY before euthanasia. I would try a different antibiotic and culture the infection because it is very possible the antibiotics they are giving are not the right ones. This should not be too expensive. Second, if things keep coming and getting worse, I would seek a second opinion from another vet. It is rare I would suggest euthanasia for an abscess. 14 is a middle age cat, not old enough to give up on. Good luck.
Hi, my cat has what we’ve determined to be a rather large abscess on the underside of his chin. We noticed it yesterday and it had grown considerably since then. We can’t take him to the vet until tomorrow afternoon and I was wondering if there is anything we can do until then.
Nope, just get him to a vet as soon as you can. If he is doing fine you wan wait a night and go in the morning.
My cat had an anal gland abscess rupture approximately 2 weeks ago. It looked good and healed up nicely, so I thought, but last night I noticed a lot of swelling again and within an hour it had ruptured again. I really don’t ha e money for a vet visit, but I am concerned for her. She has not seemed to be in any pain throughout all of this but I don’t want it to keep recurring. Any advice?
You need to get to a vet. These are VERY painful and often lead to constipation then not eating. She needs the glands examined and antibiotics. Sometimes they can be impacted and even tumor causing this.
My cat just had a large abcess lanced and debrided this afternoon and now has a large hole in her side. It is leaking puss and I was told not to put gauze on it or dress it. What can I do to minimize the fluid leaving everywhere. It is horrible and I am sure will take months to heal. The hole is approximately an inch to an inch and a half in diameter and quite deep.
Do not cover it, but you can keep it clean with fresh water. You should confine her and the healing, if antibiotics and appropriate care was given should be very rapid. I would guess a few days and the discharge will stop. Confine the cat until then if you’re concerned about your house getting yucky.
Oh, it is such a large hole I can see about an inch and half maybe two into her abdomen. She was given an injection of antibiotic that is long lasting. How long does a hole like that take to close? I think it was a spider due to the deterioration of the tissue. It is black and smells horribly foul.
Each wound heals differently, especially if there is a venom involved and dead tissue. Usually this type of wound will begin healing within a week and the discharge will lessen considerably. The hole can take much longer to close but it will hopefully be less oozy and just be a clean wound.
My 7yr old cat suddenly just today has a lump at the base of her tail on her back. It’s large,maybe half a tennis ball and is very fluid…like a water balloon. There is no heat and she is acting completely normal. Doesn’t mind me touching it at all. She is for the most part an inside cat but does go into the yard some during the day. She was outside when I saw the bump and it wasn’t there last night. It’s 415 on a Friday. Not sure u can rush her somewhere. Could it be serious?
Could be a nasty abscess or cyst or tumor… hard to say without seeing the cat. I would try to get her to a vet ASAP. Can it wait until Monday, most likely. See your vet as soon as you can to get it treated and diagnosed. It could be serious or it could be something easily fixed like an abscess.
Hi,
My cat got into a fight tonight with some other animal and he has a huge gash behind his front right shoulder blade and I checked it out and I think I saw some bone, but I’m not too sure. Also he is limping and not putting any weight on that leg. I don’t know what to do! Help please!!
Take him to a vet asap! There is very little you can do at home without seeing a vet for sedation and wound cleaning and possible closing. Go to your vet and take care of the cat. Nothing else I can really tell you that will help. Sorry.
i have a male cat hes indoor/outdoor cat and for about a week he didnt want to go outside or be petted he was limping so i thought he might have jumped down off something wrong then today i went to pick him up and his belly was wet up by his front legsd and i noticed a yellowish greenish ooze stuff is there treatment i can do for this
I have no idea what you are describing. TAKE HIM TO A VET.
As a Medic and a Vet Tech, gonna do my best to describe this here.
Feline approx 10 years old
Female Spay
Brown Tabby
Hx of HBC at approx 1-2 years old, fx jaw
Otherwise good health
3 weeks ago, acute swelling on left side of the face below the eye. Within 24 hours eye was swollen shut. No hx of trauma, indoor cat, no obvious injury. Marked decrease in eating and drinking.
No noticeable drainage from the nares or mouth, eye was watery. The mass was palpable and did not feel solid. No fever.
Prep and lanced, no drainage or puss c/w an abscess.
During the handling of the cat I notice a tiny bit of drainage from the right nare…increase drainage with pressure on mass, expressed mass and got some bloody discharge mixed in with a lot of other fluid. Very foul odor c/w infection.
Began PCN, injectable Began syringe feeding of D5w and wet food. She loves dextrose.
Had to express 3 more times before it did not return. Looked like some fluid may be coming out of the eye as well during expression. No obvious issues in the mouth, bad breath, needs dental.
Resolved, back to normal.
2 days ago the swelling returned on the same side. Here we go again. Unable to express like before, no symptoms like before. Tried to express again, copious amounts of the same bloody smelling fluid from right nare and now the right eye…more fluid then I thought could be in there. Had to do this twice and quite a bit of post drainage.
She is eating right now, no fever, hr is normal, not even really sneezing…sneezing was never a huge symptom from the start. Face is normal size, maybe some swelling again. Is not acting like she is ill.
DVM care not available right now, 100 mile car ride to DVM.
D/D
Dental Abscess
Sinus Infection
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Cancer…well we know what that road is.
Sinus Infection, hit it harder with PCN for longer?
Dental Abscess…. would I not have drainage i the mouth? Why drainage to the eye with expression? Am I just missing something? Gums look normal. Remember she suffered major trauma when HBC what 7-8 years ago.
Biopsy the drainage and see, CBC and GHP, Xray’s, MRI. Is that all worth the stress on the cat and $$$ Surgical exploration, remove tumor if any, radiation therapy…I am not putting my cat through all that so I can have one more year with her, her having a poor quality of life.
Maybe I all ready know the answer and am in denial.
My guess is tooth root abscess and a dental extraction will fix it. You need dental xrays and extraction if that is the case or if not then ultrasound and Fine Needle Biopsy to start. You need to stop treating at home and try to find the cause. Culture what comes out before treating with more antibiotics.
I took my cat to a local vet recently because he wasn’t acting normal, cried out in pain when I would pick him up, and would sleep all of the time and barely eat. I had noticed a semi large knot below his shoulder and it wasn’t above the surface, it was underneath his skin. The doctor checked for cancer… then checked for infection. Said it was a severe infection. Gave him some pain medication and Antibiotics and sent us on our way. The day before yesterday he finished his Antibiotics but suddenly in the knot area he had lost hair and the area was red and flaky looking. The next day it was no longer red and looked as if the flaky skin was healing. Now today I’ve noticed his shoulders and front legs are swollen quite a bit. The skin is very puffy and makes him look like a body builder cat. I don’t have a whole lot of money and the doctor I took him too didn’t take care of what’s going on obviously. Also the vet is closed today, is there any advice or opinions you could give me???
Sounds bad, sounds like you need a new vet for a 2nd opinion. I would think cancer is on my list sadly just because of the location and the description of events. Try a new vet tomorrow. Otherwise I’m sorry I can not give you any more…
My cat has a lump on her side and she won’t let any one touch it and it seems to be causing her pain. What can I do to help her?
Take her to a vet. It is probably an abscess but it could be something worse. The cat needs to be seen.
She had also just had an abscess on the other side of her stomach . I called a vet and they just said to hand feed her and give her water by hand. The week before the abscess another cat attacked her.
You need to change vets. That is bad advice. Simple.
Hello. For the past month, almost two, my cat has been getting abscesses. The first one was on his foot and when it eventually popped, I made sure I got all the puss out and cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide. He is mainly an indoor cat but was allowed outside for a little bit a couple times a week. I assume this abscess showed up due to him messing with another cat while outside. He remained in the house after I noticed the abscess. After it healed, I made the silly mistake of letting him out one more time and at the end of that day, he had an abscess on his front leg. It swelled up and popped that night. I was sleeping at the time so I’m guessing my cat cleaned it himself. The abscess came back on his leg and it popped again but I was able to drain and clean it with hydrogen peroxide. It took about a week to heal but now it’s back again! It looked awesome yesterday but today it’s swollen and a little red. I haven’t been able to take him to the vet yet due to lack of money. Why does it keep coming back? What can I do in the mean time until I’m able to take him to the vet? (I’m pretty sure I can take him next weekend…) Is this life threatening? I’m very concerned and I love my cat show much that I’d hate it if he got worse because I wasn’t able to take him to the vet sooner…. any advice is greatly appreciated!
Lo
Also.. he is eating normal, drinking water and using his litter box as usual. He is still 100% himself, just has this nasty abscess that keeps coming back. He is also behind on his shots and when I take him to the vet I will get him up to date on them. Should I have his blood tested to make sure he didn’t catch something from this outdoor cat? Sorry, forgot to mention this in the last comment!!
Lo
Could be a lot of things. You need to see his vet and get him tested for FELV or FIV and also have the abscess really looked at. This is not just a simple case of abscesses that are coming back. Something is going on that needs to be addressed. I can not really speculate but you need to see your vet and get him checked out…. Sorry I cant help more. Seems unlikely to be soemthing “new” every time but more likely to be underlying.
My cat has been fighting since June
Started with drops blood from nasal left
Found cracked tooth same side
Got worst in time to heavy breathing, congestion, eye closed shut, Micah both nostrils, etc
Today 10 pm her eye ruptured blood everywhere
Took her to ER
They recommended euthanization
She’s been on antibiotics and buoranorphine off and on since August
Mass sticking out left eye and she’s obviously blind left eye
She’s home and on pain med
Do I have any option instead euthanization?
She has will to live
She’s 14 and weak
4.4 lbs
I want to do what I can for her
She’s resting with me in floor
Thank you for any info
Other than surgically removing the mass and the eye I’m not sure there is anything else. If the ER recommended euthanasia I would think it is pretty bad. Please do not prolong her suffering. If she is in any discomfort then you need to consider who you are helping and let her go. I do not have a cure for ocular cancer except removal. Buprenorphine is not very powerful and she might still be in pain.
She’s been hospitalized twice since June
Been in 3 vet offices and medicated on antibiotics and pain meds since August
I didn’t want you to think I didn’t take her to vet for her situation
All docs said she was old and weak and anesthesia may kill her
All guessing it was a mass and some said slight chance abscess
So I’ve been medicating her hoping she would come out of it
Even got Life Gold since last Friday 2 drops twice day (immune booster)
Any options please let me know
Can cat overdose on bupanorohine? No ophthalmologist or oncologist available because holidays
I’m desperate for help
Only ER available
I don’t want euthanize her if I have option to help her
She has will of gold to live
She’s been eating and drinking water
Until today but obviously it’s because eye ruptured tonight and pain and pressure was terrible
I didn’t realize because she seemed very upbeat and eating more and walking around active more
Again thanks any advise
You can overdose but it is hard. Cats are very tolerant to that drug. I’m sorry I can not help more except to repeat that if she is suffering you should sadly let her go. Sorry. There is nothing more to do except possibly radiation or surgery.
I feed and take care of a semi-stray (he’s outdoors roaming at nights and when we are not home). He had a small wound on his stomach that has now healed. But there seems to be a lump under the skin and the hair on the area has not grown back. It doesn’t seem to hurt to the touch as he’s completely find with me prodding at it.
Do i need to be concerned?
Hard to say without seeing him. If it does not hurt and the lump is exactly where the wound was and it feels firm, then it most likely is scar tissue. If there is any softness or pain then it might be an abscess. I would have your local vet look at it when you take him for vaccines next time. Remember these semi-stray cats are the ones who need the vaccines most and an FELV FIV check every year or 2. I would probably not worry much until then. Again though, hard to assess from the description. Good luck.
I have this cat she is about 3 years old and a few weeks ago I found a wound on her tail that looked like a burn mark, I have been trying to find her a home as my mothers cat doesn’t get along with her( I am trying my best to do the best thing for her ) when I first saw the wound I put porixide on it hoping that it would go away and heal and it was for about two weeks and tonight I heard her scream and when I went into her room( bathroom since its her only safe spot) there was little drops of blood on the floor and in the sink and a piece of her fur on the floor.. When I tried to look at her tail it looked like she was ripping Out her fur and she causes it to open and ripped it a little.. The spot is not far from her but and it looks like it’s spreading around the whole area in a circle.her skin is either red or more of a blacky purple.. As of right now she refuses to let me touch it and I have put baby Polysporin On it the best I could.. Why could be causing this? And how could I possibly help her .. ( vet is not an option as I lost my father and job recently and can’t afford to take her to the vet )
I can not tell from the description what is it. It could be a number of things but she NEEDS a ve visit. Take her to the SPCA or the local shelter for care. You need to call a vet if that is not an option and ask if you can surrender her. She needs to be looked at and you are trying to find her a home anyway. I would try the SPCA that is closest, they often can help. She needs more than peroxide and plysporin.
Our cat that we rescued when he was two weeks old from a farm fulm of cats is now 2. Bottle fed and the vet was surprised he made it at first. He warned us how hard it was to keep such a tiny cat alive and well.
So he was an inside cat for about 7 months….then got a taste of outside life. He IS a farm cat through and through. He owns the neighborhood basically but sometimes he gets a bit roughed up.
He climbs trees like there is no tomorrow. And he also falls at times and gets scratched up. Yesterday he came home with three wounds on his leg but not bleeding bad. Being it’s covered with hair it was hard to see but we’ve been spraying it with peroxide. Well, after we got him good with it tonight he licked and we see one is definitely a puncture wound. It’s not deep but when you move it you can see muscle etc. No bleeding, clean….just pink.
We have a cone on him until we can get him to the vet tomorrow so he can’t lick it. It can wait correct? If we take him to emergency care it is 500 to walk in the door.
Should I keep spraying it? He was out for a few hours today like always and now inside for the night. He knows to come home when it’s cold and sleeps til the next morning when he goes out again. Any help appreciated!
First, I think he will be fine until tomorrow when you see your vet. Keep the cone on and keep him inside. Second, the ER will not be $500 to walk in the door. Even in New York City or LA, a puncture like that would be about $200-$250 or MORE if worse than you can see. Dont be scared of the ER, they are there if you need them. I dont think you need it now though.
Hello, so I noticed that my cat may have somethin wrong with her respirations. Her breathing looks okay from watching but her upper body looks like she does this bump while breathing. I dont know if shes twitching while breathing or not but it does concern me. Seens to happen more rapidly when she is in sitting position
That definitely needs a vet visit and likely xray of your cats chest. Might be asthma or worse!
Hi there. My indoor cat manage to get outside without my knowing…until I heard him fighting the neighbors cat. I got him back in and did not see and obvious injuries. A couple hours later he had a noticeable limp. He won’t put any pressure on his back right leg. I took him to the vet this morning and shaved his inner leg noticing a large puncture wound that is still open. They were able to extract some infection and cleaned the wound. They did not open it anymore and gave some antibiotic. We were also sent home with antibiotics. The limo just seems so severe considering we are only 24 hours out. At what point should I worry if the limp does not improve? Should I be cleaning the wound itself?
I would be asking your local vet these questions because they saw the wound and the severity of the wound. If it was just punctures and muscle damage then I would assume a week or maybe 2 weeks until it starts to look much better. You generally do not need to clean these, but the vet should have sent you with instructions. I would call back and get details. Bit wound can be very painful and a lip like that is common and not something that I would be too worried about. Get me info from your vet, sounds like it is due to you.
My 6 year old kitty came in with a large wound near the base of her tail. It looked like a scab and a deeper whole, about the size of a nickel. I’m not sure how deep it is but it looks pretty deep. She is normally an indoor/outdoor cat but for the past 2 days she has stayed inside, mostly in the same room. She will eat and drink but has not gone to the bathroom for 2 days. I have been cleaning it with water and putting neosporin on, and she has a cone on so she can’t lick it, but it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. What else (besides taking her to the vet) should I do?
You have to know by now that I will say take her to the vet. There is no way to know what is going on from a description and it sounds like she is in pain. Constipation or lack of urine can be very serious very fast. Take her to a vet please.
I took my cat to the vet today after finding a sore that ruptured an oozed an awful smelling bloody puss. The vet said it was an abscess and gave her and anti inflammatory/pain shot and a shot of antibiotics. The wound is on the base of her tail right at her tailbone. Every since she received the injections she has been constantly licking and flipping/twitching her tail She can’t go two steps without stopping to “attack it”. It’s as if her tail is foreign to her. She flicks it back and forth and it looks as if she had no control of it. I can tell it’s driving her crazy. The only time she seems somewhat at peace is when she is lying down. I’m wondering if she could have gotten some sort of nerve damage from the injections. She was not doing any of this until after the vet visit.
Very unlikely to have been the shot, more likely the itch of healing or the delayed pain of the infection. I think this is normal but you need to keep her from licking the area or the wound. If you need to, get an e-collar (lampshade) to use on her. She should heal fine and this will all stop in time. Give it more time and if it is not better in 5 days, go back to your vet for a follow up. Not nerve damage, just irritation.
My cat has been having issues with breathing, and evertime when go to get the food for the kittens and other cats she acts as if she hasn’t ate in years. Her nose has been alittle runny also. One of the other cats and her get into arguments all the time in the bathroom. Callie will scratch her every thing. Her eye was cut a week ago and we discussed to but callie back outside and she only comes in when it is really cold out. I was feeding the other cat anyways and I went to pet her, I noticed that she looked smaller than she was a week ago. My little girl was playing with her yesterday and yelled Mommy kitte has lumps. She s two on each side close to her ribs and there medium sized. Kept in mind she went to the vet 2 weeks ago. My little girl is worried that her cat will die? Is she going tk be okay?
Sounds like she needs to see ANOTHER vet if it was 2 weeks ago and the cat looks that bad. Sounds like something serious if she is losing weight and has “lumps”. Have they checked her thyroid or FIV/FELV? I would have her tested at the vet for those 3 things. Does not sound like nothing…have her seen.
I got all my kittens and cat tested for feline aids and they said everything was splendid and looked like a healthy cat. She is wanting to eat all the time, she has decided to learn how to get on the counter and eat the left over food that I made last night. She seems fine just the lumps I’m a little worried about. I dont have the money to take her and the others back yet? You thing it’s something serious?
Hard to say without seeing her. Seems like a strange behavior change. I guess you can watch for any changes and only bring them back if it looks worse or she starts to look worse. Did they test hyperthyroidism? If the vet thinks they are ok, then I have to assume they did a thorough exam and everything is ok.
No, I don’t think she got tested for that! Thank very much. I’ll call the vet and aee what I can do. Appreciate it!
our cat popped abscess on his right leg tonite,he was boarded 2nights ago-they found nothing after exray.He is limping Whole time-leg swollen double in size.Sounds like abscess’s are common,reading post they can come back? He will be at vets in am.
Hi I have a 5week old long haired kitten which Iv noticed what looks like a red blood blister on its back. It’s not huge but the hair has shed where it is. The kitten doesn’t seem to be in pain and the rest of the litter are fine. What could this be and should I put anything on it? I can’t get a vet appointment for a few days.
Sounds like a blood blister or a growth. I would get the vet appointment and have it checked when they are are available. I would imagine it can wait a few days. Might be where another kitten sucked on this kitten or bit this kitten. Watch it for change and if it gets worse go to the ER. Otherwise see your local vet when possible. Good luck.
My cat has this 3/4 of a penny sized hole on her far left shoulder and a large lump, starting right after the hole, that goes all the way to her far right shoulder. And she is very far along with her pregnancy. We are too poor to get her to a vet. But we love her. What can we do.
Not to sound judgmental but if you can not afford one cat, then kittens might be a bad idea. Kitten birthing can have serious complications and cost a lot. My advice is to bring her to an SPCA for a free or reduced cost spay, and have the vet there look at her lump and hold at the same time. Otherwise all you can do is try to keep it clean and see if it heals. Chronic injury combined with pregnancy and nursing can be very serious and taxing on a cat….keep this in mind. Please have her spayed.
I took my cat to the vet after an abscess on his leg, they clean it out and shot my cat with antibiotics. They let the wound open since its the faster way to get it heal just maintain it clean. for the past 10 he barely eats just a tiny portion and drinks a lot and gets sleepy most of the time yet he does have energy, jumps, runs meows. But yesterday he starting spitting too much like he licks a lot his lips, he keeps on drooling. Is that normal? Can it because of the abscess? Or maybe rabies?
I would bring him back to your vet. Maybe there are wounds in his mouth or he licked off some of the cleaning solution and is nauseous. If you suspect rabies bring him to the vet ASAP, and this is based on his vaccine status and the cause of his abscess. Sounds like he might be in pain too, did they give you pain medication? There is not too much I can tell you except to make sure he eats and drinks well and bring him back to the vet to look in his mouth or discuss rabies. Rabies is nothing to mess with. Good luck.
I found a stray cat who had an injury on his leg and asking around I found some people who tried to help him.
They washed the cats injury with salted water and clean it as much as possible at the end they added Gentian Violet antiseptic, the cat eventually lick it since his tongue its purple, in my knowledge this thing is toxic for cats, right now it night and the closest veterinarian is closed the other facility is far away so what should I do in the meantime.?
Wash off the remaining violet and see if the cat will eat or drink. There is not much more you can do for now except wait for the vet office to open and bring the cat in. Hopefully there was not enough to make the cat very sick. Use mild soap and water to wash the area and let it dry. Good luck.
My cat broke his leg about 6 weeks ago, he’s been in a splint up until last Thursday when the vet told us it’s healing really well, it’s now Sunday. The vet always told me to keep an eye on him because he could pull his cast/soft bandage off. He has been good up until Saturday night when I noticed he had pulled it off, I tried to put it back on but I noticed some blood so I put some padding on then cut the cast and put it back on as best I could and taped it back. Will this be ok until Monday? As I live a way out of town and his vet bill is about $900 at the moment ???? so I don’t want to ring the after hour vet if he will be ok for a day or so.
No way to know without seeing the cat, the break, the splint, the wound…. Keep him in a strict confinement like a carrier until you can get to the vet. That is the best bet. Confinement and lack of movement is the only thing you can do. Sometimes a bad splint can be worse than no splint. Rest is the best thing you can do for the cat. Good luck.
Hello, I know this isn’t something you’ll be able to answer as such as of course you didn’t see the cat however im just looking for some sort of closure. My cat died but we’re still unsure why. He got an absess on his front leg and was taken to the vet after a few days for treatment, in the waiting room his absess popped but the vet still took him in, cleaned up the wound and sticked it together. However the skin died away and the stiches came undone because he kept licking them so we went back to the vets and they restiched it together. By this time he’d lost his appetite and couldnt apply pressure on this paw. After a few days with no improvements he suddenly didnt come back one day and he was found sadly a few weeks later by our neighbour in his open garage, dead 🙁 . Our question is, is it possible he caught some form of infection or blood poisoning? Any medications given to him was useless as he wasnt eating. Sorry again as i know you cant really help im just looking for an answer as it very hard to move on.
A few questions I would ask: 1) did the vet not recommend him to stay indoors? 2) No e-collar to stop the licking 3) No injectable antibiotics? 4) was he an old cat with bad kidneys? Why was he outside? He couldn’t bear weight on the paw so maybe something got him and he couldn’t run away? It is also possible he got a systemic infection or would not eat or drink and get dehydrated or fatty liver or bad kidneys. Being outside you cant monitor his eating, that is a major problem… Without knowing everything I can only hypothesize. Very sorry for your loss.
I think he was recommended to stay indoors but we let him out to go to toilet as we didnt have a litter tray and thats when we went missing. There was no e-collar given to us and neither were there any injectable antibiotics. He was just over a year old. I agree that as soon as he was outside that meant we lost out ability to monitor him just feel upset that the vets didnt seem to be very helpful. Thank you anyway.
What if a person touches this area with out gloves and does not wash hand but eats hand food after
its fine
My cat has an abscess on his tail that we noticed about 3 weeks ago. The vet gave him an antibiotic and When he finished it the lump came back (about 2-3 days later). Went back to the vet yesterday and he got an anti-inflammatory shot and another round of a stronger antibiotic. When I got home today I noticed a bald spot and it looks like there is a little bloody wound. Is this normal to rupture after antibiotics? Taking him back to the vet on Thursday. Thanks!
This can be normal, and is unlikely related to the injections. It is a good sign generally and should help healing. Good luck at the vet Thursday!
Thank you so much!
Hello! I took my cat to the vet 5 days ago she found an abcess on his hind leg burst it and gave him a long lasting antibiotic injection but couldn’t check him for further lumps as my cat was growling so much and getting upset. Tonight I just discovered a huge abcess has burst underneath, inside of the same leg it’s about an inch round with two large punctures it’s purple/pink and oozing thick puss and bit of blood – I have tried to clean it but very difficult so just dripped some lightly salted luke warm on it but wasn’t able to wipe his fur because he was so grumpy – he’s sleeping now and I’ve put a towel over his hind leg to stop him cleaning it – will I need to see the vet again or will his long lasting antibiotic be enough now that this one is draining?
The antibiotic will certainly help, but the cat needs to stop the licking. Ideally you would get an e-collar on the cat to prevent licking. Cleaning the wound is always better but if the cat is that fractious and already has antibiotics….. I would probably give it a day or 2 and see how it looks. If it continues to ooze or grow, or the cat is lethargic then you need to bring him back. Dont get bitten or scratched yourself and make sure your cat is up to date on a rabies vaccine.
My cat is almost 17 yes old. He has his second abcess. The last two times they have drained it. Within the last month I brought him in again for the second time. It seemed this time to fill up quickly. As this morning around 5am I noticed he was meowing. I got up and he was in the restroom. His abcess was draining on its own. I got as much as I can get out until someone else wakes up to hold him down for me. I also put some peroxide on it until then. My vet only has by appointments today considering it’s Sunday. So it will be Monday morning till I can bring him in. What else can I do in the mean time. I did get a good bit of it it, but there is still some left in there. My other option is to call this other vet who is for surgical and wound care emergency veterinarian to see him on a Sunday if he is in town.
Abscess? It should be fixed with draining and antibiotics unless the cat has an underlying condition. Call the other vet and get a second opinion or wait to see you vet tomorrow. If it is just and abscess it can usually wait a day if it is draining. If it is a tumor or something that keeps coming back….visit the other vet for an second opinion.
I have a 6 month old barn kitten with and enormous lump under his left jaw. There is a large scab on it so i know it is an absess. It is solid but yet i can sense there is fluid in there also. Anyhow, my parents refuse to spend money to take my little Eddie to clinic, and i know left untreated he may die. Is there anyway i can treat this myself? I’m seventeen so i can understand complex instructions, but i cannot let this go untreated. If worse comes to worse i will most likely take a scalpel to it, slightly puncture the lump so the pus/liquid can discharge. Then i was planning on flushing it with hydrogen peroxide and bandageing it. Please contact me so i can help my little guy!
This was posted February 22, 2016
First, your parents need to understand the value of a life they care for. They should bring the cat to the vet. If that is not possible then I would try warm soapy compresses to see if you can open the scab and let the abscess drain. You can warm the scab and try to pick it open and see if that helps. I would not flush it with hydrogen peroxide but use clean water or better yet saline. If you have betadine I would dilute that and use that. Otherwise, see if you can get the cat to a vet for shots and antibiotics.
Hi I have a 5yr old orange tabby one day I was petting him and felt a scab and I accidentally pulled it off and then felt liquid coming out so I turned on the light and looked and saw a hole the size of #2 pencil so I put pressure on it and alot of pus started coming out so I squeezed as much as could without hurting him he whined a little bit so I stopped and I cleaned with peroxide and then put antibiotic ointment on it so it started to heal then today which it’s been about a week he came and layer with me and I felt his fur wet in the area where the hole was so I checked and it’s still there and pus was leaking out again I don’t know if it was a boil or cyst or something else it’s not red around it nor is it swollen it’s flat and just a round hole that has pus draining from it he is eating normal and drinking normal and acts normal he is an indoor/outdoor cat please help
Read the blog and comments on abscesses, it is all there. AND SEE A VET FOR ANTIBIOTICS.
My cat had a bursted abscess yesterday and we took her to the vet the next morning for treatment. Now she is at the vet’s and I am very concerned and nervous about her condition as I will be picking her up tomorrow afternoon. She seems very sad and distressed when she was at the vet’s as the doctor wiped off the pus off her. The doctor has kept her there to drain the abscess and clean her wounds, basically give her the treatment to cure the abscess. The last she ate was last night. What am I supposed to expect and what are the post-treatment care necessary to help her heal?
You really need to ask the vet she is at now. You are paying for this information and the vet knows the case. I don’t even know where the abscess is? This is a great question for your vet or their techs.
So my cat 12-13 years had a large bump on the top of his head that was in the skin, because it could move around. It kept getting bigger and bigger and my cat kept scratching at it, making it bleed. Eventually, we thought it was over when my cat picked it all off and it scabbed over. Then unfortunately, an even bigger cluster of bumps appeared which leads to now. It gets blood everywhere and occasionally he wears a cat cone, but it’s only getting worse. Indoor-outdoor cat, seems just like normal (eating/drinking), we cannot afford vet prices of any kind we are in a bad spot right now. We are desperate and very worried. Please help!
You need to go to the SPCA or shelter and get help. This sounds bad and clearly is not getting better and your cat is just suffering. It sounds like it could be any number of problems, all of them are reasons to see a vet and not fixable at home. Try a low cost shelter or SPCA or some form of help. Sorry, good luck.
I have a 12yo tabby female, she had an abscesses anal glad in the summer. We paid for the vet to attempt to squeeze out what he could and for the cat to go on antibiotics and some pain meds. A few weeks later she was still scooting and stinky and so we went back, different vet at same clinic said he would try to lance the abscess and flush it, oral antibiotics and pain meds and for us to then give it a few weeks to work itself out. Fine. Immediately after we moved to a new city and the cat was horrible at letting me give her meds and grew wise to me putting it in her food but we did what we could. We thought she was better and a few months later noticed a bloody spot on the tiles(she rather antisocial so we don’t see her a lot). Checked the cat, abscess is burst. Cleaned her up and tried to give her time to drain and heal as financially we’re at a tipping point for her care. Ten weeks later and she stinks like rotten fish the second she enters a room, she still has a rotten hole next to her anus and scoots on the carpet. Is going to a vet going to reveal a simple affordable and reliable cure? Or has this gone on too long and require major, pricey care?
Sometimes cats need to have the anal glands surgically removed to fix the problem. I would be concerned about that, as a chronic issue. You also need to be concerned about cancer of the gland. I would have a NEW vet check the area, explain the long history and get an estimate for care. You need to establish a new relationship with a vet after moving anyway. These are variable and can be either simple one time issues or much harder to deal with. Sounds like you might have the later. Good luck.
We have an almost 2 year old cat, he was indoor, until he ripped open a window screen and started getting out. He is a trouble maker. About 3 weeks ago we noticed and absess on his lower back, the next day it popped and drained, we cleaned it the best we could and it healed.
A few nights later we heard a massive animal fight outside, not sure with what but my cat was screaming, he came running across the yard and ran inside, he seemed fine. Well he was not, the following morning we found him laying still, not wanting to move, and when we stood him up he was limping horribly on his rear left leg, being a sunday morning we had to bring him to a 24/7 emergency vet.
They took him in, shaved and cleaned the the area, but only saw the old wounds from a week before. But the cat was in HORRIBLE pain, he was also running a fever of 106, he was given an antibiotic shot, and pain meds to be given every 8 hours. This was sunday, feb. 21.
The following day he wasnt doing any better, still in pain, not eating or drinking, so we brought him back in. They gave him fluids SC and took an xray of the leg to see if it was a break rather than a bite. The next day we had to bring him back again as his leg had become very swollen, and he was starting to smell horrible, the bones were not damaged so they put a drain in the leg, gave us more antibiotics and sent him home, telling us to bring him to his normal vet in 2 days for the drain to be removed. So we did, and we saw major improvements over those two days, he ate wet food, and peed for the first time.
So, on friday 2/26 we brought him to his normal vet, they took out the drain, his temp was good, and we were told everything had been done right so far. The dr. was just confused on why he wasnt healed yet. He was given a steroid shot and an appetite pill (also fluids SC) and sent home. That day he started walking better without pain, eating good, and seeming much better.
The next day, most of the skin on the inside of his leg, and belly is dead and falling off, horrible stench, and he is weak. In really bad shape. We take him back the following morning and they are shocked at this. (The cat has been wearing a cone since the initial vet visit.)
They take him in and tell us to consider amputation of the leg, but they will call us later in the day after they speak with the surgeon.
We go back about 6 hours later and receive the bad news. The infection is in the entire leg, and also in the belly area, meaning amputation wouldnt be a guaranteed success. We have already spent $1300 on a care credit card up to this point, and they tell us if we decide to take thos road, it will be thousands more, plus months of additional surgerys, medications, and what not.
We decide to have our guy put to sleep, unfortunately because he bit me on the 21st of feb. , he cant be put to sleep before 10 days is up. (Stupid).
So now we have our cat here for one more night. We have been so optimistic especially in the last 24 hours that it really hurts us to make this decision.
Im sorry this is so long, just figured i would see for any other opinions on the matter.
WOW! That sounds terrible. Clearly he was bitten by something with a terribly infection or maybe venom. Do you live in an area with snakes? Sounds almost like a copperhead or rattlesnake bite. Sometimes these infections can get out of control if the cats are immune compromised (FIV or FELV) or otherwise sick. The steroid shot was a bad idea, but maybe it was worth a try at the time. I assume the 10 day quarantine is the risk of rabies. Usually it is the opposite problem, where they insist the cat is euthanized and tested for rabies. I’m not sure I can help much except say that cats can be amazing healers if they are healthy and I have seen them make miraculous recoveries. This situation sounds really bad though and I would default to what the ER or your local vet recommend. If your cat is a rabies risk, I would have him tested (euthanized) because that is nothing to play around with. Sorry I cant be more help. Look into venomous animals in the area and have him tested for an immune problem?
My cat is 9yr old and is bringing up blood when he is being sick he also as a lump under his skin at the back of his leg at the top what could it be?
I have had him to the vets about him being sick and bringing blood up but they told me it was an upset stomach please help
He needs to see a vet or better…a different vet. Any vet that dismissed these symptoms is not the one for you. SEE a NEW VET. He has an abscess and some severe stomach issues.
I have a 16-year-old cat who is in the beginning stages of kidney failure (we have changed her diet and she is doing much better, showing no signs at all and her lab work is excellent). She keeps getting an abscess on one of the teeth on the right side of her mouth and the vet is leery of putting her under to pull the tooth, so she just keeps incising and draining from the exterior cheek area and putting her on an antibiotic (sorry, I can’t remember the name right now). I have no problems with continuing on this way if that’s best as it seems I only have to take her in for this I&D every other month or so (twice so far), but wanted your opinion on the safety of anesthesia on a cat this age. Thanks in advance.
Great question. I really dont know is the best answer. I would feel comfortable with IV fluids, and gas anesthesia for a quick tooth extraction. I think in the long run that is better for her than your current plan. Infection and multiple antibiotic rounds can eventually be hard on a cat. A good progressive vet office should be able to handle this. Maybe even a specialist. Good luck!
I have two beautiful male yellow mutt cats, almost 2 years old, very healthy and current on their rabies vaccines, etc. Both are indoor cats except when they need to do their business. They do that outside – have always refused to use a litter box. One of my boys started limping a couple days ago and I checked him out and I found a large soft lump in his right front armpit. I have his vet scheduled to see him this coming week, but I’m worried that this might need urgent attention from our local ER vet. Please let me know if you agree. The lump doesn’t seem to be hard and “frozen” in place (like a cancerous mass), but more like maybe an abscess. Should I follow my instincts and see an ER vet instead of waiting until Monday?
Impossible to say without seeing the cat. An abscess can wait but is always better treated sooner than later. If it is cancer or something else then again sooner than later but it can wait. Likely an abscess (strange location though) and you need to have the lymph node there checked by a good vet.
My female cat gave birth to 2 kiity and very next day she was bitten by male cat. She is limping since den. We apply turmeric on her limping leg as there’s no vet available her. Her leg is not swollen much. But still she is limping since 2 days. As she is feeding kitty we only prefer turmeric add in her milk.
Wat might be the cause of her limping
Pain or infection. She needs a vet. Make sure the wound is clean and she is not licking it too much. Caution with tumeric and the kittens.
No wounds are seen nor she is linking.
She is just limping and she does eat well.
I applied turmeric on her leg and also put turmeric powder in her milk 3-4 times a day. as I fear to give her anti biotic tablets as it may be harmful to kitties.
I do take care she dnt jump much and rest well.
Now mostly She sleeps on her back with leg towards top.
I fear of fracture in leg or pelvis but there’s no swollen on her leg or back.
I found her leg swollen on 1 day only.
We don’t have any vet in our area.
Can a male cat fracture a cat.
Because I am 100% sure she is limping because of attack on her by male cat.
My 10 year old female cat suffered a bite wound to her rear end resulting in a nasty abscess. The vet lanced the abscess and drained it and administered a two week injection of antibiotics. We have been doing twice daily warm compresses of water. Is been 10 days and still is leaking a lot of pus. Would you advise we return to the vet? Thank you.
Yes, that is too long and the abscess should have been healed or healing by now. 7 days is too long honestly. I would change antibiotics and have the wound re-looked at. Good luck.
No wounds are seen nor she is linking.
She is just limping and she does eat well.
I applied turmeric on her leg and also put turmeric powder in her milk 3-4 times a day. as I fear to give her anti biotic tablets as it may be harmful to kitties.
I do take care she dnt jump much and rest well.
Now mostly She sleeps on her back with leg towards top.
I fear of fracture in leg or pelvis but there’s no swollen on her leg or back.
I found her leg swollen on 1 day only.
We don’t have any vet in our area.
Can a male cat fracture a cat.
Because I am 100% sure she is limping because of attack on her by male cat.
Last Sunday, February 28, my 3 year old Calico kitty was attacked by something. Possibly another cat. There are 2 strays in our neighborhood. Took me a while to find her, but she finally came and seemed dazed/in shock. Initially it looked like just her face/nose/chin, had scratches on it. She did not want to eat, but did drink. Monday she just layed around, but seemed to be healing well. By Wednesday she was very lethargic with a small abscess on her paw that she broke open & I planned to take her into the vet, when she disappeared. Thursday she came back & was at the door waiting for me with a huge paw. I immediately took her in. They put her on an antibiotic & fluids for her fever. I thought she was coming home, but they wanted to keep her one more day. By Saturday, her entire arm was swollen/purple. Her face was swollen and she could hardly breathe. They tried everything but after her third arrest, I gave them the ok to use euthenasia. It breaks my heart to think of what this sweet, gentle cat went through. Part of my is angry that she only lived three years, but then the other half is grateful, that her time here was with me. She did have one liter before being spayed, 8 kittens. All had to be put down for feline herpes. So mom was a carrier, and I guess her little body was weakened and could not fight this infection. I just wanted to make sure that people take their cats in when they see an abscess, as soon as you can. For Bandit…….
I have two almost year old cats. One male, one female. They are brother and sister. I am away for the weekend and my mother called to tell me that my male cat had a large lump on the side of his face. Today she called and said that she came home to blood and puss everywhere, and that some white stuff that smelled was still coming out of the hole on his face. Him and his sister to rough house and play, could she have bitten him? Would a vet visit be in order now after it burst? Is it even an abscess? Please help!
Most likely by a long shot is an abscess. Yes, a vet visit will help with antibiotics and pain medication. It will heal faster and be less painful. Good luck.
my cat just went to the vet for a ruptured absest the vet changed her story 3 or 4 times on what needed to be done and the price so after almost 200 I left with my cat and just antibiotics. she didn’t clean it or anything said he needed surgery then I told her I couldn’t afford over 1000 right off then she said well it might heal with just the meds. so I got the meds is there anything else I should do? besides call a different vet that might keep their story straight.
Second opinions are always wise. An abscess can heal with just antibiotics if there is no huge pocket or foreign material or cancer or….. you can give it time and see how it looks in a few days. 3-4 days tops will let you know, then if it looks bad see another vet asap!
A couple months ago my 10 year old male cat developed a very large abscess under his jaw, possibly from scrapping with his brother. I took him in for treatment, he had a fever also. They lanced it, left it open, gave him the 2 week antibiotic and sent him home. It went away and everything went back to normal. Now he has swelling under both jaws that gets better, then worse, then better again over the course of the day. He will not let me get a close look, but it appears that there is swelling around his anus too. (He had numerous surgeries and finally his penis removed due to a blocked urethra…he will do serious damage if you get any where near his butt.) I can’t afford another vet bill…is it possible this will resolve on it’s own? How potentially serious is this?
Sounds worrying. It should not come and go like that. I would be concerned about something else or worse…or it might be the same infection that just ever healed. Sorry to say that the only way to know is a vet visit with some tests. It sounds like it can wait a little while you muster the resources. Good luck.
I just worked out my cat has an abscess. It’s 1am. He seems super tired and didn’t eat his dinner. That’s why we worked out there was something more going on…can it wait until morning or should I take him to a 24 hour vet? He is sleeping…but I’m not sure if that’s a bad thing…and thanks 🙂
Take him in the morning. If it is just that then it should be fine to wait.
My 16 year old cat has an abscess on and around his eye. He had had it punctured and tried to drain with no success. So he had surgery and a drain out in. They sent out samples of the tissue in the abscess and everything checked out fine. He also had a head ct with his surgery and everything looked normal. The vet thought possibly a fungal infection since small traces were found in his sample. However, since they are uncommon in this area they told me it is unlikely he has a fungal infection. He is currently on antibiotics. We took the drain out two weeks after they put it in and his eye immediately swelled up again overnight and was sealed closed so it wouldn’t drain. The drain is back in and has been in for the past two weeks. He has a pus white fluid coming out of it. I can work about one good squeeze out of it. Why is it still draining? I’m running out of money options and I am desperate. He eats drinks and voids normally. I don’t know what else to do.
Wow, sounds terrible. I really have nothing I can tell you. SOunds like you did everything you could do. CT even! I think the only think I can suggest is a second opinion from a vet school, specialist, teaching hospital where they see “abnormal” cases often. I assume you are at a great vet office if they have a ct and can do that surgery, but maybe a second opinion is in order. Maybe there is a foreign body back there, a tumor that was not caught (most likely) or some kind of crazy resistant bacteria. Given his age, tumor would be high on my list, but I have no way to confirm that. Sorry and good luck.
HELP! Okay, so my outdoor cat had two big lumps on her rear about 3 weeks ago. One at the base of her tail and the other on the very high part of her left leg thigh. They ruptured, pus leaked, and within about 5 days it closed up. The skin in that area has been blue since, but this week the one abcess on her left leg thigh the skin around there is turning darker bluish black. Please give feedback.
Sounds like the skin is dying either due to the initial trauma like bite compression or the abscess was big enough to kill the skin. That skin will die and there will be a big hole there that should be either cleaned and closed by a vet or closely watch for any infection or spreading. Your cat needs antibiotics and pain medication from a vet to help with this….. The skin will eventually slough and you will have a hole.
My cat has a similar skin issue as this. She had an abscess, and the skin that was pushed out due to the pus turned yellow with a red outline and is now dark and hard. The vet said that the skin would fall off and leave exposed tissue and that we’d have to get a $1300 skin graft. That was a week ago. The skin in that area hasn’t changed or started peeling. It’s hard like a scab. My husband refuses to do the skin graft, so I’m praying her skin is healing underneath the dead skin and that the dead skin will peel off to reveal healed skin. Is this uncommon? Will the hard skin just fall off and leave her exposed? I’m having a really difficult time finding similar situations online. My vet is thinking it was a brown recluse bite based on how it was healing. The skin issue isn’t spreading at all, but it is a fairly large area. Thanks for any help!
I would hold off on the graft until you see what happens. USUALLY, not always, but USUALLY cats heal amazingly well even with large open holes. The key is antibiotics, a head cone to prevent licking (elizabethan collar) and time. If the are is not growing, then do not touch it or do anything. If the black dead skin is growing then you need better antibiotics and another vet visit. Skin grafts in cats are rare and are not usually successful when not done by a good surgeon. Depending on the area you can just close the area with stitches or let it scab and heal. See what happens before you do anything and possibly get a second opinion before a $1300 graft.
The area isn’t growing at all, just slightly peeled up on the edges and not changing. She has had lots of antibiotics, has a cone, and we’re only up to 3 weeks of waiting. I’ll keep waiting. Thanks so much for the reply. I’ve searched and searched for a similar issue online and have come up mostly empty handed and my vet was fear mongering me so I’m so thankful for your response.
I have an 11 year old kitty, we were at the vet today and he had two accesses on his anal gland and was treated. I have another cat at home they’ve been together 10 years, do they need to be separated while my cat is being treated or are they ok to be together?
Good question. They should be ok, as long as they are not licking each other. If they are licking each other a lot then yes, but if not it should be ok. Good luck.
I found a pussy cat who are 8 to 13 days old.a male cat suddenly attacked on him. I couldnot understand how to treat the pussy cat.pls kindly suggest me,i am helpless.urgent for her
There is nothing to go off here. See a vet or shelter if possible.
Dr. Stewart
I have a cat with a sinus infection that has made her eye infected. The vet gave her a shot of an antibiotic that was supposed to last for two weeks. You could still see her eye when we went to vet. Her eye is now completely covered in pus. I don’t know if she even still has an eye. She will not let me put a warm compress on it. I have called the vet back twice and they say they can not do anything more to help.I think the cat is in pain. I feel that my inability to clean the eye is making it worse. I think she’s going to lose her eye which upsets me greatly. What do you suggest? Thank you.
Second opinion from a new vet would be a good idea. I think possible sedation and full flush would help, but I really dont know much about the situation. If you are feeling helpless, then you should see another vet. Antibiotics and warm compresses are a good start but the cat might need surgery or more treatment. Good luck.
Good day Dr. Stewart
My 10 mos old indoor kitty got out of our house and when we found him we found a scratch near his ears and a little scratch below his left eye. Now we took her to one of the nearest vet clinic here in our area but that “vet doctor” didn’t even touch my cat. Just took a few look and gave me Tricin Ointment and said that it was a minor scratch and that it will heal in no time. After 3 days with no improvement I got worried because his left eye starts to swell and an evident wound can be seen because the fur started to fall. I went to a another vet to have him checked and viola he got a deep abscess in his upper eyelid. My new vet said that luckily the eye didnt get any damage no blood or tear in the cornea but because it wasn’t detected properly and right away infection is now on the eye. My new vet stitched the wound and cleaned the left eye and instructed me to give Amoxiclav Antibiotic every 8 hours at 3ML. It’s now a day since the surgery and still puss is oozing out is it normal? And also my kitty likes to go and rest in his litter box so i decided to clean it so if he wants to rest he can do so. Why is he acting like that? Will my cat left eye go blind? What can I do to ease the pain? My new vet said to go back to her after 3 days. So were going back there tomorrow. Thank you!
Go back for a re-exam and see what the vet says. I think if the surgery went well and the eye was cleaned and the wound treated properly then there should be no problem. Have the vet re-examine and decide. Without seeing it it is very hard to comment. Most cat abscesses heal well with antibiotics and any necessary surgery to clean them up. Good luck.
The fact that you find cat abcesses “fun to treat” is beyond disturbing. I wouldn’t let you anywhere near one of my cats.
Your choice. I would rather go to a vet that 1) writes free advice on the internet on his/her own time to help people. 2) enjoys his/her profession enough to like to work.
Doctors love to do gross stuff! I’d prefer my doctor to love doing what they do, I don’t get why you are complaining Vee.
Dr. Stewart,
My kitten was barely a week old when his leg had to be amputated right past the joint due to complication with the umbilical cord. The leg healed and now he gets around fine and never uses it to walk on. Only to rest (kind of a like a kick stand for a bike). Recently he’s managed to lick the very tip raw. Now it is infected a little bit and theres a small amount of blood. I have a vet appointment in the moring and since I work at a hospital they’ve sent me home with some antibiotic ointment, gauze, and cobane tape. I was gonna try to rinse it and fix it up a bit so he’d stop licking it. However he is 2 months old and his mom still trys to clean him often. Is there anything I should or shouldn’t do? I worry they will try to take the rest of the leg like the vet mentioned but he isn’t quite old enough yet.
P.S Would you consider this emergent?
I think it can wait until tomorrow with some cleaning and bandaging, but 1 week old is very young. They will certainly want to take more of the leg or this will happen again and again. He needs to not use the leg at all or risk skin abrasion and wounding. For now keep it clean and wrap it every 3-4 hours with a wet to dry bandage. Good luck!
My kitty. Oreo. She came in from being outside and ate a lot of dry food. she is currently hiding under my draws with a swollen jaw on one side. I am only a teenages and I tried to tell my mother shes needs to go to a vet but she wont take her. is there any way I can get my mum to take her there? or can she be treated at home? is this deadly? how long can I put off going to the vet? I am desperate, Oreo is my life I don’t know what I would do if I lost her.
Sounds like an abscess and a vet visit is important BUT it can sometimes heal by itself. Follow the instructions in the blog above. Warm compress and keep it clean. Keep working on your mom, that is up to you. Good luck.
Hi, I have a Siberian cat and her fur gets quite knotty (despite us grooming her daily). She has an area around her back right haunch which is matted up fur but she won’t let us groom the area. Everytime we try she meows in annoyance and changes her position so we cannot groom the knots. . She is otherwise fine in herself, going out, eating etc. Could there be an underlying problem or is it likely to just be a sensitive area? We can’t feel any obvious lumps such as an abcess from a bite.
No way to tell, but many cats have areas of fur matting. You need to have this shaved professionally and carefully as not to cut her skin. I would recommend a groomer or vet office try this. It can be very difficult and cutting her skin can be easy.
My kitten has bumps on his head near his ear and they seem like holes what do we do!
If they are holes you need to see a vet asap. If they are just bumps then it could be many different things that are not a severe emergency. See a vet.
Sooo….my cat, Artemis, a year old female Calico, has these big scores down her back, they look like bites. We live in Arkansas, and the last reported case of rabies was 20 or 30 years ago, so we’re not worried about that, but shes very clingy (we did just move, and we didn’t have the cat carrier so she sat with me in the car, poor girl didn’t leave my closet for two days, so that might be apart of it) and one of the sores is pretty pussy. it’s been a little less than a week since we left the apartment, and she’s been inside that whole time, and I doubt she hurt herself in the house, it’s practically empty. But before we moved her she took off and was alone outside for several hours. It’s an urban area and I doubt she’d go far, shes such a coward, but she may have gotten in a fight with a dog, she’s really bad with them. She’s been hiding a lot, and cries loudly when I try to look at the sores, so I know it hurts a lot, and I know she isn’t feeling good, but she seems to be eating fine…I think…she shares with her sister, but Hestia, the sister, never, NEVER eats more than her share, she wont eat period unless her sister eats at least half, shes weird, I know, and I’ve noticed their food bowl is empty…I dunno, I’m really worried, these cats are my equivalent of emotional support dogs, so…so they’re very important to me…and they’re very close to one another, so I worry what will happen to me and Hestia if something goes wrong with Arty…can you offer any help? Do I need to worry, or just let it run it’s course? I dont have any money at the moment, and wont be able to afford a vet for another week, pay day, so is there anything I can do from home to help her, or do you think shes past the worst of it? I wish I knew a few days ago, I could have done something…
SHE JUST HISSED AT HER SISTER, WTF!!!
She probably needs a vet because they sound like infected bite wounds that need cleaning and antibiotics. If you can not get to a vet soon, then all you can do is clean the wounds, keep her clean and get to a vet as soon as you can afford it. Read the blog and the comments on wound care, there are good points in there. Try to get her to a vet for antibiotics.
My cat was just spayed about two weeks ago and is healing nicely. However I’ve noticed a big knot / lump that seemed to come out of nowhere on her neck area. It is quite large and swollen but hides under her fur. I pet her daily and scratch her neck so it had to have popped up suddenly.I don’t see any blood or signs of a wound . She is an indoor cat but wrestles frequently with my other cats. Could it be a complication from surgery anesthesia or tables vaccine 2 weeks later? She is happy, eating and playing normally. No other signs or symptoms. I’m wondering what this may be , your opinion of possibilities with the given symptoms. Thanks so much.
The rabies vaccine is almost always given in the right rear leg. There are no injections given in the neck of a cat for a spay, so it seems very unlikely this is a complication from that. It is most likely an abscess from the other cat. I would have her checked and the lump aspirated with a needle to determine what it is. I can not imagine it has anything to do with the spay. Good luck.
I meant to say rabies vaccine… Autocorrect changed it
She is about 10 months old
Ok , just a couple more things to mention. It does not appear to hurt her when I touch it. And could it be a bee sting or tick bite? That may explain why I cannot see any scratches or wounds
Maybe, but they usually go away after a few hours.
My cat was attacked by another cat and got a bit of an abscess on her leg. She went to the vet who cleaned it up and put a drain in it. Gave her the 2 week antibiotic shot. She was given Onsior. 3 days later she is not any better- worse actually. In constant pain, still has fever and leg is swollen. She doesn´t use it at all. So took her to vet again today, gave her a Penicillin shot and sent her home with Clavamox and Busprenex.
She barely eats and doesn´t want to drink. Was given fluids at the vet. It has been 4 days since it happened and only seems worse every day. I am not real confident the new meds will work. Seems no pain meds help. I don´t know what else to do for her? She was the liveliest little thing and am having a hard time seeing her in so much pain. Dont know why her leg wont heal 🙁
Sounds like you have done everything you can do. There is very little I can offer because it sounds like your vet team is excellent. The only thing might be a drug reaction or over sedation with pain medication to make the cat dysphoric? Is that possible? Can you discontinue the pain medications for one day or 15 hours and see if it makes her better. Some cats react poorly to pain medications and other cats are desperate for them. I assume the drain was removed after 3-4 days too, you never mention that. If the drain is still there, then that needs to be removed asap.
The drain has been taken out. Will try your suggestion with the pain meds. If her swelling will just not go down and she cant use her leg within the next few days or so,, do you think she would have to be put to sleep? I am so fearful of that. She is only 10 months old. I cant have my baby die on me 🙁
I would hope not put to sleep. Maybe there is just much more crushing damage than was thought. You should next suggest an XRAY of the leg and look for fractured or broken bones. Good luck
Update on my young cat with the mysterious lump on neck.. Upon very close inspection we located what looked like a small bite mark.. Although under the fur and all it was very hard to find. It turned out to be an abscess. It opened and drained with warm compresses. She healed fine and no vet care was needed. Thanks for the advice.
Great, as we suspected.
Brought my cat Cleo to vet for a lump on her hind quarter. Turned out to be an abscess. Vet lanced it and put a drain in on Thursday. I took out drain on Monday. Looks like its healing nicely. No infection. It’s drying up. However, there is still a small lump there. It is much smaller than original Is this normal or maybe all puss did not drain out? Also, how soon can my cat safely go out again so that other animals won’t smell the wound? She can’t wait to get out there.
The bump might be scar, ask your vet to look at that. Unlikely to be more pus but possible if there is a second pocket. Cats shouldn’t go outside, but if she has to then it seems like when the hole is closed she is safe.
My cat has been on baytril due to a blocked duct and mastitis. I was told to remove the kittens from her. the kittens are 4 weeks old and refusing to take a bottle. They are eating a little solids but have lost weight. Mum is much better now. How long after I stop using baytril can I let her be with the kittens again as she is desperately trying to get to them?
Good question, I’m not sure what withdrawal of bayril is in a cat off the top of my head, but at 4 weeks the kittens can eat soft food mixed with milk replacer. I would think they can even start kitten food that is soft or waterered down. You can do some internet research and see if there is a withdrawal time for baytril in cats that has been recorded. I would guess you should be fine after 5 days. Just a guess based on livestock.
Hi this is very urgent I have a kitten about 5 weeks old , had a weird puss pocket on the side of his neck & when it popped , we didn’t know what to do, and it’s been a couple days so we thought he was okay , but right now he’s in pain & is getting cold , and so we put him on a heating pad on low & I cleaned the popped pocket & I don’t know what else to do , and it’s making me very scared. can you please help me .
Follow the instructions in the blog and responses to deal with an abscess. Call a vet and get an appointment to have the kitten looked at. 5 weeks is a very fragile age for a kitten and he needs to be seen buy a vet for antibiotics. Good luck.
Hi. Thank you for providing this service for us worried pet owners. My ten year old cat went to the vet two days ago to be treated for a large abcess that grew very quickly (almost overnight) The vet lanced in and drained it and cleaned it and she stayed at the vets for the afternoon. They places two staples in her check to keep the wound together. I’m not sure why it did not get drained as now two days later her check is swelling again but is soft to touch not firm, so I’m guessing that it’s filling with pus again. Will the vet have to remove the staples under anaesthetic and repeat the process again? She is quite old and I worrried about the anaesthetic and re-stapling of her skin. Thanks
Oops sorry I meant her cheek. And they did drain it but they didn’t place a drain in it- instead it was closed by staples and we brought her home. (But it’s now getting bigger again) she had oral antibiotics
Not sure exactly, but maybe they could not put a drain in the area easily. I assume she is on antibiotics and is taking them? They should be able to remove the staples in the first 2-4 days and not use anesthesia, maybe a little sedation. I would bring her back and have them do a re-exam and re-drain. Sometimes these take more time than what is expected. Bring her back to the vet and explain all your concerns and see what they can do without anesthesia. Good luck.
Hi, and thanks in advance. My cat is 9 months unspayed. Last week I noticed a lump on her chest all around her left rib, she seemed lethargic, but still attentive. Doesn’t eat much nor drink as much. I brought her to the vet, but they were unsure if it was an abscess or not (I couldn’t agree to do any envasive testing) they speculated that the abcsess could be under the muscle. They shaved the area and could not find any wounds. They prescribed me clavamox to give her by mouth, if it is an abscess, will the antibiotics help dissapaite it? Its been three days since I’ve been giving her the antibiotics, but I do not feel like there’s a difference, only that maybe that the abscess seems bigger. Again thank you for any advice at all.
If an abscess the antibiotics should stop it from getting bigger but not necessarily cure it. I would stick a needle in it to see what is inside before doing anything else. It could just be fat or even a breast cancer (rare at that age.) Give the antibiotics 10 days to see if there is change then re-visit the vet and stick a needle in the area. Good luck.
Theres an abscess on my cats tail, it gets worse day by day. It has burst but isnt draining. Theres no vet here. What can i do to treat it? He used to be playful but now hes always tired and im really worried.
Please read the blog and comments. It is all mentioned in there multiple times.
hi , my cat has a infected hole on his tail and it’s really painful for him, he’s and outdoor and indoor cat, it has a lot of smelly discharge and it’s dark green, please help
You need to see a vet. Read the abscess blog.
Hi, My 14 year old cat’s chin swelled up so I took him to the vet. They said he had an abscess in his mouth (he has a really long upper canine and said they are not sure if the canine is hitting the bottom and caused the abscess or a tooth abscess and the canine is jut bothering it) anyway, they gave me antibiotics and a shot of pain meds. I am doing 2 warm compresses a day also. I don’t now how long before we should notice some improvement. They didn’t say, just to monitor if it got worse bring him back (ER Vet) He has a follow up in 10 day’s but just want to make sure we are on the right track. It’s only been 1 1/2 day’s since they drained it and put him on meds.
Should start to go down over the first few days…2-4 day maybe? I would only be concerned if it grows or the cat is uncomfortable in any way. Keep your 10 day check up and see what they think of the progress. Make sure he keeps eating and doing well otherwise. Good luck.
Hello,
My cat had an absess a little over a moth ago. Went to the vet, got it drained etc. Her fur is all grown in but I notice where the absess used to be there is a lump.
Is this concerning?
Thank you
No, probably just a scab
Yesterday evening I noticed my cat had a swollen chin/jaw. She has chronic kidney disease and when I didn’t see her drink this morning I went to the vet.
They gave her half a bag of fluids under her skin, a pain killer and an antibiotics shot.
They told me they thought it was one of her teeth. She was very difficult to examine thoroughly.
Back home she already seemed to feel considerably better, probably from the fluids and the pain killer….and I managed to look under her chin. There appears to be a small wound there.
Is it possible that an abcess from a tooth somehow broke out through her skin underneath her chin? Or is it more likely that a small injury from the outside was the original cause of the swelling and pain?
They want me to have an x-ray taken in two days. Will that clearly show the cause of the infection? I don’t want her to have a tooth pulled when it’s not the cause of the problem.
Also, when I came home she immediately started drinking, but I’m thinking about going back tomorrow for another bag of fluids anyway…just because I want her in the best possible shape. Would that be benificial for her? The trip to the vet doesn’t seem to stress her very much.
More fluids is always better anf and you can lean to give them yourself at home. The wound is impossible for me to speculate on, and an x ray or a sedated exam might be needed. I would listen to the vet. If the tooth needs to go, then removal is the only option or more and more infections will come in the future, again I would trust the vet. Make sure you trust your vet then listen to what they recommend.
I have a 13 yr old diabetic cat. He gets 2 units of Prozinc twice a day. He has had a bump/nodule under his skin on his right side. I noticed it is twice the size it was a week ago, and I can actually see it stick out now. It is not red or warm or pussy… it is about the size of a small grape now. It feels close to the surface. His bloodsugar has been higher than normal lately and Ive been monitoring it frequently. When I saw the bump had grown fast, I figured they were connected. I am not worried about his sugar right now, mostly the bump, since I figure his sugar raised due to the bump. He is acting totally normal, and he isn’t bothered when I touch the bump, I am very tempted to put a diabetic needle in it to drain it, if possible…. due to money issues. He sees a vet regularly for his blood sugar. I do not really have the funds to take him asap for the bump, but I will figure it out if it sounds like an emergency to you. The main thing that startled me was the fast growth. Would appreciate any direction, thank you.
Sorry, no way to tell about it without an exam. Infections can alter blood sugar in very variable ways and you should have the bump looked at and “fixed” if only to help stabilize the cat’s blood sugar. It might be a cyst, abscess, tumor or something entirely else. I would have the exam. sorry.
BTW… He has had the bump for a few months and it was the size of a pea when we noticed it. We figured it was a fatty lump, so did vet when we brought it up months ago, (He is overweight) but I am concerned because it seems to have grown fast. It is now the size of a grape.
Have the vet take a look again. It might be fatty but this is not common for cats.
Hello, I have a cat, she’s 2 years old. She was fixed when she was about 8 months old. Last night when she jumped on the tub I noticed the fatty pouch (fixed cats have) was just swaying with weight to it. When I felt it. It there we’re lumps that felt like a cyst. One on each side. My fiance said he felt it after her surgery, but I never did. Id this normal for female cats? My fiance said that the lumps feel the same. I’m scared because my rat had lumps. Though not cancerous once removed the tumors grew at a rapid rate and we had to put her down. I’m scared. Please help?
They usually do not have lumps and if they feel the same they are probably just scar and fat. If they feel different they can be lymph nodes, or growths. Either take her into the vet for an exam if you are concerned or monitor them for a week to see if there is any change. Also note ehr weight, temp and behavior. These are all things that will help the vet at your next visit.
Hello. So 3 days ago I brought my cat to the vet because he had a lump on his lower back at the base of his tail which turned out to be an absess. They put him out, shaved the area and lanced it. They gave me a liquid antibiotic to give him twice a day. The concern I have is they didn’t put in a drain like I’ve read online as a common procedure they just left a cut open when they lanced it and told me to wipe it up a few times a day and make sure it doesn’t scab over so it can continue to drain. So far be been continually opening the wound back up and some pus and blood comes out and once I even managed to squeeze out most of it, it keeps refilling up and is still just as big. He’s more active then before but still in a lot of pain I can see and has trouble laying Down. The lump is also still quite warm. I just wanna know if the it refilling back up and draining is normal and how long should it take to go away? Thank you for your time
They probably did not put a drain because the pocket was not positioned to allow gravity to drain the fluid out, or the position made the placement of a drain hard. Leaving the wound open is another good way to let it heal. It should not be creating pus after a few days, but serum and blood for a little is ok. I would leave it for 5 days then have the vet recheck it. If it still looks bad they might pack it, or try different antibiotics or just have you keep watching it for another 5 days. Keeping it clean and empty is very important. Give it more time. If you need more pain medications just ask the vet.
Hi, my cat Roxy has a random small wound (about the size of a pencil eraser) above her eyebrow area …it has been there for a couple weeks. When I first noticed it I put a dab of peroxide and then neosporin on it to clean it, and did the same the next day. Then it looked like it was getting better- and now I think she scratched it open cuz it is open an slightly oozing pus , did the peroxide and neosporin again, but am wondering if I should be doing something differently? Please help, she’s an indoor cat and has never had this happen
Take her to a vet to be treated if it will not get better. At the very least try an e-collar to keep her from scratching it. I would discontinue the peroxide and just use neosporin for a start. Peroxide can be harsh to healing tissue. If it doesn’t look better in 7-10 days…..off to the vet.
I have a kitten she has not been fixed and still has the occasional waa waa ( heat ) mood. She recently had one for a couple of days wanting her belly constantly rubbed and her singing. I noticed the following week her little tettes were notice able but the following week it went away as usual except for one of her nipples was puffy which i thought she may have been licking. The following week she was stretching on her scratch post and I noticed the one nipple that was puff not has a large hard lump behind it and she does not want me to touch it and the tip is red.
Is there any way for me to tell if this is from her waa waa mood a few weeks ago or if this is a very rapid growing tumor. Is there a way to tell the difference?
Could something be blocked or is it always a tumor. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
It is only one tette I do not feel anything anywhere else.
It is not easy to take her to the vets she was born outside in my bushes the mother left it
and she will never let anyone near her except for us. A person went to hold her and she went stiff as a board. If this is treatable I want to take her to the vets but I will have to have her sedated to transport it is that bad. And for her to be there with out us I am afraid she would have a heart attack unless medicated.
Sounds like cancer or mastitis and she needs to see a vet asap. Get her spayed and you can skip these problems. If it is cancer…. it was her not being spayed that “caused” this as spayed cats before their first heat have a 99% reduction in breast cancer. If it is mastitis then it is 100% from the heat, a false pregnancy or abortion and the mammary is infected or blocked. What I’m getting at is SPAY her as soon as you can and bring her to the vet for the mammary.
My kitty had to go through all of this. The abscess between her paws, the anesthesia, stitches, two week antibiotic, 3rd day on pain medicine (biopsy is being run to make sure the remaining lump isn’t cancer). Her paw is still wrapped, but she has had an issue with not wanting to do more than pee (went from shredded paper to diced paper in hopes that it might encourage her more). Also, she has rand moments where we know she wants out but her paw is twitching. They told us that as long as she eats normally and pees, the bathroom thing should be okay, but is the paw twitching normal?
Hard to say. Is it switching in pain, because there is a bandage on it, because there is a wound on it that feels weird, or because there is nerve damage? It is occasional or all the time? My guess is the bandage is annoying her and she is trying to get it off, BUT I cant say without seeing it. Sorry. Good luck.
So my cat got into a fight (we think) and came home with both of his back paws looking pretty bad. I took him to the vet and they gave him a shot of antibiotics but didn’t clean either of his feet or really do more than look at them and take his temperature. I finally got his feet fully cleaned out, and he is missing three claws. Two on one paw, and I can see a bit of them outside of the skin, and the pads are swollen buthe look ok, but his other paw I can’t find a trace of his claw and it’s badly swollen and hot to the touch, and a purplish color. I’m really worried about his swollen paw, but I can’t afford to take him back to the vet again. Is there anything I can do to help him? I have been keeping them clean with a saline soloution, and he isnt wanting to eat or drink much, but I can coax him to eat soft food, and he will drink water if I bring it to him so he doesn’t have to move.
There is not too much more to do. Maybe the paws were run over? Sounds like trauma and bruising and maybe crushing injury. Be aware that there might be more and more tissue damage as time goes on and you might need an amputation if it gets too bad. You are doing the right thing. Keep them clean, warm water soaks, and keep him rested and well fed and hydrated. Other that more pain medication and antibiotics if needed, he needs time to heal and see what happens. Good luck.
We noticed our cat’s back right leg was swollen and she was limping, we took her to the vet. She had an X-ray, and he said it was an abscess. Most likely from a cat bite. She was injected with a two week antibiotic and given another liquid antibiotic. The vet said it could take a month or more to appear better. She has been on the liquid antibiotic now for over a week, and the swelling seems to be worse. We are leaving on a vacation tomorrow and don’t know what to do. Should we wait a week to take her back to the vet, or have who is watching her take her back to the vet sooner?
Good questions, but without seeing the cat its hard to answer. I would say if you are concerned then I am concerned. After a week of those 2 antibiotics I would seriously expect to see improvement in the swelling. If the leg looks worse, then bring her in. Infected abscesses do not USUALLY (sometimes they can) look worse after a week of appropriate treatment. It will give you piece of mind on you vacation as well knowing she was looked at.
Thank you! We will be having the cat sitter take her back to the vet just to be safe. I appreciate this service, it’s extremely helpful!
Hi, I have a pregnant cat. She is around two years old and I think only a few days away from giving birth.
We (with best intentions and think we may have made the wrong decision) have left an absess on her neck/ear as we disnt want to stress her while she’s carrying her kittens.
She is eating and drinking very well. She spends most of her way sleeping in the garden and always comes in at night. So she is okay in herself.
What is concerning me is the fact that the absess seems to be getting quite big and she is becoming very slow in her movements (which could be the absess or her pregnancy).
I’m very confident being a nurse that I can drain the absess myself but my question is, would this stress out my cat or harm her kittens? I was going to wait until after the kittens but I’m not sure that I’m doing the right thing.
I will be very grateful for any advice.
Thanks.
I would certainly drain the abscess and try to heal her topically with warm water compresses and antibacterial solution. The stress on her immune system will be slow and long and the act of cleaning and draining will be fast and short. The risk for a circulating bacteria to lodge somewhere it shouldn’t and her to develop mastitis or pyometra (uterus) is too great. My opinion would be to get her take care of. There is always a risk of stress induced labor, but it is rare.
Thank you so much. I’ll put a warm compress on and see if I can get it to pop by itself first. I should have done it ages ago I feel so guilty. But I’ll sort it now so thank you very much.
My cat got outside Friday and came home with a 1cm lump on his head inside his ear. I washed my hands and held a warm washcloth to it for a few minutes, and then gently peeled the scab off and squeezed out some pus. I’ve done it a few more times since then and nothing else is coming out, although its still a bit swollen. He’s been acting pretty normal eating and drinking his usual amount, although he was lethargic when he came home with the lump. Do you think I should take him to a vet? I couldn’t before since it was the weekend and there are no emergency vets in my area so I had to take matters into my own hands until Monday, but he seems like hes doing alright.
Sounds like you are doing the right thing. If it looks swollen or still infected then go to the vet for antibiotics. If it looks better then you might be ok.
My cat was treated for a small scratch on his eye, which caused heavy watering. Our vet put him on ‘Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates and Bacitracin Zinc Opthalmic Ointment USP’ to be given 2-3 times per day. He also has to wear a plastic cone to let the eye heal. But since bringing him home, he’s been acting like he’s lethargic. He moves around the house and eats/drinks a little but when he plops down somewhere, he’s there for several hours at a time. And normally, he’s a very active cat. Am I being paranoid?
Not necessarily. It might be the cone and it might be the pain. I would watch him one more day then bring him to the vet. Make sure he is eating and drinking well and using the bathroom, it might just be the stress of the ordeal. Have him checked in 24 hours if he is not better. Eyes can be very painful.
He’s eating and drinking. It’s not as much as usual but normally, he tends to eat his portion then bully his sister for some of hers. He plays with the laser pointer when prompted and seems to be happy enough when shown attention.
The doctor checked both eyes and treated the left for a scratch. Since giving him the ointment, I noticed the right eye has been watering and getting (eye boogers, sorry but don’t know the technical term). Could that just be from not being able to get at his face to groom normally?
My cat came home with a hole as big around as a dime in her leg. What do I need to do?
See a vet. You can read the blog for further advice.
My oldest cat tiger, a 10 year old tabby, indoor cat, had a blue bump on the inside of his ear but it was on the visible inside of his left ear but yesterday it had a small hole on it but then sometime this morning I went to pet him but my thumb accidentally got in his ear and I got my thumb out and it was covered in blood and I don’t know if that was a abscess or a cyst but I’m worried and I’m on limited income and don’t have pet insurance so if I have to get expensive treatment I don’t know how to cover it but I also don’t want to lose him either because my big love bug
This might be anything from a bruise to an abscess to cancer. Track it and watch it and treat it topically but eventually if it does not go away you will need veterinary attention. I have really no idea what it could be without an exam. Sorry
Hi,
I had a male cat, he is 14 months old, healthy, lively, loving, energetic, so beautiful lovely blue eyes. He had fight with stray infected cat, we were busy and did’nt take it seriously, on 4 day when he stared limping, took to the doctor, for 5 days he has been given medicines and injections, he was eating himself but aptite became less, he loves to drink water which turned minimal, then took him to best specialist of town, he gave him one drip in 5 days and almost 15 injections in almost 6 days. gave break for two days, then he got johndous, got drip again, then more injections in another 7 days and antibiotic medicine with gap, 3 vitaminis syrup daily, but in last 10 days, we were feeding him with hand whiskas food, soup and boiled chicken water with dropper, and patting of first one leg then second leg, his all four legs swelled one by one, then after 2 days becoming fine, in the last 4 days, he had puss in one leg then other leg, extracting that also relgularly, he seemed better, started taking water again, any yes due to jhonduous taking liver syrup also, his jhondous stopped, getting better, paleness in eyes was getting white, jaw was becoming normal, but last monday morning he took vitmins, ate food,passed stool and urine, said meow, we though getting better, but in next 10 min he was undr the bed, his liver blast and, I took him in my lap and those last 15 min were terrible. We tried our best, but we are 4 days, late, we spent money, time everything but was late, today is the fourth day, but my tears can’t stop, as I found myself guilty not taking him to doctor on time, why we save money or don’t take seriously on time why we cry afterwards bitterly, he was such a darling, but I can’t get him back. I advise all pet lovers, please do not take stray cat bite lightly, immediately take him to doctor, otherwise you will loose your Precious, Darling Cat.
Very sorry for your loss.
My Cat seems to have been in a fight. He has swelling on his right cheek just under his eye with c sore graze looking patch on the lump. What should I do?
If it is an abscess take him to a vet to get lanced and antibiotics. The blog should have more info. If it just a scratch keep it clean and see if it gets worse or better.
My indoor cat gust has honest to god dementia (17 years old) and gave it self a abscess on the neck. I mean it looks like from where he scatched himself according to the Vet(he has a odd behavior where he fights himself but its not a seizure). My vet gave me antibiotics and told me to make sure to give then to him and recommended that i should not let him be roam around the house and put him in a room. Is there anything I can do besides that to prevent him from hurting himself. I thinking about getting him socks.
Yeah, they do get dementia. Socks, clip his nails short, e-collar or maybe some psychoactive drugs like prozac. Not much else you can do. Good luck!
Hello, I have a cat with an abscessed tooth. He has an appointment in 2 days to go to the vet but is there anything I can do in the meantime to make him feel a little better? Of course he shows no outward signs of discomfort (although I am sure he is VERY uncomfortable). He is eating and drinking but is drooling profusely gross gunk which is why I am sure there is an abscess. I just feel bad for having him wait until Wednesday as everyone is booked. 🙁
Usually I start these cats on antibiotics and pain medication, but if he is eating well and doing well then I guess it can wait. Really you would need your vet to prescribe those anyway. Just keep making sure he eats and drinks well until the visit.
Hi here is a link to a picture of my cat’s abscess seen ten days ago by a vet and treated with 2 week antibiotic injection.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B66-qy8Ur6VUWWZoREI1a3FibVU
Does she need to be seen again or will it heal by itself? Should the scab be gone by now? When can I take her cone collar off? I am due to go away at the weekend is it safe to leave her to be fed by a neighbour? She is completely well and herself in every other respect. Many thanks. Julie.
PS the picture is as it looks today, not as it looked ten daya ago.
I cant see the second picture but it looks like it is healing. Keep the collar on and you should be fine going away. Sometimes these can take a long time to heal and you might need a second 2 week antibiotic shot. That is not that abnormal. It looks healing which is good. If it does not look better in 1-2 more weeks have your vet recheck and give another shot.
I have an 11 year old kitty with an abscess on his lower back side that popped. I took him to our family vet. At that time, I did not have the funds to get it removed. I did have him on antibiotics. He has lost a substantial amount of weight. He won’t eat or drink much. He was a heavier cat with a big appetite. I know that I need to get him to a vet but I won’t be able to for another week. He keeps linking his popped abscess. I am highly worried. Is my kitty going to die? What can I do at home before I take him to the vet next week? Am I too late? Please help…
Flush the wound with fresh water and put on an e-collar. Licking the wound is the worst thing he can do. AFter that warm compresses and wait to see the vet.
Yesterday we took our 4 yr old cat Sparky to the vet with and abscess at the vase of his tail. Seems he got into a fight with one of our other cats. Got him to the Vet and it had burst on its own. He suggested surgery but Sparky does not do well with anesthesia. So we chose the non surgical way. They shaved him cleaned the wound and put a cone on him gave an injection of Baytril and ketofen and snt him home with Zeniquin and metacam for pain. I ask them if i should do anything for the wound and they said leave it alone. But in my experience with my other pets my old vet would tell me to put warm compresses on it to help with the drainage and healing. My question is would it make it worse if I was to put warm compresses on it? Its a new vet for me and its the first time i have taken one of my pets there. Can you please give me some advice. Thank you in advance
My advice would be warm compresses never hurt and the other medication should help a lot. I would probably stop the metacam as soon as you possibly can as this drug has some side effects and although approved for short term in cats is not a favorite of mine. These are not usually painful after they burst and the ketofen should be enough. Warm compresses will help with circulation and drainage.
My beautiful 13 YO tortoise shell got into a fight a while ago and we didn’t notice any signs of problem/infection {in hindsight a bit lethargic} until one morning there were two open oozing sores on her lower back.
Took her straight to the vet who said there was already some dead skin a significant infection and that she would probably need to have the absyss surgically treated.
Two days later she had the surgery and is currently recovering at home with 9 stitches, two drains and a coller that she is… Tolerating. She has tablet antibiotics and once daily liquid painkillers but she is not eating much and she is limping on her back right leg {the biggest absyss was on her right side} is this because she is in pain from the surgery or should I be concerned that I have missed something else?
She is booked in to have the drains removed in two days but I don’t want to leave things too late again.
Have your vet look at the area when you take her in , this seems normal for the amount of wounds she has.
Dear Dr. Stewart,
Our cat developed an access from a cat fight three days ago. We took him to the vet and he now has a drain and a kitty collar. He is doing well; however, the antibiotic causes extreme stomach distress and he throws up everything he eats or drinks. The vet discovered that he is also very hyperthyroid and we will treat this with medication once the abcess clears. However, his weight is so low that when he throws up, he is very sick. We have taken him off the antibiotic and the nausea stopped and he is able to eat and drink. With the hyperthyroid he needs to eat a lot, so we give him as much as he needs until we can get that situation under control. My question: Will the abcess heal even though we have stopped the antibiotic? Should we keep the drain in a few days longer than recommended to get more air in the wound? Our vet is closed for the holiday weekend and then a few days after and we cannot ask her. Thank you for any help!
Good questions. The drain should came out on time regardless. The drain does no good after 3-5 days. The little antibiotics he got might be enough and combined with the drain you will see if that works. Warm compresses and maybe clean water flushes will help if you can not get antibiotics in him but I would stop the the antibiotics regardless and see what happens. You can start another type of antibiotic if the wound looks worse. I would watch and see. Start the hyper thyroid medication as soon as you can.
My cat got attacked while I was outside of town. The injury doesn’t look at all bad but it is swollen. But my cat continues to be it’s happy self after four days. Does that mean I’m OK as long as I keep him inside for a while?
I cant diagnose with only this info. If the injury is swollen maybe there is an abscess? Keep a close watch on him and if anything changes get him to a vet, or just bring him in for a check up to be sure.
Hi, my cat as had three holes by her spine in the last week. I clean it with peroxide and antibiotics everyday. However when one hole closes a mew hole appears. My cat is acting normal eating, drinking, sleeping, and even being loveable. This last hole i found had some blood in the pus as the other two did not. I am just wondering what it could be and how i can help her. I do not have the money to take her to the vet.
She needs antibiotics and a vet visit. It could be abscess or cancer or bite wounds…. hard to tell. Sorry I can not be more helpful. Keep them clean and watch for worsening.
Hi. I was sitting here researching what is going on with my cat. Now mind you I have taken my cat to the Vet and he is now on a surplus of medications to include IV fluids that I am doing at home myself. I have been a pet owner for many, many years and I have never seen anything like this in my life. When this all started I noticed Shadow (my kitty) was waking with a limp. I investigated his leg and noticed no cuts no missing hair and he did not seem to be in pain when I moved his leg. Figuring that he may have pulled the muscle in his leg by landing wrong or getting caught in something I figured I would give it a day or two to see what would happen as he is not an outside cat. As time progressed his left back paw began to swell. I took him to the vet, during this visit we found out that the cat had a serious infection that according to the vet he has had for a really long time. Well that being said Shadow is not even a year old yet. I have him fixed and vaccinated in may of this year (it is now September) and got him as a kitten from the animal shelter close to my home and he was only in our home for 2 weeks before his surgery and vaccinations. This infection has taken ahold of our lives. Shadow is more like himself now more active and vocal. Yet before we got to this point his legs started draining the Vet said it was due to the swelling in the legs that the blood flow had stopped and the infection took over and his skin is going to fall off. I have all the meds that I need to care for this according to my vet. Yet under his skin when it comes off is very slimy and it looks so painful. How can I further help my kitty to speed up his recovery and please God tell me how to get rid of the smell I have tried everything.
I really do not have a lot of info as to the cause or the infection. I would try warm water sprays from a sink hose or shower. These are very hard with a cat but the warm water massage of the area can help with cleaning, healing, circulation and maybe smell. There should be no smell after a few days of good healing and antibiotics…..does he need an amputation? Is it that bad? Might be time to see a vet specialist. Sorry.
Hi there,
My cat had a big abscess taken car of about 5 days ago, and she had the antibiotic injection and is looking much happier! Although I am still a bit concerned about the wound, as it is open looking, about 1cm in diameter. Is this something to be worried about or is this normal to have a fresh open looking wound on a cat after an abcsess has been taken care of? The wound is on her bum btw
Yes this can be normal for a little while. As long as there is no discharge and the wound looks clean and pink and healing this can be ok. Make sure she does not lick it and the wound stays pink and clean. AFter 2 weeks bring her back to the vet if it is not healing.
My cat is having something wound in his left and right upper lip, it keeps bleeding. Is there any home treatment? what should I do?
Sorry, but it is hard to assess without seeing the cat. I would bring him to a vet. It might be an ulcer or a wound or a bad tooth or cancer or a bug bite……many things.
My cat came home with a limp yesterday and within the last 30 hours it is swollen very bad and he is not his self at all he is usually very loving and just wants to snuggle. Right now all he wants to do is sleep and guard his paw he’s been eating normal but that’s the only normal activity. He looks very sick compared to yesterday his eyes are low and squinty and he has tears so I know he is in great pain.. what can I do to help him until the vet opens. I feel like I’m letting him suffer but the vet is closed until Monday.
He probably has a big abscess, that needs vet attention. You can soak the area in warm water and try to open the pus pocket if it is obvious. If not then you need to see your vet when they open. Make sure he is still drinking a lot and eating and try to get to your vet as soon as you can. Sorry I can not help too much more. He should be ok if that is all it is. Get a rabies shot booster also at your vet.
I have an indoor Cat…3 days ago he vomited multiple times then he wanted to hide under the bed…he finally came out…he is eating and drinking and going to the washroom. But he is not himself…no energy he sleeps all the time…last night my daughter felt a lump on the side of his neck jaw area…he has long hair so we can’t see it. No vets open on Sunday…
Maybe its an abscess that is making him sick? Eating and drinking ok is a great sign and so he can probably wait until the vet opens. If it is an abscess then it might need to be drained and the cat started on antibiotics. Sorry I can not help more, but it sounds like he can wait until the vet opens. Good luck
I have a kitten is that was an outside cat, and the kids who used a stick trying to clean her eye and accidentally poked her eye. Its not poked out but it keeps draining some kind of liquid really bad and I would like to know what can I do for it in the mean time of earning money for a vet?
Who cleans an eye with a stick??? Those kids need a lesson! There is very little you can do except keep the eye clean and moist with artificial tears and ointment. You need to see a vet. Sorry, but you are not going to fix an eye easily.
My cat has had an abscess on the top of its head. He was on pill form antibiotics last week which perked him up. The swelling on his head started up again so I took him back to the vets last night. She drained it and gave me stronger pill form antibiotics and told me to bathe the wound. He has woken up this morning and the wound is sealed up again and looking like he has more pus under there. Should the vet have kept a drain in? Should I wait for a couple of days to see if these new antibiotics kick in?
Good question. The antibiotics will not usually help drain the pus, just prevent more pus. I would consider having it drained again if it is big or growing. If it is shrinking or not that big you can give it a few days to see what happens. If the pocket is larger or firm to the touch and painful, have it drained. Hope this helps.
My dogs got bit by a bigger dog and after his wounds got healed he got an abcess the next week. The abcess errupted 3 days ago, yet the vet has only given me antibiotic and he has cleaned his wound with peroxide and iodine. Right now looking at his wound and moving it around I saw some kind of white spot inside and like a small bump hidden. Can it be another abcess or should I not worry and keep on making the hole heal giving him his antibiotic.
This could definitely be another abscess or maybe a scar area? Have your vet take a look but in the mean time continue doing what you are doing. I would stop the peroxide. Peroxide should only be used for the first few hours of a wound and will delay healing if used after that. Peroxide has been replaced with just a mild soap and lots of water.
Hi Doctor,
I’m desperate for another answer. My cat is 19.5 years old.
Approx. 2 months ago, I found my cats left maxilla visibly swollen. She looked lethargic, so I took her to the vet immediately. [About 4 MONTHS ago I left my cat at my parents home for a few weeks bc I’m a medical student and having been spending my time in school or clinic all day].
Of the vets I’ve come across, the vet I currently see is a very honest man and doesn’t even charge for every visit. But I’m a little worried he may have overlooked what sounds like an abscess from reading your article.
When she had the swollen cheek, he gave me a two wk course of amoxicillin. The swelling went down just a little bit but she still was lethargic and loosing her appetite.
I took her back and he gave her another 2 wk course of clindamycin and only told her to stop if her kidneys stopped tolerating it.
It worked a little and she got her appetite back (in fact she’s eating very well). But the swelling didn’t go away.
She started loosing hair over that cheek, then it started to ooze (but not white pus, it was more like the clear yellow oozing you typically get with scratches. My parents said they consistently put neosporin (as recommended by the vet) but it started to ulcerate. Now it’s literally so deep that you can find food that pushes through it after she eats.
The vet doesn’t want to put her on anesthesia to suture it bc he thinks she’ll die right on the table. I know she’s old and not going to live much longer but I can’t help but feel there is a way around just watching her demise.
Today, I’ve started taking Qtips, cleaning out any food from the hole after every time she eats, then smearing the wound with neosporin, followed by vet EMT gel.
Have you had any experiences with cases like mine, and if so do you have any recommendations?
I just want someone to tell me what to do or at least what to expect from here on out, because the absolute worst thing for me is if she dies in horrible pain. I know my vet is trying to be sensitive to my emotions even I have told him not to be and to just be straightforward.
Thank you very much in advance for your time.
I also would like to note that I have wrapped her paw in gauze to keep her from scratching her cheek
Sounds horrible. So its penetrating from her mouth through her cheek to the abscess? Sounds like either a necrotizing bacterial abscess or a cancer of some kind. I think you are just buying little bits of time. Sounds like she might be suffering soon and you will need to make a hard decision. I would keep her on antibiotics and assess her pain and discomfort every day. Sounds pretty bad. Please ask your vet about severe tooth root abscesses and neoplasia. I’m sorry but this sounds very bad.
Hello! Read through most of the comments to see if my issue was posted but there are so many!!
I adopted my cat last year. Always indoors. 2.5 years old. Shes always sneezed and had excess snot but earlier this year she got a real swollen bulge on side of her neck that was like jello, eventually it burst and I took her to the vet. They said It was an abscess so they drained it and left it open with I believe dissolvable stitches. And provided antibiotics and gave her a shot of a long term antibiotic.. It improved but there was always a hard mass left over which now has started leaking again. Could allergies be a cause of this? I feel like this is the likely cause since she does have excessive sneezing and snot so I can see it building up resulting in the mass. No more jello mass like before but I believe that’s because it now has an escape route in the prior surgical spot. Any advice? She eats and drink she fine plus no impact to how she acts.
Also how successful is treating cat allergies without cooking their own dinner? Is there daily medication? The sneezing and snot is getting old. Ha!
Thanks sooo much! Sam
Allergies in cats is fairly rare. More likely there would be a polyp in her nose, viral infection like herpes (not human contagious) or some confirmation error in her nasal anatomy. After that I would think allergies. It is a fairly easy test. Have you vet prescribe some anti-histamine medication and see if it stops. Easy. Otherwise you need to talk to your vet about the other possibilities and what can be done. Some of them have no easy cure, others are surgical and other medical. tart with the allergy pills and see though. Very few cats sneeze and drip colored mucous regularly, and this sounds like a problem.
Our cat who’s about 16 has had a lump on her beck for many many years. Stayed the same size. No pain no nothing. But on Monday morning she had blood coming from it. It’s not bigger and all the fur around it has fallen out. She licks it all the time and it looks like there is a hole.
She is the only cat in the house and doesn’t ever go out so not a bite or big etc.
Please advise?
See a vet. Very hard to diagnose without touching and seeing it. I would keep it clean and hope it was a benign tumor that just grew too big to support its blood supply. It might be a tumor that just started to grow and itches her or hurts her….hard to tell. If she is licking it and there is no hair then there is pain and discomfort. She is not happy with it. Please take her to a vet to look at.
My cat is an inside cat and mainly a outside cat, we live in the country. She is free to decided what she wants to do with her day. Two days ago I notice a difference in her walking she had a limp when she walk, but it didn’t stop her from her daily behavior. I didn’t see a problem until yesterday, I picked her up and she cried out loud from pain. I started feeling around her lower body to see where it’s was coming from her left leg was swallowing. My cat wouldn’t let me view her leg. I could not see a cut a bite nothing.
So I watch her all night and in the early morning she started moving around so I went over to see how she was doing to find a clear liquid coming out of her leg it seemed like a cup full of fluid.
So I started looking up on the internet on how to clean the wound. I’ve delt with horse wounds and other wounds on my cats and dogs in the past but I wasn’t sure what I should do with her so early in the morning she clearly was in some pain.
My cat of course would not let me do the cleaning on her, so I put her in my bath tub (just so you know I have given her a bath before) I was able to clean the wound very good. Put some vetericyn wound & infection care solutionon on her and Today I was going to take her to the vet but she eating she came running to my car she is eating and drinking. I still think I should take her in I’m going to watch if her swallowing comes back in a few days I’m going to clean it again just to make sure she is truly better.
Thank you
Kathy Whaley
Sounds like a good plan. You might have fixed it and drained the infection. If it comes back take her to the vet for antibiotics. Good luck.
Our 5 year old indoor/outdoor cat was acting slightly off for 2-3 days, eating less and not wanting to come inside (even though it’s been fairly cold out). Finally last night she ate and seemed back to normal, spending the day today going in and out and eating her usual amount. Then tonight we found what appears to be a burst abscess (never felt the lump) next to her tail: a red, raw looking circle wound a bit larger than a quarter. If we clean it either with hydrogen peroxide (I don’t believe it’s very deep) or with a solution acquired from a vet many years ago (specifically for cleaning abscesses) and she continues to act normally, do you still think it necessary that we take her to a vet? I would prefer not to pump her full of antibiotics if she doesn’t really need them, but of course will do whatever it takes for her to be healthy!
If it looks better after cleaning and healing a few days you might be fine. Make sure she is up to date on rabies vaccines and otherwise healthy. You can wait and watch it for a few days before deciding. Good luck.
my cat has a wound which is opened and puss is coming out,all hospitals are closed now,what can i do to stop the infection from spreading till i take him to the vet tomorrow.PLEASE HELPPP !!!!!!!!!!!
Read the blog and comments. It explains everything.
please help dr stewart i take cat for walks and he got ambushed by cat under our porch…. bit in side i brouhgt him to vet after 5 hours became listlesss and not eating he is 30lbs ok knew all that stuff he got a i was so worried i looked for abcesss that day even ..well 2 days later small bump on side ok there it was right to vet hr said wait to see said no so he made small cut and pus came out ..it got smaller we did all the stuff after words he went back he said should be ok but where abscess was there is a hard bump now so back to vet as u can tell i love this cat to death …he said scar tissue and he is ok but i dont know cant stop worring bout it he is 11 years old and 31 lbs like i said ,, and yes i worry about wait also get vet check up at least 2 -3 time s year for blood work on organs and diabetes things like that ok so do u think its scar tissue its hard bump unlike soft before,,,, thank you soooo much… god bless you for all the help u do
It sounds very much like it could be scar tissue or maybe a small abscess remaining, but I would listen to the vet if he says it is scar tissue. That is very likely and nothing to be concerned about. Watch it for a week or 2 and then have him rechecked if you are still concerned. Good luck.
oh and 1 more thing the cut he made was about 1/4 inch and hard lump is about 3 inches long..like i said it is smaller then the abcesss was but way bigger then the cut he made oh and when asked him how he said from the squeezing he and we did at home thank you again
sorry 1 last thing dont want to 4get things lol all of this was under skin nothing ever came out above the skin abscess or the hard lump now,, thank you and have a happy and healthy new year,,,,,,,,,
I think you should still watch him for a little and then go for a re-check. This sounds like scar tissue. If it gets bigger go right back tot he vet. If it gets smaller then it is healing.
Hello,
My 10yr old cat has a large abscess on his cheek. I noticed it 3 days ago and took him straight to the emergency vet as it was after hours. They gave me Clavulox to give him 150mg per day for 5 days, which I have been doing. The next afternoon I went to give it a warm salt water bath and noticed the small puncture had healed over and I couldn’t get it to drain and he wasn’t interested in food. So I took him back to emergency that evening and they struggled to make a puncture with their needles while he was awake, and said if he continues to not eat he’ll need surgery in the next 24-48 hours. They sent me home with soft food to force feed him if need, some pain killer meds for him, and a couple of sterilised needles for me to try and make a puncture for drainage myself. The next morning and since then he’s been eating breakfast and dinner no worries, but we’ve had no luck being able to make a puncture with the needle.
It’s a public holiday tomorrow and I’m wondering if you think it’s safe to leave it for another 36 hours, so I can go to my local vet rather than emergency again, as long as he’s still eating? Or is the fact it’s not draining a major cause for concern, despite being on antibiotics and still eating? I still have 2 days of antibiotics and 1 day of pain killer. I don’t have a thermometer to check his temperature. Both times I went to emergency it was a little high but not too concerning.
Thanks in advance. From Australia
I would imagine 36 hours would be fine to wait with both antibiotics and pain medication. The abscess might have healed over but the drugs are helping and some of the pus was drained out. If it looks way worse or he stops eating or driking, or starts to really go after the area like it hurts him then go back to the ER vet. Otherwise, I think you will be fine. Good luck.
Hello Dr. Stewart,
I have a male FIV+ cat who is an indoor/outdoor cat. He has been staying in his bed and not moving much and not his normal self for the last 10 days or so. I have taken him to the vet who said he seemed perfectly healthy to her and all vitals are normal. Since then, he has started to fall when jumping up or down. The vet took blood and will not have results till tomorrow or he next day, Any Idea what could be going on. Up until 10 days ago he was the picture of health and active. now he just lays in bed and has no interest in sitting with me which was all he ever wanted when he was inside and I was home.
Thanks.
Honestly I do not have any ideas. Maybe inner ear disease, brain disease, or just a generalized sickness. FIV is tricky as you never know when it will effect the animal more severely than a normal cat. I would wait for the blood results and bring him back tomorrow for another exam. You know he is sick, they need to find what is wrong with him. On a side note, FIV cats should be indoor only cats. Besides being more susceptible to certain disease and infection they can also spread the disease if outdoors. Maybe this is the start of his new indoor life….good luck.
Hi
My cat is 14 years old; she was a rescue cat aged 2 when we got her. She’s always been an outdoor cat but when we moved 2 years ago she got an abscess from a fight with another cat and now she’s getting one on average every 6 months! Not only is it upsetting and of course sore for her, but it’s also very expensive for me. We live in a town with small gardens and lots of cats so their territories all overlap, and there are some un-neutered males. Do you think it is best to keep her as an indoor cat? Some vets say yes and some say it’s mean!
YES! Indoor cats only! They are fine indoor and all of my cats are indoor regardless of how they started life. Cats are a serious threat to wildlife, other cats and humans (they can pick up disease) when they are outdoor. The cat will kill native wildlife at a rate faster than it can re-populate and will alter entire ecosystems. I know your cat alone will not do this, but cats as a whole will. They are also so territorial and aggressive that your sweet cat will get abscesses on a regular basis. The only vets who advise against this are probably seeing your cat every 6 months for the abscess. Your cat is MUCH more prone to disease and catching something outside as well. Indoor cats live longer and tend to be more social. There are many things you can do to stimulate her like “no bowl feeding” for cats (look it up) and other games and toys to help keep her thin and not too lazy. Please keep your cat inside.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
My cat is about 12 years old. We also have a brand new kitten and her and the kitten get into fights sometimes. My older cat had a very swollen cheek so we took her in to the vet and they gave us antibiotics. The vet thought she might have just had an oral infection and told us she was missing most of her teeth. Now, she has an abscess and the swelling has gone down mostly but the abscess is growing larger in size everyday and we have been putting antibiotics. Should we take her to the vet again? & Is this normal for the healing process?
Yes, the swelling should go down and the abscess should go away. Have her rechecked. Have an oral exam, maybe she has serious dental disease and the kitten is not the culprit.
My 4 month old kitten (Mr. Ziggles) injured his back r. Paw pad 12 days ago. His vet was closed that Sunday, so we called his vet and got him in to be seen Monday evening. The paw was draining thick white /yellow drainage. The vet prescribed Zydaclin 0.6ml PO BID for 10 days. And gave us instructions on how to make a dilute chlorhexidine solution to clean it with. We were washing it with warm soapy water and using hydrogen peroxide prior to getting him in. Prior to the abscess on his paw he had a couple lumps (one behind his r. Ear and one near where his r. Front leg attached that appeared a week before the paw injury. (We think he stepped on a sticker ball that got tracked in from the outside.. The vet thought that those were likely abscesses as well and that the antibiotics should clear them up. His foot is no longer draining and the hole has begun to close up from the inside out. We keep it clean and covered with a self adhesive bandage. The lump where his r. Leg attaches has also completely cleared up. Background : He was screened for worms and was negative. He was negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV. He is current on his vaccinations. He is strictly and indoor cat. We got him at 3 weeks old from a lady who was unable to care for him after his mother had been killed. He was on kitten formula (bottle fed) and weaned to wet food at 8 weeks. He currently eats 1/4 can nulo wet food twice a day and has a bowl of dry food out at all times. His weight is 5.2lbs (he’s a Fatboy). The abscess/bump behind his ear is now draining thick white fluid now though. We’ve begun gently expelling the pus and cleaning it with the dilute chlorhexidine rinse. He was due to complete antibiotics this evening. The Zydaclin bottle still has a good amount remaining (yes we gave him the right dose). Can we extend his antibiotics a few more days? P.s. He gets revolution monthly and his most recent dose was given 2 days ago. This is is first illness prompting a vet trip for something other than routine physical and shots. He is due to be neutered in a few weeks.
Yes continue the antibiotics until finished or up to 2 weeks total before switching. This abscess might have a more virulent or resistant bacteria and switching antibiotics might be needed in the future. Good luck. Keep cleaning and doing what you have been doing.
He’s been in an e-collar I might add as well. He is eating and drinking adequately and has returned to his normal little menacing self 😉 just concerned with the abscess behind his ear now draining and we have finished the 10 days of antibiotics the vet ordered.
Keep going with the antibiotics. You can go 3 weeks if needed, but after 2 weeks I would consider a switch. Some antibiotics are dosed for a month, or standard 3 weeks. This is not abnormal.
Thanks for the info. My cat got in to a scruff with a neighborhood cat. He had a large swollen, tender area on his lower belly between his hind legs. I noticed after a couple days he was licking the area quite a bit. When I took a look I could see that the abscess had burst and he now has a hole about the size of a chickpea!! It does not look infected. No puss or blood. The swelling had gone down but now he is left with this “hole”. I’ve been keeping him inside so it does not get infected.
My question is, will this heal on it’s own? It’s not a small hole. Like I said it’s about the size of a cooked chickpea. I can see right inside the hole! I rather let him (the cat) tend to it but Im also afraid the licking won’t help it heal.
Can I cover the wound? Im sure he wouldn’t like that and not even sure the bandage would stay. I dont feel he has an infection. I’ve had cats all my life and I’m pretty good at taking care of them at home.
How long do I wait before it’s really time to seek medical attention? a week, 2 weeks, etc ?
Thank you very much!
You need to keep the wound clean and keep him from licking it. If he can lick it then it might take months or more to heal and will likely be a big problem. If he is not licking it and you can flush it with clean water then the would should heal assuming it does not get infected. He needs an e-collar. Antibiotics will help with wound heal much faster and then you can remove the collar and he can be happy. No antibiotics it could take weeks and you need to keep the collar on. Your call. Vet visit and faster or no vet visit and collar and slower…..
Yesterday I noticed a huge lump behind my cat’s ear and took him to the vet right away. She told me he had an abscess and drained it but also added that he had inflammation under the abscess (on a lymph node I think? I wasn’t fully paying attention because I was traumatized after seeing her drain the abscess hahah) probably because of a badly treated cold, his fleas allergy or another bacterial reason (like a month ago a dog brought fleas to my house and we’re trying to get rid of them). She gave him antibiotics and prednisone for the inflammation.
Today I was checking how the wound was healing and I noticed the lump was still there. I’m worried because I don’t know if it’s normal inflammation from the procedure or if I should come back to the vet. I’m paranoid it might be cancer, he is 10 years old and acting normal, he is eating normally and, in general, following his regular routine.
I don’t know if it’s relevant but the vet did a puncture on it and the liquid was clearish. She identified it right away as an abscess and never even mentioned cancer but I’m paranoid about health stuff. She also added it was going to swell before getting better but I’m not entirely sure if it’s just inflammation or the abscess coming back.
Thank you!
Probably scar tissue or the remainder of the abscess. I would go back for a re-exam or you will never get any rest! I think it will be ok, but have it looked at again and the vet maybe take a fine needle aspirate of the area to see what is inside. Good luck.
My cat died yesterday from an abscess on his head.He was only 9 months old.????????????????????????????????????
That is very rare and there must have been more damage. No vet?
My 8 year old, outdoor cat recently came home with a very small, round wound on the base of his tail. We noticed it because all of the hair was missing in the area. It’s been a couple of days, and the wound has now tripled in size and is draining. There doesn’t seem to be a foul odor and he’s eating and drinking normally, but is sensitive in the area when we try to examine it. We aren’t sure if we should take him to the vet or if an expensive vet bill could be avoided by applying some bactine and neosporin to the wound.
Bring him to a vet will always be my response. Flushing it, pain medication, antibiotics and an e-collar are the best route of treatment and will have it heal faster.
This is not my cat but a stray cat. It is limping on one leg and is also having black,strange scars and spots on its face. I tried giving it food and water. It is also sneezing. Can I know home remedies in which i can do something to help this cat ?
I am not sure but i think it is a abscess which you mentioned above
I’m sorry but I would need a lot more information. If you read the blog and the comments there are lots of references to different abscesses and wounds and how to help them. Otherwise I always advise seeing a vet, especially if the cat has multiple conditions and they are unknown. Sorry, there is nothing easy at home that will cure all.
I came back from a short work trip a week ago to find my cat had a swollen cheek. I took him in last Thursday ( a week ago today) – the vet said it was an abscess caused by a bite. She shaved and lanced it, gave him a good feel all over, and gave him an antibiotic injection. Over the weekend the abscess swelled up again, so I took him to the vet on Monday – she squeezed it and flushed it out with two syringes of warm water, and took his temperature. She told me to make another appointment for yesterday (Wednesday). When I took him the abscess hadn’t swollen up again, but she flushed it out just to make sure – no blood of pus this time – and took his temperature again, and gave him the all clear. Today (Thursday) there is still no swelling, but I am still worried: he isn’t himself. He is very lethargic, and eats less than usual. How long until he is fully recovered. or could there be something else wrong? Should I be worried?
Hard to say, but sounds like you and vet did the right things. Maybe the antibiotics upset his stomach and he is still recovering? If the abscess is down and under control then it could be something else. I would give it a few days until after the antibiotics are done and if he is not better then it would be time for full blood tests and a proper work up at the vet. Keep up the good work though, sounds like you are very aware of his conditions.
Many thanks for your rapid reply. I will keep a close eye on him over the next few days and then take him back in early next week if there is no improvement in his mood.
Hi. I have a cat who got in a cat fight about a month and a half ago. He was in a lot of pain around his tail area, so we took him to the vet, but no wound was visible at the time, so the vet gave him a painkiller shot and an anti-inflammatory shot. A week later, a wound burst open above his tail and the hair fell out. We’ve dealt with a lot of these wounds, so we called the vet and he gave us some antibiotics, which lasted about a week. The cat has been inside with a cone on because he wouldn’t quit licking. Anyway, the wound seemed better, but then one of the punctures burst again. We continued to care for it and everything seemed fine. Now, another one of the punctures has reopened and is reinfected. There is a hole where the puncture is and we don’t know why these punctures aren’t healing. We’ve been cleaning it and caring for it for over a month. Any suggestions of how to treat it?
Nothing other than much more than 1 week antibiotics. The standard recommendation for antibiotics is 2-3 weeks minimum so I think you gave about half the length I would suggest. Many vets try a week to see if it works then add or stop more drugs. I would try to shoot for 2 weeks to start and go from there.
Okay. He’s a big cat and it said to use it until gone. He was supposed to have 1 ml twice a day and it just didn’t last very long. I guess I will call the vet tomorrow and see if we can get more for him. Thank you.
My male cat has been into a fight and his tummy got bitten. There is an abscess that has already burst and it is oozing red liquid, but he’s daily activities like eating and playing does not seem to be affected. He was given antibiotics and anti-flammable pills before. What should I do?
More antibiotics and keep him inside with a collar on. He is probably licking it open more than anything. If you want to avoid a long term problem, this needs to heal.
Okay, thanks
Is it healthy to have pus in abscess pressed out?
No, not really. Ideally it would be gently flushed out with clean water or solution.
I have a female cat who is an outside cat and I noticed she has a dime size hole next to her tail by anus region and it seems to be infected cause when I touched her side and lifted tail to look a little closer it began to drain ALOT!! I have never noticed this before and she isn’t acting different or like she is in distress. She hasn’t lost appetite either. What could this be?? Can I do anything at home to. clear it up so I can try and avoid vet bill???
No, see a vet. My advice is not to let her suffer or got worse.
I have an outdoor, semi-feral, very sweet 8 yr. old cat who last night was bitten in the butt by something (we have no other pets). It’s very red and raw but so far she’s okay. Down the line, if it seems worse and I need to take her to the vet, I seriously doubt I can get her into a cat carrier. Like I said, she’s half-wild, has never tolerated me petting her for more than a minute, would freak if I tried to pick her up. How can I trap her if I need to get her to the vet?
Good question. Have-a-heart traps work well. If that is not an option then maybe the old cardboard box over her head? Not sure anything is easy. Good luck. I would worry about rabies too…..FYI.
Hi,
I have 1.7 year old Male Persian Cat, he got an abscess under his jaw, he faced a surgery.he stays indoor, what else can be a reason for this infection? He never gets in touch with any other cat, how to keep him away from such kind of bacterias, is there any immunization required after this, though he was already immunized, and also is he gonna get his hair back at the area of incision? Is there any thing you recommend to keep him safe in the future?
Not sure why he got the infection but there is very little you can do if it was traumatic like an insect sting or a bump/scratch. I would be concerned about his teeth and gums if he was just scratching his own jaw or has a tooth infection (he is a little young for that), otherwise I can not tell you why. There are no vaccines but the earlier you catch these things the easier they are to treat. Keep vigilant for future infections.
I appreciate, and what about the hair, nd as it is an infection, we cannot go for badage but he keeps on scratching and trying to lick that part, is there any solution for it?
You can try an e-collar (lampshade collar) or bandage on his paws, but there is no good way to prevent licking if the cat can get to the area. Sorry. Keep the area shaved to let air dry out the wound.
His wound is open, m so worried, the doctor said he its gonna contract and heal, but its so wide. I don’t feel like its gonna heal. What to do 🙁
Without seeing it I cant help too much. You need to ask your vet and have them stay very involved. Sorry.
What happens if an abscess DOESN’T drain???
There is a neighborhood cat that is walking around with a huge forehead abscess. There is absolutely NO bite mark or puncture hole….but I think he may have been clawed under the eyelid because the swelling is localized around the front part of the top of his head and is completely obstructing the right eye’s vision.
I tried to trap him to take him to the vet but he escaped, now he won’t let anyone near him. I’ve been leaving him antibiotics laced food hoping to kill the infection but the swelling hasn’t gone down at all (I watch to make sure HE’S the one eating it).
He acts perfectly fine, he’s never acted lethargic and has a normal appetite, but the fact that the abscess hasn’t drained yet is worrying me to death!
WHAT CAN I DO???
PS. I forgot to say that it’s been about 5 or 6 days since we’ve noticed the abscess…… Still no drainage or reduction in swelling
First, please stop the antibiotics laced food. We have enough resistance in the world and anything less than a sufficient course of antibiotics will add to the resistance. Second, are you sure it is an abscess? Could it be a tumor or cyst? A tumor could be there that will never drain or pop. An abscess will eventually open up and drain, or the cat will act very sick as the body absorbs the pus and bacteria. They can become hard scar tissue knots but these are not as common as just opening up and draining. If the cat can not see it would scratch the area and drain it himself. Sounds like it might be a tumor??
Hello! Our cat has three bite marks on his side near his tail. We cleaned it with warm salt water until we could get him into the vets, where he was shaved, cleaned and prescribed a course of antibiotics. It’s been a couple days and we’re still cleaning it and he’s taking his pills without any problems, but now I’ve noticed a bump off to the side of the three bites. Is this an abscess forming? Will it be helped with the antibiotics or do you think we will end up back at the vets? It doesn’t appear to be bothering him but I don’t want to wait until it does! Thanks 🙂
I cant know for sure without a full exam (obviously) but it does sound like another small abscess and maybe a small bite you missed. I would hope for the best from the antibiotics and time and watch it. It might rupture, go away or harden. All can be fixed. If it grows more than 50% or more then take the cat back to lance it. If it hurts the cat or the cat starts licking it a lot, then also bring him back to the vet. Good luck.
Wow, it’s kind of scary that you might not notice your cat has been hurt for about four days after the fact. That’s one reason why I always pay attention to the way my pets are behaving and if they are eating normal amounts. Thanks for the advice about what to look for if you think your cat has a bite wound. I sometimes worry about that with outdoor kitties, so I will take mine to the vet if they ever start acting lethargic like that.
My cat got in a scuffle, couple weeks later we noticed a pretty good would developed on her paw that got infected. Took her to the vet about a week or two ago who said it was, gave her a shot of pretty strong antibiotics and told us to watch it. Would probably scab over and start to heal. Well now I am noticing little blisters on the paw. She doesn’t appear to be in pain, matter of fact she is no longer favoring it, but does lick at it I am assuming to clean it. Are the blisters just more infection that need more antibiotics?
Most likely more infection and she needs an e-collar to stop licking it. The licking is making it worse. I would see the vet again for more antibiotics and a re-exam. Sounds like a little more time and antibiotics will help. Stop the licking.
Hello Dr Stewart, Thank you for having this website to help people with their cats. I have a 14-year old female cat. She was largely an indoor cat for most of that time. She just went out on the upstairs terrace for a few hours in the evenings chasing lizards and moths where she had no contact with other cats. Now she is totally indoor. Over the 14 years she has had 4 abscesses on her left rump,..all when she was young and lively. They would burst and leave a small crater and we would take her to the vet. They always healed quickly and well. Now we have her in treatment again because an enormous one formed on her right rump. It didn’t burst and just went one filling and filling with liquid. We were not aware that anything was wrong until she stopped eating and felt like she had fever. The vet said he had never seen such a quantity of liquid come out of such a small animal. The base of her tail was also swollen. We live in Bolivia and i don’t know if the vet has the long duration anti-biotic shots that might be available in other areas so we take her to the vet every day for cleaning and more shots. The vet is convinced that she must have wounded herself on a nail or other sharp object but we can’t find anything that could have wounded her. The abscesses keep appearing on her rump and nowhere else…always on the left side with this one time now on the right…enormous. We would like to know how to prevent this from recurring. Could it be a vitamin deficiency? Apart from that she is a very healthy 14-year old and has only had a few minor issues with teeth. We live in a bedsitter…no rusty nails or tools or sharp objects. It is easy to check this small space for hazards. Many thanks for any advice you can give.
Very weird to have have abscesses on the same spot all the time without contact with other animals. I would assume these are not anal gland abscesses? If they are then you need to address that. If they are true abscesses then there is something getting her. Bees? Spiders in her bed? I really do not know what is in Bolivia that could be a problem other than the obvious. Once the abscess is open and draining there should not need to be daily vet visits, but maybe every few days with good oral antibiotics. It is possible that at 14 it is a tumor but the vet should be able to identify this….. Last thought. ANy chance you have a neighbor with a pellet or BB gun? Just an idea of how to hurt a cat from afar. Sorry could not be more help but this sounds very strange.
Thank you so very much for your reply. My cat never leaves our bedsitter and so there is no possibility of harm from neighbors or anything outside. I suppose spider bites might be possible or even scorpions! However, you mention anal abscesses and I am not sure about that. I’ll ask our vet about it and hopefully something can be done. I just worry that as she gets older, she may not recover from these quite as well. She is doing very well now on oral anti biotics and various creams on the wound. Thank you again so much for your help. It is wonderful what you do here on this website.
I have a stray who got a big abscesses on her face. We took her to the vet who lanced it and drained it. She was there for 5 days, and has only been home for one day. They said to wash it with half peroxide and half water. This morning the open wound is crusty looking, and parts are still draining. Do I need to do anything else for her? I am supposed to take her back in to the vet in three days.
A face abscess wound was at the vet office for 5 days?!?! Something is wrong there. Half betadine and water might make sense but not half peroxide and water….. something fishy going on. No antibiotics, e-collar, pain medication…. find a new vet I’m sorry to say. Crusty is ok as long as it is not weeping colored discharge.
3 yr old bengal, male…went on vacation for a week. had a pet sitter. we also have 3 dogs which were crated when the sitter was not here. Came back at 2 am and the cat did not greet us immediately as normal. Did come out for pets when we went up to bed. Next morning saw he was badly limping. torn up paper towels and tp everywhere in the house from while we were gone. Asked sitters and they said he barely came out until the last couple of days, but food was gone everyday. They said they saw nothing out of the ordinary with him. These friends come over just to pet the cat when we are home. took the cat to the vet 2 months ago for an allergy shot. no other issues. in fact the vet was passing him around the office as a beautiful cat. You: it appears that with you latest update you only created 2 settings under do not disturb. silence=always or silence=only while iphone is locked….. after the update I was just told to do the phone was set on always. I changed it to only while iphone is locked but then it won’t ring when the phone is locked. So the limping doesnt improve after a week. we have checked the paw and found skinned pads which we put antibiotic ointment on. healed. there was a skinned area (no fur) about 3 inches up from the foot on the bad paw. perfectly round, all the way around the leg about 1/2″ in height. Our thought was that he had gotten caught on something and pulled himself loose. checked length of leg and shoulder didn’t feel anything that wasn’t right. eating fine, drinking fine, still social but not as much as normal. limping continued. After a week overnight a solid area appeared in the leg bone by the shoulder and it felt like the leg was not correctly placed, but he was still putting weight on it, just limping badly. Took him to vet. Shaved area and tried to examine but he fought and hissed. vet felt this is bone cancer. No x rays taken. doing a biopsy this morning. any comments or suggestions? He has been a beautiful loving healthy pet until this. I just can’t imagine bone cancer could show in days.
Not sure the phone data in the middle of that questions? 3 years old with bone cancer and no xrays?? Very odd. Bone biopsy before xrays???? Very odd. Something is not right. Get a second opinion.
Hi. My cat Marlyn 1 year old male has a absses on his arm from a cat bite. I’ve been squeezing out the infection few times a day since Saturday when my daughter noticed it and cleaning it as much as possible with peroxide and polysporine. It looks like the lump is getting smaller. Should I just continue with doing that or does he need to see a Vet?
I will always recommend a vet visit. Peroxide is not good for this kind of wound and the chance of a large infection without oral antibiotics is pretty big. If it looks great and you are happy with the healing process then you can skip a vet but the oral antibiotics or injectable will allow it heal significantly faster.
I forgot to mention he still has his appetite and still drinking water.
Hi Dr. Stewart!
My cat has an abscess on his front leg. We went to the vet to get it look at, and they gave us pain medication and antibiotics, and told us to see if it got better on its own. When we visited the vet, the abscess had not drained, and his whole front leg was swollen. Today, one day after the trip to the vet, the abcess drained when I was out. I think my cat popped it but I can’t be sure. The swelling has gone down a bit, and the area has a little bit of blood. Is there anything I should be doing to help it heal properly?
Nope, that is what you would expect. The only think I would make sure is that the cat can not lick the wounds. He might need an e-collar to stop him from making it worse.
My cat had an abscess that turned into a large open wound, it scabbed over and the skin died underneath. The skin is now falling off which my vet says is natural and good and we’re giving him antibiotics and painkillers. The raw muscle/skin is now very mucus-y and I was just wondering if that was normal for the healing process. My vet wasn’t very helpful in explaining how this progress should go
This can be normal for large dead skin areas. I would make sure to continue the antibiotics, pain medication, warm water flushing and makeing she she can not lick the area. Time will be the best healer here. If you can bandage the area with an antibiotic cream that sometimes helps as well. This will keep the healing tissue healthy and moist. Take a picture every day for a week and make sure it looks healing to you, it is hard to see changes day to daw without a good reference.
Greetings. I am from the Philippines and there is no vet where I live as it is the province. My cat has an abscess in her foot joint. it kind of burst and is oozing serosanguinous fluid. I googled the internet and started him on amoxicillin 60mg po bid today July 19 (8pm). His next dose will be at 8am tomorrow then 6pm in the evening. I have cleansed his wound with diluted peroxide. He is a bit feverish. He drinks water and eats a little. The good thing is he is amazing at purring especially when I am around. Like I said, there is no vet in my area. Is there anything else I can do for him? He is an outside cat. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon.
Sounds like you are doing everything. I would keep him inside, make sure he is rabies vaccinated and keep the wound clean. The diluted peroxide should get switched to soapy water or diluted betadine. Otherwise you need to watch with time how bad it gets. Good luck.
My cat I’m assuming had a abscess on the back and by the tail. I gave her bath cuz she stepped in poop. And I been trying to find a vet all day where I don’t have to have payment up front for my bf only gets paid by disability and I don’t have income. Well after her bath it popped and there was puss. I knew puss smells but never knew what it smelled like. My cats smelled like skunk. I have a strong stomach but that smell almost had me lose my dinner. I tried to keep getting the puss out then turned to blood and alot of meowing. I feel bad for my cat. Then she licked the puss not sure if she supposed to do that. So my question is what is puss supposed to smell like and is she supposed to lick the puss?
Pus smells like death or rotting meat (I think it has a slightly sweet smell of decay to it) and she should not lick it. Follow the blog and you will find the ways to best treat this at home, but your cat needs to see a vet for antibiotics and follow up care. Good luck.
My kitten is 7 weeks old. He won’t poop he tries but cant belly is big and swollen … has some sort of scab over his anus .. he was like this when we got him 2 days ago please help
You need to bring him to a vet. Some kittens have small anus holes and need surgery. Stool softeners can help and the vet should examine him. Good luck.
My 1 year old cat Cleo had 2 large abscess on each side of his spine. I applied hot compress until they ruptured. They healed completely. This was approx 1 month ago when the first ruptured. Now he has another forming on only one side. It’s fairly small but it had gotten bigger the last day or so. Also on the other side (on which the abscess has healed completely and isn’t returning) his skin dips in. Like a large dimple where the opening was. So 2 questions. What would be the best way to flush/ keep sterile the new abscess? And is the “dip” from the original drainage hole normal?
See a vet, and if this is absolutely not possible then use sterile saline to flush the wound and nothing else. I’m not sure what you mean by dip?
My cat goes outside every once in a while but when he came in today he had a strange bump on his side. He won’t let anyone touch the bump but he lets me pet him. What should I do?
Bring him to a vet. Simple.
As in a “dimple” where the abcess originally ruptured.
My cat is due any day now and she had an abscess that just ruptured last week. I called my vet when it happened and I was keeping it clean but I’m afraid it looks like it’s scabbed over and another abscess is forming. Is she going to be ok? It got really big last time, should I put warm compresses on it and try to get it to open again and keep it clean until she has her kittens?
Yes, keep it open and clean until it heals. I would bring her to your vet for a check up if it gets worse or not better at least.
At the beginning of the assess information u said it frankly could be fun to treat. I don,t understand how any of this is fun for the cat or its owner????
Because we rarely get to cure something so simply and make the cat feel better so quickly. The owner is not who we treat.
Hi, my cat had a tiny abscess where he tore off the scab and the pus had drained out all over the doona cover and I used water to clean it up (the vet has always told me to use plain water not salted water). It was healing nicely and we were giving him antibiotics, first time he vomited them back up but next attempt and following he was fine. Yesterday it looked bloody again so I was going to take him to the vet today but he has disappeared. It has been about 2 weeks since it started. He’s had abscesses before, this one didn’t smell , he didn’t seem to have a temperature and all the others had to be drained and he was fine very quickly. I’m very concerned about him even though he has been eating and drinking as per usual. How long would it take for an untreated abscess to do serious harm/kill a cat?
Very hard to predict it depends on the cats immune system, where and how big the abscess is and how healthy or old the cat is. Even then you might not ever know. Take him to the vet when he comes back.
I’ve looked everywhere for answers, but not that long ago my brother had 3 cats who all at the same time got sick. One was taken to the vet to see what was wrong and they couldn’t find anything other then he was having kidney problems. Then a few days later he passes away and had 3 small abscesses on him. One on the upper left hip, one on the upper right hip, and one the base of his tail. The other cats health dropped from there. They couldn’t walk straight, their back legs were half working and walking crooked. Then abscesses came to the surface in the same spots as the first cat. The abscesses weren’t bad on the 2 year old cat but on the 1 year old cat was the worse, they were awful. And my brother had not money for the vet again. So me and my sister looked at him and learn there was a giant patch of dead skin about 3inches long and 1 or 2 inches wide on one of the hips. That huge abcess went straight threw a hole to the other abscesses on the opposite hip. At this point the puss was almost a light purple color and the cat could Only crawl on the floor. But we patched him and the other cat up and medication to give them and they got better. Sadly the healthier cat passed away from a car accident. But now a year later the worse cat now has abscesses again but one on the wrist joint And won’t on it and another on the right hip. They cats never fought and we took him to the vet but they don’t know either.
Not sure. I would test for FIV and FELV and other infections diseases if they all have them. Might be insect bites like spiders in the cat houses? Otherwise sounds like fights and abscesses…..sorry.
Hi, my cat is an outside cat and he has a hole in his back thigh and it was draining, my concern is the depth of the hole and whether it will heal the hole looks about a half to an inch deep, he’ s eating and drinking and walks around but slowly I am calling the vet tomorrow, but I don’t have that much money to pay a vet bill so if I can treat him at home would help me out a lot. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated Thank you.
Call the vet, it needs to be seen and should not be too much if it is not too bad.
I added a new kitten in my house when she was roughly 7 weeks old. Before I brought her home, the family that had he previously noticed an abcess on her tummy and told her to the vet to get it treated. Everything was fine when she came to live with me.. my other cat was not a fan 100% (and still isn’t), but he manages. I took both cats with me to PA for the summer and everything was fine. I took the kitten to get her shots at my vet back home and everything was fine. Then the next day I found that she had diarrhea.. which went on a little over a week. When I got back tO NC I made an apt with my vet. who found she had worms. He treated the worms but the diarrhea wouldn’t stop. I wanted a week after and took her back. The vet said he wasn’t sure, that it could possibly be a bacteria infection and gave me medicine to give her. It’s now been 3 weeks since then and she still has diarrhea.. there is quite a bit of mucus present also. She acts fine otherwise. But when he goes to the bathroom to do number 2, you can hear it clear across the room as she farts to get it all out. She does this about 2 times a day. I’m losing my mind trying to figure out what could be wrong.. and I want to take her to the vet.. but 3 visits and they still haven’t found anything. I need help. Any advice or insight into this problem would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!
Food allergy, IBD or some GI virus. I would try a super bland prescription diet, more metronidazole and virus testing. You need to find the cause. Keep the kitten confined and make sire you note what it eats and hangs around with when you are not there…..Ask your vet for a prescription bland diet. start there.
Dr. Stewart,
My other cat has had past problems with bladder stones and has been on hills prescription diet c/d for years. This is also what my kitten has been eating. What food would you recommend I try with her? Typically when I go to work her and my other cat are placed on opposite sides of my apartment… how can I monitor what she is doing and what she is into when I’m not here? I’m sorry to be bothersome, I just want her to get better. Everything with her was fine before I took her to the vet back home for her boosters. None of this makes sense to me…
I really can not figure it out easily over the internet. I would try a bland diet like I/D and keep your other cat on C/D (do not stop that!) and you can isolate the cats in opposite rooms for feeding and maybe put a camera in there? If not then you need to get her checked by a NEW vet with all the history and previous blood work and samples. You might consider a specialist if you can find and afford one to get the very best opinion. Often they are cheaper than multiple regular vet visits. The kitten is young and needs to start on the right foot in life. Good luck. Remember it is NO BIG DEAL to get a second opinion if available.
Hi Dr. Stewart
I’m from India and I really like the way you diagnose and communicate so well with pet owners. I adopted a feral cat, when he was just 2 or 3 months old, last year. His name is Snow. He is about a year old now.
He has always stayed with me, indoors, for a year. He is not neutered. Maybe just once he has had an encounter with a female feral cat a few months back, I figured he was going through puberty and was super curious by the female’s scent. About a month back, an old male feral cat has been canvasing our area and has been troubling my cat by challenging him and his territory. Snow did have two light encounters where he was dominated by the wild/street cat and he got injured. I examined all his wounds, I didn’t see any sign of any abscess. But on the night of Sept 19th, there was another serious encounter between the two of them and Snow went missing for 4 days and 4 nights. Just his morning I heard him cry and located him. I’ve got him home now, he is badly injured. Wounds, scars, peeled off skin is everywhere. I’m really concerned because he didn’t eat food properly even after being out for 4 days without any proper food.
Unfortunately, I live in a small town in India and there are not Vets nearby. I have to travel to a nearby city which is 80km away to get to a Animal Hospital/Clinic.
I can send you photos of his wounds, could you please help me administer basic first aid so that his wounds do not get infected. I’m specifically concerned about his deep skin peel off on his right hind leg.
Regards
Mohit
India
Honestly I am not able to do pictures and the point of these blog replies is to answer simple questions that do not need vet visits (you will see me suggest a vet visit more than not.) Sadly it sounds like Snow needs a vet visit to see the extent of the damage, get him rehydryated, neutered, started on strong antibiotics, rabies vaccinated (A huge problem I hear in India) and overall checked out. I wish I could just give you a simple answer but after routine wound care of soap and water and confinement of the cat, you would need a real vet exam. Please take him the 80km to a vet and get everything done at one time if possible…….good luck.
Hello. I’m not sure if you would have an answer for me but I have about a 3yr old female cat and every couple of months she will get an abcess on her chest area (it is very constant) . She is strictly a indoor cat. I’ve taken her to multiple vets and they all say they are unsure about why she gets them. Given her antibiotics and it just postponed it an extra month or so. Thank you!
Huh? Not sure. I assume she is spayed? Maybe check for residual ovarian tissue and some kind of heat reaction (like mammary swelling) or maybe have a biopsy taken next time it come up. Maybe it is some weird tumor or cyst??? Try a specialist or dermatologist? Take a lot of pictures too….. good luck.
My 6 month old cat has a hard knot on his upper lip under his eye. He gets irritated when touched. It has a fowl smell as well. What can I give him to cure it? Is there anything I can do without vet bill and medicine if possible? I had a fire as well so taking him to the vet is not an option at the moment. What can I do? He is like little human and seems to be content. He is still energetic and playful. Please give me any help you can.
Have it looked at by a vet. I can not advise without seeing it and I would say it sounds like a vet needs to see it. Can you try the local SPCA or any other low cost clinic? Sounds like it needs to be cleaned and given antibiotics, but it could be a tooth root, cancer, abscess……. too many possibilities.
I will try them. Thank you.
Hi hope this comment finds you Dr! Came home tonight to find my cat with swollen cheek. Took her to the vet and they did an I&D on the abscess and gave her antibiotic shot, was told to come back in a week. 3.5 hours later checked the wound and it was very swollen again almost same size before it was drained just a few hours earlier. I don’t see anything actively draining out. Is this normal to swell up so quickly after draining? They did not leave a drain in, she was not put under anesthesia either due to her age (18yo). Should I take her back to vet right away or let it be?
Give it another day and then take her back if the swelling does not go down. The draining might have caused some serious irritation. The antibiotics will also start to kick in. I would say 24 hours or if she seems uncomfortable or not eating or feverish, but otherwise give it a day. Good luck. Anything that REALLY worries you, ignore me and bring her in (like severe lethargy or severe pain.)
My 15 year old cat was treated 6 days ago for a cat abscess on his right jaw/neck. He was given a shot of antibiotics that lasts 2 weeks and some topical codeine for the first 2-3 days. It seemed to heal and scab over. Now the scab has fallen off and their seems to be a long deep hole in his nec/jaw. There is no sign of infection anymore. Will this heal on its own or should I get him rechecked?
This should heal on its own if the infection is gone and he does not bother it. If the cat scratches or licks the area then you need to get a cone or e-collar. I would give it a few more days before bringing him back for a re-check. Regardless, get hi re-examined in a bout a week for a vet follow up. Good luck.
Thanks so much, that was great advice and as exactly what my vet suggested. I was anxious so I phoned them and got him an ecollar. He’s not a happy camper but it seems to really be healing well now.
My male Rag doll cat 9 yrs old has quite a large cyst in chest, vet has given me amoxicillin antibiotics to treat.
I’m worried sick, started off with a cough, thought it was hairball , so treated him from home with hairball remedy. He’s had X-rays and vet has said abscess/cyst. Does this sound correct to you and is there anything else I can do?
Sounds correct but hard to tell without seeing the cat. Is the abscess draining or did the vet drain it? Why the cough? Is it internal or external? I would make sure the cat is improving every 2-3 days and if not revisit the vet….
Hi! Discovered a bump on my cat’s back about 3 inches up from her tail right next to her spine. She’s not been her normal self. i’ve noticed she doesnt’ clean her backside but just her paws and face. She only does a half cat down dog stretch. At first the lump was soft and squishy and then turned hard. Sometimes it seems larger and then smaller and when i try and touch her back she flinches a bit. Had a vet check her out and she didn’t wince for the vet though , they took bloodwork and it came back that her Platelets and Neutrophils were low and the NRBC was high. FeLV and FIV both negative. my vet doesn’t think it has anything to do with this cyst and she says it shouldn’t be causing her pain at all. Any experiences where a cyst turned into an abcess and got infected and caused abnormal bloodwork? There is no sign of a wound but i do have a cat that chases her constantly so it could have been a scratch or bite but i don’t know. She used to be a feral cat so i have a mobile vet that comes to the house so any vet visits are quite stressful.
This sounds like a classic abscess. It fits all the molds except the cat would maybe have a fever and higher WBC’s. If the abscess went on long enough it might be walling itself off or growing inside rather than rupturing but this would be rare. I would have your vet aspirate the bump with a needle and try to drain it. If the cat is painful or not able to bend over to clean herself then you need to address it sooner than later. Worse case is it is a tumor and needs to be removed or debulked for the cat’s comfort. I would see a non-mobile vet at this point. Sorry and good luck.
Hi, my cat Speedie is 13 years old, she had the biopsy surgery last June 2017 to remove the lump out from her back/tail area. Then she came home with me. Everything went well, she’s acting normal as before. Until last September the lump grow again, keep growing like tennis ball size. But she act normal like eating, drinking and bathroom with no problem. Then last November I took her with me to travel 8 hours trip, as she loved to travel in my car, she sat on the passenger seat. The food and water in front of her, the cat litter box in the back of the car. She eat and drink water while the car is moving plus going to bathroom in back without any problem. We stopped at rest area a lot to get more air and walk around for awhile. She behaved very wonderful. (Very rare cat) then arrive at the home of my cousin. Then my cousin carry the pet taxi to get the guest room. She let her go out in the room,, she was very alert and very acrive. She have to stqy in guest room because my cousin have 2 dogs and 1 cat. They probably scare my cat. Just wisely. Shes very happy, eating, drinking and bathroom. I put the pet taxi box down on the floor aside the bed so she can climb on box and . She sleep with me all the time. I love her alot. When I was away, she seems happy to be around in guest room. Until I come back, she was very happy to see me. Until we are ready to go back home, she sat on the passenger seat, relaxing, eating, drinking and bathroom. We did stopped at rest area alot, too. When we are close to my home, using speed bump, she knew its so close to my home, she was so excited. Then I brought her in pet taxi in my home. Shes so happy to be home. No carsick at all both ways. Very grateful. The lump didn’t bother her at all. Until Christmas I petted her and felt something leaked from her lump, saw that clear liquid seeping out from her lump. I was freaked out, crying, took a rag on her back to stop leaking. Waiting until after Christmas, I emailed to the vet about what happened, she said she need to see her immediately. So I did took her to the vet. She aid it’s good to let the pressure out, then the vet gave me the antibiotics (pill) for the leaking for 7 days and the pain medicine (liquid) when needed. I gave her the TLC until the antibiotics went out. ((I am sorry that is so long story))………Then the pus become very smell like a dead animal, freaked me out again and emailed to her vet again. She said I need to bring her after New Years. So I did went there. She looked at her tumor area, saying the surgery really too risky for her age and the tumor will grow back again. She suggested to me that I should let her go, I cried very hard. As she said its cancer but not on any organs. Just the muscles. I agreed no surgery. The vet gave me the antibiotics (liquid) called Veraflox with syringe 1 time a day.for 7 days. After 4 days the pus smell went away,then normal pus and blood come out. I sill clean with warm water to clean the tumor area to keep an infection snd scab out of the tumor area. I always keeping watching and stay treating her with liquid antibiotics until the antibiotics go empty. I still cleaning her tumor area to keep germs out with warm water. What should I add something with warm water to heal the tumor area, please. My cat Speedie is my best friend and very WORLD! I don’t want to lose her. Thanks for your time to read my long blog. 😻😺
This seems very simple, get a second opinion. I would see another vet and get a second opinion. I would REALLY suggest seeing a boarded surgeon ASAP to get a new opinion. There is not much more I can add, except I would certainly not give up yet!!
Hi my cat serafina has been in deep need of a vet meeting. But, I have no money to take her to the vet at this time and she has gotten a cut that Literally looks like someone cut a square in her. But the thing is she will not eat or drink water the rest of her right leg is swollen and she limps when she walks.(she doesn’t walk often anymore ever since 3 days ago.) this puss like blood is coming out of the muscle and i have no idea what to do please reply fast. By the way she is an outside cat and only about 1year and 3 months old.
There is very little you can do without good vet care for an infected wound like that on an outdoor cat. You need to catch her and follow the would protocols recommended in the page and our blog, but more importantly she needs antibiotics and a vet visit. You should call animal control or the SPCA for help here. Sorry I can not walk you through care without seeing the cat and she needs vet attention.
Thank you for the help anyways. I will try to get an vet appointment. But could it be a snake bite or a venomous spider bite?
Sure, absolutely could be venom. Most likely another cat bite, but without checking it out hard to tell.
My cat has a scab about 1 inch in diameter between her right ear and her right eye. It has caused her right eye to swell shut. She will not eat or drink. She is also barely moving and is just overall not acting like herself. We noticed it yesterday, but she does not seem to be feeling any better. We have tried to give her medicine but she will not take it. We were able to clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide though.
She needs to see a vet…sorry.
Hi there,
I had my cat in at the vets today as she had an abscess that she burst open her self at home before I even realised she had it, the vet told me just to clean the wound twice daily and gave her a pain relief shot. He didn’t give me any antibiotics and just said to let it heal on it’s own and keep a cone on her so she can’t lick the wound. I have two questions here, how long is it advised to leave the cone on her (it’s stressing her out) and should I ask the vets to give me antibiotics for her or just let nature do it’s thing?
Thank you very much.
All vets have different approaches to cleaned abscesses. I usually give antibiotics because the wounds heal faster, but this is an expense and could lead to resistance globally. This is preference. Without antibiotics it will heal a little slower but without seeing how big it is and how invasive it would be hard to predict. 2 weeks? I would keep the cone on until it is totally healed. No open wound and a clean and firm scar. Good luck.
My cat just gave birth to a kitten at 2:30am on March 13, 2018 had to help in delivery. When baby finally came out I noticed a huge lump that is by the neck it’s about 1\2 to an inch long and about an 1\2 to 1 wide it’s the only kit it has had cause afterbirth came out with the kitty. Need to know if that is a huge cyst or tumor don’t have the means to take to a vet and also how long from birth should the baby start nursing cause it’s not latching on?
Nursing very soon after birth, rarely is there only one and they all come with an afterbirth (so there might be more in there), and the lump I really can not diagnose without seeing it. I would have to recommend a vet visit. It does not sound like something normal. You can try your local SPCA and see if they will spay the momma for a reduced rate too at the same time as they examine the kitten? Good luck, I hope it is nothing serious.
My 12 year old Norwegian Forest cat’s tail is covered in bloody cysts, at least 4-5. We took him to the vet, they started antibiotics as well as a topical antibiotic. Yesterday one burst (I suspect) and it was very bloody. I am taking him tomorrow, but wondering since it’s on his tail what should be done. You can’t remove them since there isn’t enough skin on the tail. What would you recommend? Poor guy!
Culture them and treat with the appropriate antibiotics. I can not recommend much else without seeing the cat. Ask your vet for more advice. It sounds like they are treating appropriately. Sorry, good luck!
Dear vets,
Our straycat has a wound at his tail about 1/2 cm in diagonal. We tried antibiotics, but since this wound appeared he isn’t coming for his dinner anymore everyday, we worry about him because he used to come by every day. I have a picture of the wound, but uploading here isn’t possible I guess. Can you tell me if a bite wound will heal on it’s own? Can we do anything to lure him to come to dinner, since we fear he isn’t coming since he isn’t feeling well maybe? 🙂 thanks in advance! 🙂
I really can not diagnose even with a picture (by law) but I can only give advice in more broad strokes. You need to try to trap him and get him to a vet for treatment. If you can not trap or catch him, then there is almost nothing you can do. If you get him then the vet can give him an injection of long acting antibiotics that will prevent having to give him anything orally in the future. Luring him to dinner? Try wet food or tuna? Something stinky? Wounds on the tail can be a real headache, and they often get infected. I would try to bring him to a local vet. Good luck.
My cats left rear leg is hurting him, I noticed it Thursday. But, he was walking and jumping on it. He just didn’t want me touching it. I’m starting to suspect its an abscess developing but I can’t get near his leg to really look. Today is Saturday and my cat is still eating and drinking but he wants to be alone. Not knowing exactly whats going on, I am debating waiting until Monday or paying “emergency” rates at my vets office this weekend. Any advice?
Sorry, no way I can help you. Im sure the cat can wait, but your financial pain will be the cat’s physical pain. It all depends on how bad the pain is and the limp and the ER fees. Most people are scared of ER fees, but they are JUST AN INCREASED Exam fee, the rest of the visit is the same. You should call and ask. Our ER is often CHEAPER than other local vets in the area. You need to decide. I’m sure the cat will “make it” until Monday if it is an abscess. Good luck.
Hello
I was googeling info about abscesses in cat’s when i came across your article.
and now i’m worried :-\ My cat started limping this weekend. (tiptoed on his left leg) On sunday he didn’t want to use the leg at all.
Monday morning at the vet they suspected some sort of infestation/abscess but count find a wound or bite mark . (he ran a high fever) He got a shot and antibiotics for a week.
but the vet didn’t open the swollen area. Is that ok? to jus leave it closed? (it feels wrong)
Yes, you cant open what is not a pocket. It might open on its own but that is ok too. If you see a big pocket then you can open it, but MANY MANY times we are not that lucky. Your vet was right.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
I have a 10 month old male neutered kitten. He is our only cat, we have no other animals. A couple months ago I noticed a small bump right above his left eyebrow where he was balding. Took him to the vet, the doctor said that he scratched himself and to put neosporin on it. We put neosporin for a week or two and it went away. A couple weeks later it came back, we put neosporin again and it went away. Now it has come back over his other eyebrow. It does not appear to hurt when I touch it, and he lets me put neosporin on it without a fuss. He is eating and drinking normally, and still has tons of kitten energy. Should we be concerned that it keeps appearing? Thank you!
Not “concerned” but you should bring him back to the vet for a follow up exam. It could be allergic or an ear infection that he is scratching or something totally different. Hard to assess without seeing. I would not say bring him right away! But at his next check up or vaccines you should really assess this with the vet. Take pictures every time it comes up so it it looks good when you bring him in you can show the vet. My guess would be allergic. That is one of the few places on a cat with exposed skin, do you have mosquitos???
Hello, I took my cat Kezmo to the vet about two weeks ago to get treated for a abscesses on his neck she gave him an anabiotic shot and A tropical shampoo treatment for every 72hr. I felt that he was getting better until a couple of days ago he smeed to get red bumps all over his body and the infected area has a bad smell to it. He’s eating and drinking fine but just keeps itching the infected area. I really can’t afford to take him to the vet right now. Should I be worried? Or just keep trying to treat him with the tropical shampoo?
Stop the shampoo in csae he is allergic to it and brig him back to the vet. That does not sound good or right. The abscess should be healed by now and the bumps are a concern.
Hello,
my 1-year- old- neutered cat and recently jabbed with the first round of vaccinations spends a lot of time outdoors this time of year. Last week we noticed he limbed slightly and we thought he hurt his paw somewhere outside. Now he doesn’t limb but his back left paw is protruding when sat to eat off his bowl. Last 2-3 days we noticed a small wound with pus. He licks it often and carefully. We tried to put some iodine on it, but he licked it off and he complains when we touch there. His appetite and energy have not changed at all, he still eats, drinks, plays, climbs trees and hunts as usual. Could it be something minor that can be treated at home? Or with some medication? Vets are quite expensive in this area. Could it even be a snake bite that can be healed over time? Any help would be really appreciated!! With many thanks in advance.
Very hard to assess without seeing it or knowing the details, but it sounds like an abscess that has opened. You can try warm soapy soakes once or twice a day to see if you can clean it and prevent the infection getting worse. Otherwise it will heal a lot faster with antibiotics and likely a cone to prevent him licking it. The licking is part of the problem. I would give it a little time, try to clean it and then bit the bullet for a vet visit.
My cat had a huge bump on it’s back which it popped and I didn’t think it was too serious so I cleaned it and kept it cover. This happened over about 6 months ago and little sores keep coming back every once and awhile well this morning my cat had a seizures and I can not find it now not sure if it’s just running the streets like usual or what but I can’t stop worrying about her do these corralate with each other and it it possible that I hurt her in the long run😫😥
She needs to see a vet. There are many possibilities here. The mass on her back 6 months ago might not even be related…….
My cat has an abscess on the top of his head and we took him to the vet yesterday. The vet game him two shots and gave us some Clavulox to give him. The vet didn’t clean it or drain it, should he have? Yesterday morning before we took him he was running around the house with his tail down as if he was in distress, and he is doing the same now even after he had the shots yesterday and his first Clavulox tablet this morning. Why is he acting like this?
Maybe one of the shots was a pain shot and he is sedated? I really do not know. The clavamox should not do this and they should all help recovery. I would call your vet back and ask. They know what the shots were. Sorry.
Hello
My cat was taken to the vets today and she was dehydrated so in order rehydrate her they gave her saline or something like that through her neck now in home I noticed that she is not able to walk and has a swollen skin righ under her left leg is it the salines or is it something else…..she dehydrated because she was vomitting and also diarrhoea kinda thing
Please help
Sounds like she was very sick. The fluid from the neck can pull down with gravity to her leg, this can be normal. I have never seen it make a cat not walk, that might be the weakness and dehydration. I would make sure she is better or bring her back to the vet.
Hi Doctor. Our 1 yr old ragdoll was taken to the vet yesterday and said that he had an abscess rupture at the anal gland. Gave him an antibiotic and told us to spray the site with peroxide. He said to bring him back in 4 days. If it wasn’t improved we need to put him down. Seems a bit harsh. He is eating and drinking normally as well as using the litterbox. No pain meds either. Your opinion?
Time for a new vet. That does not sound right. Are you sure he didn’t mean put him under anesthesia to remove the gland or get a better flush???
Hi Dr. Stewart, my cat had her abscess drained a couple hours ago and I’m just reading up on it but vet did not give me any pain meds to give at home? Is that normal treatment or should I expect my cat to be in pain after anesthesia wears off?
They most likely gave something that will last 12 hours, that should be enough. It all depends how big the abscess was and where it was. Just evaluate how the cat is doing in the next few hours and if you feel like the cat is in pain, call your vet for something. This is fairly common and most cats are not in serious pain after the first few hours, they might even feel relief.
Hoping you can give advice. Around 4am, my cat came to bed and when I went to pet him, his ear was hot and swollen and something liquid that smelled like feces got all over my hands. I turned the light on and what looks and smells like diarrhea (brown liquid that smells like feces) was coming from my cats ear, the thin part in the middle. And there was a lot; I’d say at least 2-3 ounces all from the thin part of his ear, which was about 3/4″ thick (yes, really). This is unlike anything I’ve seen before, though I’ve had many animals in my life.
We found a puncture that goes through the ear, and there is a patch of skin that seems to want to slide off, though for now we’ve tried to clean it and leave it there. We tried to shave the ear to get a better look, but he’s not allowing that. So we cleaned and drained it until we got red blood, then treated it with wound spray for cats. Now (a few hours later) we are getting pus and blood. We have many animals and can’t afford a vet. Also, he feels very hot so we are pushing water and unflavored pedialite (we had to do this previously when he got sick as a kitten). We are discussing getting antibiotics at the feed store, but I am concerned about the bad smelling discharge and the patch of loose skin. Is there anything you can tell us that won’t require a vet visit that we can’t afford? Thank you in advance.
Sometimes a vet visit will actually save you a lot of money in the long run. In the mean time you are doing everything you can do at home. The cat needs antibiotics and maybe fluids……sorry and good luck.
Hoping you can help with this as well… my 5year old feral cat had her abscess drained last week and noticed about 1/4 of her lower abdomen is shaved (2 inches x 1.5 in) and has what looks like a light yellow tinged scab in the center. What could that possibly be? They had to sedate her and give her antibiotics, could they have used that area to inject her? Or what other reason do vets shave that area while performing surgery on a cat?
The shave the abscess area? Maybe an ultrasound? I’m not sure what the question is? They would likely not shave her for the antibiotic injection.
Sorry Doc, I’m asking what it could have been shaved for? My cats abscess was on her neck not near her abdomen so I’m not sure why her abdomen would be shaved, wondering if you have any idea why they would shave her stomach if the surgery was being done on her neck
Actually no idea? Maybe they ultrasounded her, or too a urine sample? The only other thing I can think is that she had a fever and some old school vets shave cats abdomens to let off heat, but I have not seen that in years. More likely is that the cat is licking herself there and the hairloss is the licking not the vet shaving. Ask them?
My cat had an abscess so I booked an appointment. By the time we took him in the abc was had ruptured, so he had a huge open wound. We took him in for a sedation and stitching. Apparently while in the or the realized he had a lot of dead tissue they had to cut ou which left him with a 6 inch incision. They gave him a shot of antibiotics and sent him home with pain meds. We took him in at about 4 days to get the drain removed. Then a week later to get the stiches removes. When the removed the stitches the center of the incision about 1/2 an inch wasn’t healed up, it was still open so they had to add staples. They said to go back in 14 days. It’s been a week and I can tell some of it still isn’t closing up. I’m getting worried and running out of money, I already payed $800. I guess my question is does that seem normal? The whole incision looks pretty crusty like a big hard crusty scab.
Sadly this does seem VERY normal. A huge abscess or the crushing bite the causes the abscess can kill the skin around it and the wound can take months to heal. Sorry to bring bad news but it sounds like your vet was doing the right thing. If the ending hole is less than 1/2 an inch with fresh tissue around it or even an inch with fresh tissue and no pocket, then you can probably keep it clean and open and it will heal fast. Good luck, your vet is right.
I am fostering two 7 week old kittens. One got an abscess & she’s been to the vet. How long do I have to keep them apart?
Until it looks healed enough not to reopen or re infect the wound.
A few days ago I noticed my 5 year old Male cat (Chief) had a lump at the top of his tail. He made it obvious it’s painful to the touch. Was moving his tail fine. I called my vet and scheduled an appointment. The soonest they could see him is Monday. Today he is walking much less, tail between his legs when he does walk and the lump is bigger. There is a small puncture scab, in which case I’m positive it’s an abscess. It’s noticeably bigger today, and his mandibular lymph node is swollen. I called my vet and they said they would take note and to watch him closely over the weekend. Is there ANYTHING I can do in the meantime? There are no 24 hour vets in my area and I’m worried sick. Will it burst on it’s own? If it doesn’t will an infection spread? SOS
I think you might want to look for a more accommodating vet? If it is just an abscess the cat should be fine and the wound will either pop or harden. The worry is the cat’s obvious pain, and that seems like a thing your vet might want to address. I would try a warm compress to see if you can get the abscess to open and drain on its own, or just pamper the ct until he can be seen Monday. These very very rarely cause systemic damage. I would think that you would also want a rabies booster shot for him and talk about rabies to your vet. Good luck.
Thank you so much for the reply. I guess I should have mentioned, although he is “just a cat” he’s a HUGE baby. Thankfully, he’s up to date on all of his vaccines/boosters. A half hour after I submitted my question he got up to eat and drink and came up purring and wanting attention as usual. He has been seen by the same vet his entire life so I hate to take him elsewhere. Also, is benadryl really a thing people shoukd give to their cats to help with inflammation? I’ve never done it personally, but I thought it could help ease his discomfort? What do you think? Just stick to the warm compress in the meantime or it worth a shot? I’m sure due to liability purposes you dont like to/feel comfortable giving that sort of advice but out of curiosity, would that potentially help?
No benadryl for him.
I noticed a small lump and puncture mark on my cat about 3 days ago. Today the scab came off and there is definitely puss coming out. Would it be okay to wait until Monday to take him to the vet? He is eating, drinking and acting normal.
Yes, but sooner is better.
Hi. I have a feral cat that I have been feeding nightly for about 5 years now. A few months ago he disappeared for a couple weeks, which is not normal for him. He finally came back skinny and looked to be in pain. He was trapped last year and brought to the vet to check if he’d been fixed. He was fixed, so I released him back. He is very smart and I could not trap him after his injury for several months. I finally got him yesterday and his back quarter is draining, red, and swollen. It is a fairly large area. My son said he smells almost like bile. The vet that deals with feral cats cannot see him until Monday. I can’t take him to any vet bc not all vets will see wild cats. The local rescue gave a mild pain killer and a light antibiotic due to the vets only having access to the heavier antibiotics. He is responsive and eating, less than he used to, but still eating. I’m wondering how severe this could get and if it’s possible he won’t be able to be treated. I’ve grown quite attached and love our nightly visits. He does trust me and doesn’t hiss even when caged by me. Anyone else and he will try to eat them. I am also moy sue what caused it because I can’t get very close to check. Thank you!
Probably another cat bite, but he needs rabies boosters and possibly a quarantine (local laws apply) and long term heavy antibiotics in the form of a shot (you dont need to pill or liquid him) and a vet visit. Keep him confined until Monday and do it right, you might not get the chance again.
Hi, my cat has been acting strange for the past few days. We took him to the vet today and it turns out that he had an abscess at the base of his tail. The vet said that a minor surgery to drain it will be needed. However, the vet told us that once they injected the anesthesia, he went into cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, he passed away. The vet kept blaming it on the abscess since it was potentially caused by another animal. How likely is it for things like this to occur? My cat was only 1.5 years old.. Thank you for your time!
The abscess had nothing to do with the cardiac arrest. It is possible the cat had an underlying condition or the anesthesia was over done, or the cat had some reaction to the drugs. Very hard to tell, but a simple abscess should not affect the cat’s heart or ability to handle anesthesia. I might want a further look like an autopsy or a second opinion. Anesthesia does have risks and these things certainly happen all the time with no malpractice or fault, but I would not blame the abscess.
I have a feral cat in my colony that was attacked by a stray.He developed a large abcess on his L front leg, and a HUGE one on his abdomen. He is very wild, but we finally caught him and vetted him>Convenia and drainage, return visit tomorrow. The one on his leg looks MUCH better. The one on his abd still huge. Is there anything else I can do for him until next vet check?
Not much you can do with a feral cat for abscess healing. Bring him back to the vet for a follow up. Do an FELV/FIV check to make sure the cat has a healthy immune system too.
Dear, vets?
My cats eye is been really worried me out. On his right eye it seems to have pus coming out of it. He was a stray until i got him when he was 3 weeks old. Now i have had him for a 1 year but i moved and there are about 2 -3 cats near my house and he has came home with scars. About 4 months ago a cat made a hole on his cheek and now this i don’t know what to do i clean it and keep him away from the dog. I read online that it was maybe a bite from another animal but i don’t know.
Any Advise Please Contact As Soon As Possible.
Seek veterinary care??? It is likely an bite or scratch from another cat and seriously infected. You need to see if the eye is damaged and start pain medication and antibiotics. A vet visit is warranted.
I hope you still answer these. I’m honestly very worried about mum neighbors cat. Her husband and children let him outside all the time and hes not fixed. He’s an indoor cat and there are strays that roam around here and I know he got in a fight with one because I stopped it. This was almost two weeks ago now I think. He had been bitten on his face/cheek next to his right eye. I cleaned him up and told them about what happened and asked them to take him to a vet and they’re said they would. I come over to babysit a few days later and I could smell the infection on him as soon as I went to pet him so I checked his face. And sure enough his face was oozing pus. I cleaned him up as gently as possible but I guess there was another’s buildup of pus under the skin and that burst and he started oozing again. And it just kept coming. I didn’t know what to do. I sent her a picture of giant face and told her she needed to take him to a vet immediately that it wasn’t even an option to not take him and again she said she’s would. I checked on him the next day. The wound had scabbed over and I asked her if she took him and all I was told was he was doing okay. I’m babysitting today. It’s been almost two weeks. He’s asleep in my lap and I’m staring at his face and I’m honestly scared for him. The fur around the wound is gone. The skin is blue. The skin circling the sides of the wound itself is white and crusty/dry looking. The scab doesn’t look good either. And it seems raised. And I don’t know what to do. It look like the skin isn necrotizing and at this point I don’t know what can’t be done or if they’ll even do anything for him. I love this cat but they don’t pay me much or I would take him to the vet myself. I told them in the beginning ignoring they didn’t get him treated and it’s got infected he could lose his eye. I’ve seen it happen before. But I think her husband convinced her not to take him. He hates the cat. I’m sure he would talk her out of spending a couple hundred dollars to take him to see a doctor. What should I do?
Sadly there is not too much you can do except ask to adopt the cat from them and take it over? Any indoor cat that goes outside is an outdoor cat and needs all the vaccines and treatment of an outdoor cat. ANy time outdoors make you and outdoor cat. If he is not fixed he will breed and mate and fight, and get diseases…..sounds like they need to give up this cat. They are not taking care of it and clearly it is sick and needs care. I really can not tell you anymore than that I would be very worried about this cat for serious diseases like FIV FELV and parasites and clearly there is a serious face infection going on too. I’m sorry. Maybe they can bring it to the shelter to be neutered and looked at if they do not have the money??
Hi my neighbours cat visits us, he had a burst abscess happen at ours on his neck. I informed his owners who know he visits (we don’t feed him but they have five cats and he gets attacked at theirs by the other cats) they said they would take him to the vets but I don’t believe they have. His wound has got bigger but there doesn’t seem to be more pus. The fur around it has fallen out not helped by a blue anticeptic spray I think they have used on him instead of taking to the vets. The skin around the hole is white and looks dead to me or possibly swollen. He is eating and drinking as for the first time I decided to feed him as he doesn’t seem to be going home a lot. He just stays in our garden. Or tries to come in. I am worried that he hasn’t had proper antibiotics or treatment and feel torn as to whether to try and take him to a vet or the rspca myself to make sure he is ok, but I don’t want to cause trouble with the neighbours but he clearly doesn’t seem to have been seen by a vet in my opinion. Should I worry or do you think his abscess is healing on it’s own? Any advice is welcomed!
Very hard to assess, without seeing the cat but it sounds like he might be on the slow slow slow road to recovery. Antibiotics and a vet exam would be highly recommended and it is possible the abscess was above cancer or something else and will come back. Maybe offer to pay for the vet visit to the neighbors? Sorry for the situation but a vet visit would be ideal, but maybe not 100% imperative right now.
We rescued a kitten today appears to be 10 weeks old and she had a lump on her upper lip that the bottom tooth has put a hole in and we don’t know if she was dropped out of a car or fell off then some one was driving… part of her ear is missing. She still has alot of spunk and meows and purrs. What can I do to help her lip?
See a vet and make sure her teeth are aligned and she does not need antibiotics, Otherwise not much. It should heal. She needs tests and vaccines and deworming so a vet visit is in the future anyway (or the SPCA)
I noticed a hole on the back haunch of my cat with some fur missing around it. It looked like it had pus in it. I called the vet, they made an appointment for Tuesday (this was yesterday, Saturday) but it could be from a botfly larvae Cuterebra. I looked that up and it freaked me out so I called another vet that had an opening same day and got her in. They said there were two puncture wounds from a bite, it was not a Cuterebra and they did an incision and drainage, gave her the convenia two week subcutaneous antibiotic injection. Ever since we came home she does not move from where we laid her on the chux pad with a towel on the loveseat with her water and her food and it is been almost 24 hours. all she does is lay there she won’t get up, she won’t eat, she won’t drink and she pees where she lays. Is this normal after an incision and drainage with Convenia subq antibiotic treatment?
Definitely not normal, cats bounce back after drains and wounds and convenia. Bring the cat to a vet asap please. That cat sounds very sick.
My cat acquired an abscess after a fight right behind his ear. He scratched it opened and it’s been bloody and draining.
I took him to the vet and he received an antibiotic shot. I have tried to keep it covered because it is draining and making a bloody mess on my walls when he shakes his head. It’s not draining much now but it looks very gross like he might need stitches. I take him back to the vet tomorrow for another antibiotic shot I was just wondering if I should allow my cat to clean his abscess himself or should I cover it so he doesn’t mess with it.
Good question. Try not to let him clean it. You can clean it with soapy water, but do not let him clean it.
Hello, my 2 week old kitten developed a large, immobilizing hernia on high thigh/leg, and it’s developed an abscess ontop of it. He is scheduled to see our vet tomorrow (the other one is closed), I only have amoxicillin on hand, will that help reduce it until tomorrow?
Probably not, wait to see your vet.
Thank you for your reply. 🙂
Sorry to ask one last question, and it’s not really connected to the abscess only, but regarding the hernia he has, (it’s been growing rapidly, and our vet had to schedule the appointment) would it be possible for a vet to do anything about his hernia? I’ve read many posts about how a vet’s unable to help them at that age with hernias (I can understand, with them being so small and all), I have the money to afford a surgery, but would any vet be able to help a kitten at 2 weeks old with such a large hernia? (his hernia has grown larger then his head) Sorry for such an off-topic question, my vet will see to the problem tomorrow, but I’m afraid that like most other people were told, he’d only suggest euthanizing him. He’s been a strong kitten so far and beyond the immobility of his leg, he’s been drinking well off his mother and seems to be mostly healthy with the exception of the hernia.) Thank you.
Hard to assess without seeing the kitten. If the hernia is not affecting the way he eats and digests, then maybe you can wait until he is older and have a surgeon fix it then. I would suggest a surgeon above your local vet for the procedure. They might want xrays or ultrasound to figure out what is herniated and why. There is no way I can really assess it without all the details. See what you vet says and if you don’t like the opinion then you can ask for a surgical referral or seek a second opinion. That is the best I can do…….good luck.
Hello,
My cat had an abscess & it burst this morning. Since then she’s just licked it continuously which I know won’t help the wound heal. What are the best ways to keep her from licking/biting it??
She needs to see a vet for some antibiotics and pain medication and possibly an e-collar. You do not state where it is, so its hard to tell you how to protect it. E-collar would be the first choice.
I have a cat he’s 8 years old and he got into a fight I am guessing he’s an indoor and outdoor cat and we took him to the vet and they gave him antibiotics and he got a lump under his leg and we hadn’t took him to the vet yet but the other day he was laying on the porch where he usually lays and that lump busted and now my cat we haven’t seen in 3 going on 4 days and I don’t know what happened but he’s never ever gone this long could he have died because of the lump busting it was on his left leg on the same leg thats hurt
You need to find him and bring him back to the vet.
Do these things usually get worse before they get better ? Recently found an abscess beside my girls tail, and only found it once it had burst on its own. The wound is still open, but we are using a daily topical antiseptic and medical honey, as well as oral anti-inflammatory from our family vet. The scary thing is that she is diabetic. We’ve never experienced this before so should we be really worried ?
Depends on the cause, I would ask your vet as they have seen the dog and know the cause. Very hard to comment if I do not know the root cause.
Hello,
Finn, my 15 month old cat was taken to the emergency vet hospital on 6/23/19, and was diagnosed with a neck abscess. The neck abscess felt and looked like a lump, there was some bleeding and clear drainage through a skin opening that was about 1/4 inch in diameter. Finn’s vitals were normal and he was eating and playful still. Finn was prescribed 7 day course of antibiotic and 3 day course of pain medication. He finished it all and the wound closed on 7/6/19. Finn is still his normal playful self, eating, having normal bm’s, urinating, etc, but he still has a lump on the neck. It does not seem to bother him, but I can see and feel the lump on his neck. The size of it is a tiny bit smaller than when I first noticed it in 6/23/19. He still has a patch of hair missing on the heck, but like I said the skin closed up, there is no bleeding, no drainage, no discoloration. The lump is my concern. Do you think it’ll go away on its own? Do you think another round of antibiotics is needed? Do you think the abscess needs to be opened/drained?
It might be scar tissue, or it might not be cleared up. I would have the vet feel it and maybe stick a needle in it to see if it is solid or liquid. Likely it could be scar and take a long time to heal or never heal. Just make sure it is not a vaccine related sarcoma (ask you vet about this.)
My male cat of 11 years has cannibalized his left rear middle toe pad down to the bone. He is an inside cat. My wife and I have cleaned it and rinsed it with peroxide. What would cause this? He will be seeing the vet tommorow.
Weird, possibly an infection or foreign body in the pad, or a neurotic cat with some smell on the pad??? I really do not know. See what the vet says. Good luck and sorry to hear that.
Hi,
We recently adopted a stray kitten. We noticed a couple days after that he had a large abscess on his shoulder due to a bite. The abscess ruptured and we cleaned it for about one week and gave him antibiotics until it healed. He was about 7-8 weeks old at this time. A week later we noticed it forming again and he started limping but the abscess was still hard. We took him to the vet the next day and had it drained and got antibiotic shots for the next three days. Then a week later it formed again and again we drained it and started antibiotics for the next two weeks. Now he is 12 weeks old and was fine for two weeks but he has another abscess forming in the same area. He is beginning to limp again as well. When we went to the vet previously, he said it returned only because it had not been cleaned properly but now it has returned again and we no longer know what to do. We were travelling to Pakistan at this time and have returned home after leaving him with my cousin. The vets there don’t seem to know why it keeps returning and we don’t know what more to do for him. Please help!
There is possibly a foreign material in there or the cat is immunocompromised? Blood test and an xray or a sedated exam and explore the wound is the best option…..sorry I could not help more. Maybe more time too to let it really heal. I hope they put a drain in when they closed it.
We have an outdoor cat we just brought inside we took it to the vet to have bloodwork and a check up to make sure it was safe to be around other cat we have. Only thing found wrong was has an infection in ear and a polyp on side of face beneath the infection is how they explained it she got an injection of some antibiotic but the swelling on her face now looks bigger and her ear looks worse to me. It’s been two days should I give it more time or is there anything else I can do for her?
Hard to tell, if the poly caused it? I would bring her back for a re-exam or at the very least call your vet. After 2 days of antibiotics the cat should have been much better.
Hi there,
If my cat had what seemed to be an abscess and it ended up rupturing and draining a lot of pus at home, should I still try seeing a vet soon? I thought to use a warm soapy washcloth to keep it clean but I don’t know if that will make him any better. I’m not sure how much antibiotics cost for a cat with this kind of problem either. He has significantly lost a lot of weight though and barley eats. He still purrs though and uses the bathroom and such. It was just so much pus and he’s not as comfortable as he used to be.
Thank you so much
He is not eating as much, not as comfortable, lost weight….. yes see a vet. He needs antibiotics to heal faster (not to heal, but it makes it faster) but it seems he might have other issues going on.
hey there,
a couple of days ago my cat got an abscess on his jaw and we took him to the vet and did the surgery. after surgery i noticed my cat was feeling strange and when i call him he wouldn’t answer. i also notices he lost his appetite and gets neck pain from his medical cone around his head and he always very quite and looks depressed. he gets irritated from the cone and always tries to take it off, i don’t know what to as he doesn’t eat or drink ever after the surgery . i am really concerned
thank you
You need to keep calling the vet. Any vet who does not care for post-op surgery is a vet you should stop using. The e-collar can be taken off for the cat to eat and drink as long as you are watching him closely, then put it on afterwards. Cats that do not eat for 2-3 days often get fatty liver, a very serious and fatal condition. You need your cat to eat and you need to call the vet again and again until you get better advice…..or go to another vet.
Hi. I hope this finds you well.
I noticed my cat was unwell and so I tool him to the vet. The doctor discovered an abscess on his left neck and said it might have been there for a while. The drained 6ml of pus and it’s still big. They gave him antibiotics and is due for a follow up in 4 days. They said my cat might need a surgery to make sure that his flesh is not eaten by the infection. My questions are 1) how do we know all the infection is gone after the antibiotics treatment without going to surgery? 2) how risky is the surgery given that it is in the neck area? Thank you! I am really worried for my cat he is only a little over 1 yr old.
Also, the spot where the abscess is is warm/hot. Is that normal? Pls help. Thank you.
Good questions. 1) You will only know because the cat is feeling better, no fever, the swelling is down and there is no fluid in the pocket. 2) The surgery should be very safe with a good vet. It would only be to place a drain. This should be easy.
Thank you so much for the response. Just a quick follow up, the vet said that the infection may eat my cat’s flesh? Is that true? If it is, how do I prevent that from happening? Thanks again! This is a huge help!
Seems unlikely unless it gets out of control. You prevent it with antibiotics and draining if needed.
Thanks a lot Dr. Stewart! Really appreciate it!
I have a challenging issue. I feed many feral cats born on a farm near me. I have one 2 year old male that I recently got fixed so he hangs around a little more. Two days ago I noticed a huge abscess on the side of his face. The next day it had doubled in size. Yesterday it ruptured and is draining pus and blood. I alone can pet him sometimes but that is it. I don’t think I can catch him and put him In a carrier. He was trapped for his TNR so I doubt I can trap him again. There is nothing I can do physically for him such as compresses etc. Going to the vet may be impossible and even if I can get him there I cannot afford all it will entail and he can’t recover inside, can’t wear a cone, wont allow wound care, or be given antibiotics. If I can catch him i think I will have to just put him down to avoid suffering. However, I suspect he will just die on his own since I can really only get a little close to him sometimes. Is there any chance in the world he will recover and live on his own without treatment? Or is it just best to make every effort to end his suffering if I can get him? Thank you.
Cats are great healers and nature is tough. Just just have to hope for the best. Try to get a rescue out there to help trap the cats in the future….good luck.
I have a cat who had an abcess on the side of his neck- started Friday night because of the Holliday and the vet saying it was not an emergency we tried to get the cat I. Today- Tuesday. We tried the vet clinics in 2 counties- 5 in all. None of them could see him until next week. His abcess has now ruptured and left a opening about the size of the width of your little fingernail. What can I do untill they can see him in a week? What do I need to watch for
Read the blog, just keep it clean and keep him from licking it. Keep him indoors and the wound dry. Watch for a sick cat: lethargy, not eating, fever….. also if there is excessive discharge.
I have a cat who got matted hair and she pulled it and the wound started to look raw. I applied topical antiseptic on it and the wound doesn’t look infected but my cat keeps hiding under the bed and has become totally indifferent. She licked her wound for the last 2 days but now she isn’t licking it anymore. Should I wait and observe or do something about it?
Take her to a vet. Hiding under the bed and changing behavior are signs of a sick cat. Also she should not lick it, she needs an e-collar and antibiotics…..
My 8 month kitten was neutered almost 2 weeks ago and developed an infection and an abscess in his groin area as a result. He is under the care of his vet and has received the 14 day antibiotic shot. The abscess has burst and he is on his way to recovery. My question is, on average, how long should I expect it to take for the abscess opening to start to heal up, where he’s no longer at risk of another infection? I’m currently doing an iodine solution 2-3 times a day to prevent any bacterial growth from the little box, etc.
I expect a few days in a kitten. The iodine needs to be diluted and you can slow that down when it starts healing.
My indoor cat may have been bit by a stray cat it’s been 3 days since punctured the wound just drained itself I cleaned it with a cloth warm water applied dr Maggie’s skin ointment and wrapped it with animal medical wrap also have a cone on him to prevent him from over licking and reopening the wound. Appetite is normal. Can you let me know if I’m doing right by my cat or not .. worried it may need antibiotics
I spoke to a vet yesterday as my cat has a large swelling on her face. She also had a puncture wound on the top of the head. Due to the corona virus the vet done a telephone appointment and issued antibiotics and painkillers. My cat has still been eating and drinking a small amount but she hasn’t been to the litter tray for just over 24 hours. Is this normal? She hasn’t shown any improvement yet either although she has only been on antibiotics for 24 hours having taken 2 doses. How long do they generally take to show improvement. I’m very worried especially since she wasn’t actually seen by a vet.
I would expect healing in 2-3 days to start. Discharge and swelling should go down in a few days too. The abscess might need to be lanced. The bathroom worries me as the cat might be in pain? I would schedule a vet drop off soon.
Our cat developed a large abscess after a cat fight a few months ago. She developed a fever and was very lethargic and not eating. The abscess had to be surgically drained, she was given an antibiotic shot, and a drainage tube was placed. After the drain tube was removed we were told she may continue to leak for a few days, but to place a warm compress. She has continued to leak periodically for the last month. She has developed a couple repeated abscesses in the same spot, but they have gone away and drained on their own. I’ve been putting warm compresses on them, but they seem to never really stop draining. She’s acting like her happy self and eating fine, but I’m concerned she still isn’t fully healed. Is it possible she needs another round of antibiotics, or is there another action a vet could possibly take?
SOrry for the late reply. More antibiotics is not a bad idea. Then a re-check to make sure the pocket is closing.
Hi, My cat abscess already burst, but can abscess on cat heal on its own? Without squeeze the abscess? I can’t took my cat to vet due to corona virus.
And can abscess speared on cat body If there’s some abscess leave in my cat body? I mean after abscess was burst, and I don’t squeeze the abscess since my cat feel pain.
They heal much better with antibiotics. You need to know why there was an abscess in the first place to be able to answer the spreading question. Very often they can heal, slowly, on their own.
9 days ago, I found a most likely 1-2 week old kitten in my backyard with two bite marks on its back. The place of the mark started swelling up day by day. Eventually, pus came out and I tried my best to drain the Pus before it could become and abscess. I would clean any pus that would come out with a damp cotton and sanitize it. But this morning she woke up and started limping in her front paws. Im worried if this has anything to do with the pus? Im well aware her surviving isn’t very high, since she’s too young. I give her regular cow milk powder and turn it into milk
which is all I can provide.
Kittens can eat wet kitten food pretty early, but try TLC and see if it helps. You can bring her to a vet for fluids and antibiotics too.
I have a stray cat and he has a puncture wound I thought it was a raccoon bite but now it looks like he ran into some Barb wire he acts normal like a normal healthy cat I’ve been cleaning it out all the time but he keeps re opening it this is the third time with him re opening it and he won’t keep a wrap around it but I haven’t put any ointments on it since I figured it would mess with his original healing do u have any ideas on what I could do
Antibiotics and an elizabethan collar. You dont say where it is.
My cat had an anal gland abscess about 11 days ago and had a cone and antibiotics for two weeks. He threw up a lot the other day and I called the vet and they thought it was because he hasn’t been eating as much as usual and having an empty stomach could make him nauseous. This morning, I took his cone off, but I’m nervous about him licking the area where the abscess was. They said I should leave the cone on for at least a week and it has been about 11 days. Did I take the cone off too soon?
How does the area look? If healed you can take off the cone.
Went to the vet this afternoon and found out that a stray outside cat that I’ve been taking care of has an abscess on the back of his left ear. The vet lanced it but didn’t put a drain on it. She added some antibiotic and injected some saline(? clear liquid) before pulling out the line.
She prescribed me with ab and told me to watch his fever (he had a pretty high temperature) as well as for the signs of the abscess filling back up.
When we lanced the abscess it was hard to the touch. Now it’s pretty squishy but the bump is still very noticable. How do I know if the abscess is filling up again, or is it just normal healing process?
Another option that my vet recommended was to open the abscess up and then stitch him back together. However this cat is an exceptionally anxious cat, and cannot handle being inside a cage or even inside a room for too long. If you could also advise me on how to help him calm down it’d be great!
Thank you so much in advance
Soft swelling is ok with healing, but if it get hard or tight like a balloon it is filling. It would also hurt if getting worse. Sounds like the right treatment but hard to assess without seeing the cat. You can see how it does for the next week and re-visit the vet or just watch the ear to see if it gets better.
Hey I was wondering if you can help me. I just got a kitten about 7 weeks old only 5 days ago. The day I brought him home I saw a bump on his cheek closer to his bottom jaw on the left side. There was no signs of a scab or scratch on him, but it felt like an abscess. I brought him to the vet (Not my normal vet due to me feeling like it was an emergency and there was no appointments available), and they confirmed it was an abscess. He also ended up having ear mites which I assume is unrelated but I will include just incase. The doctor drained the abscess a bit with a needle and prescribed him an antibiotic. He didn’t give me a cone for him or tell me to clean the area or anything like that. He also didn’t tell me if anything like these next few things would happen, I just want to point that out. The first day after the vet, it just had a little scab on it. 2 days ago it Swelled up a lot again, eventually started draining, and the wound actually opened up. I started doing warm compresses on him about twice a day since then on my own accord due to my own knowledge on abscesses. Yesterday it scabbed and looked a lot flatter, still kind of swollen. Today, I bought him a cone after calling an emergency vet about him starting to try and scratch, learning I should have been given one for him In the first place. I saw now the scabbed portion is a bit larger, a bit swollen still, still draining a bit, but I noticed he now has a little bump forming more underneath his eye somewhat formed with the swelling he already has. I’ve been giving him 0.4mls of amoclan (amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium) 2 times a day. This is day 4 now. Should I be concerned or does it sound like it is healing properly? Could this new smaller bump be additional swelling, or another abscess?
Good question. The cone might help prevent other abscesses as he will scratch the healing wound. The other abscess might be a new infection from his scratch or just a continuation of this infection (obviously). You are already doing the right thing with the correct antibiotic and the cone and warm compresses. I would watch the new bump for growth and see if it starts to go down on its own, ie give it a few days. If the new bump needs to be lanced then that would be the next option. It is possible you need to add a second antibiotic if the infection is resistant to the amox/clav. You are doing everything right now you can, so supportive care and time. There are a few medication to boost immune system that are out this year (immuqin) you can try too.
I can’t afford to take my cat to the vet so what can I do for my cat he has a fat lip and my cat doesn’t go outside.
Not a lot of info there. Try the SPCA?
Hello I am seeking advice for my cat. He came back home with a wound on the back of his neck I treated it with dettol and water. The wound has now healed over. But a bit further away from the wound he has a lump that is growing but there is no wound to see if it is an abscess so I don’t think it is going to drain. I am on benefits and can’t afford to go to a vets. He is like a son to me I love him so much. And am so stressed of how to help him can you give me some advice please please Thankyou I will be waiting for a reply
Most likely an abscess also, try to drain it or soak it with warm cloths to get it to rupture. Otherwise he needs antibiotics and a vet visit. Impossible to diagnose over the internet. SOrry!
my 2 month old cat was bitten, 2 days after going to the vet and giving him antibiotics an abscess formed between his abdomen area and the stifle, first it looked like a bruise so it took him to the vet again but the dr said that its healing. 2 days after that the bruising got bigger and he is limping i rushed him to anther vet and he said that its a severe infection, his body temperature was low and he needs to be treated immediately so i left him there so they can take care of him until he fully recover. Today he told me that the cat is stable and the temperature is back to normal but he’s not eating, they’re syringe feeding him and they’re continuing with the medications
But he kept saying that the cat is weak and its a severe condition (he doesn’t want me to get my hopes up) so they can’t do anything right now except giving the cat antibiotics and wait for him to get stronger. I’m so devastated I don’t want my little kitten to die :((( Please respond ASAP
Sorry but he sounds like he is in good hands.
Hello so my cat had a anal gland abscesses I took her to the vet and they ruptured it so it cam drain out they also made sure to inject her antibiotics to prevent infection. I made sure to put her a cone for a week but I wasnt so sure if i needed to clean the wound but it ended up turning into a scab. Im afraid that theirs still pus in there since i didnt clean it or is that a sign that it is healing? Do you think it will fall off eventually and be healed?
Yes, this is normal and should heal. I would bring her back to your local vet for a follow up if you are concerned.
Hello! My cat got into a fight and had an abscess on the top of his head which popped. We cut the hair around it and have been cleaning it several times a day with saline solution and applying a hot compress. The hole is about 1/2 a cm long so it is pretty small. He doesnt seem in pain and is still eating, drinking, and playing normally. However, inside the hole theres this white stringy tissue that is very hard to get out. I’m assuming it is slough because it’s definitely not discharge or puss. Will that heal on its own as well? It has been about 3 days since the abscess burst and I noticed the white tissue yesterday. He also has been indoors since the incident and since its at the top of his head near his ear, he isnt able to lick it or scratch at it. Thank you!
This is probably some dead tissue or scab. Leave it and watch it for healing. It should heal fine with this and you just need to watch for any discharge or infection.
I have a cat he turned 1 year old in July. We adopted him as a kitten in August of 2019. He is a healthy cat for the most part besides a common colds once every 6 months or so. Since the day we adopted him he has a small hole on the side of his neck that leaks 24/7 a clear fluid. It doesn’t have an odor and doesn’t bother him, but it is always wet. We have taken him to 4 veterinarians who don’t do anything about it or know what it is. We are a total loss and don’t have a clue what to do. One vet told us he would need surgery to close the wound but thinks it’s draining from a salivary gland. Although they are not sure, and said the surgery is very high risk because of where the wound is located. We don’t know who else to turn to for answers. We just want it to be healed. They have given him a shot to try to close it. It would stop draining for a few hours and go right back to being wet. We have put antibiotics they have prescribed, kept the area clean, but nothing fixes it. He is an only pet that lives inside all of the time so there is no way something hurt him or is continuing to keep the wound open. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry, Im not sure what that is. Salivary surgery can be risky but not usually. I would seek out a board certified surgeon and ask them. I bet they fix it quick.
Hi, Mt cat has an infection on paw Dr gave him an antibiotic my question is there anything we can put on it to cover the paw to help it heal like a bootie or something. we are trying to help him heal the paw is infected and smells 🙁 Dr said the infection is not too good 🙁 crying
Thank you
You need to make sure the cat does not lick the paw. The cat might need an e-collar or something. Otherwise keep it clean and dry. No cover. Put a collar on the cat to prevent licking 100% though.
My cat started acting sus tuesday and hasn’t moved from this bed in 3 days everytime she gets up it’s like she is stretching but only goes to use the litter box then can’t get back on the bed. she is only about a year or two and won’t eat it’s seems to keep getting worse as the days go on but i’m starting to think it’s an abscess after doing research. she has a mark on her side that she keeps licking and there is a bump around it. my father whipped it down and there was a clear pus with a red tint oozing out. is that good like healing or is that bad? i’m going to try and get her to a vet asap but what should i do in the mean time because i don’t think i can get her there for another day or two.
Get her to a vet, but you can clean the area and help it drain for sure. Make sure she drinks a lot of water. Not much else until the vet.
My cat Stevie is 18 years old and has developed a smelly bloody lump on his abdomen. Due to Covid I am having difficulty info on what this is. From reading a bit of this it sounds like an abscess even though he is a strictly indoor cat. Is there anything I can do or give him to relieve it until I can get him to a vet?
Read the other replies but you can try warm compresses to get it to rupture or get more circulation to it. I would bring your cat to a vet soon to help especially for such a senior cat.
I’m very much hoping you can give me some advice. Any is appropriated.
My cat went last Tuesday to the vet, was given the Convenia injection antibiotic. Within 45 mins, an unseen abcess opened up. The next day another and then I noticed more wounds. With help, we carefully shaved the thigh to assess it. It was red and hard. I’ve been managing it with warm water 4x a day as per vets instructions.
Things were going well until last night and today. Last night his thigh burst open and a large amount of pus oozed out. It took awhile but it stopped. We carefully cleaned it up with lukewarm water and all was fine albeit the skin was obviously red.
Today however, the skin is now peeling away, leaving large wounds. Another split open and intersected with another, making it now quite large. I don’t know what to do. It’s about 3 – 4 inches long but not very deep. The skin around and in the wound looks healthy and clean. He still has another 6 days of the antibiotic in his system but I’m at a loss as to what I should do with his wounds. Can it heal without stitches? I can’t afford another vet visit but I’ll do whatever I can if he requires stitches and anything else.
Also, no idea what bit him however we think something bit, possibly a coyote? He isn’t an outside cat but broke out an open window screen and got out. He’s also only 9 months old.
I love this cat and I’ll do whatever I can to help him. For the meantime he has an Elizabethan collar on and his leg is wrapped lightly.
Thank you for your time.
Sounds like you need to give it time to heal and the skin to heal. There are not going to be any stitches most likely so the antibiotics and the e0collar are doing their jobs. Give it a few more days. He will almost definitely need another convenia shot. Sounds like those wounds were brewing for a long time. This will happen to outside cats again and again. The skin will heal eventually.
*appreciated not appropriated
If my cat forms an abscess, can she die from that if I cleaned it with warm water and if she does get infected how long would it take for her to die from it?
Impossible to answer this. Sorry. Please do not let it get THAT bad.
I have a cat that I think had an abcess but was already drained, and healing. I noticed today, that it was reopened, and there was a pocket still. It didn’t look like it was draining, and he was still eating and drinking like normal- nothing out of the ordinary. We’re not currently in a financial position to take him to the vet, so what can I do for him from home?
Read the blog and the comments. There is not too much you can do except keep it clean and maybe use warm compresses to help it burst or go down…. the cat needs antibiotics most likely.
My Cat has a big lump on her side and It doesnt burst.
They say i should take her to Vet but i have no money to do that.
help me please she is gonna die because she wont eat anything and she can barely walk.
This happened before but there was a wound back then and this time there is no wound to make the abcess empty.
I know how to take care of it if it bursts because i have done it before
but it wont burst open
Depends on why the lump is there. If she is not eating or walking that is VERY BAD and she needs a vet ASAP. If it is an abscess it needs to rupture and be cleaned. I can not really advise anything with the limited info except you need to see a vet. Try the SPCA or some other rescue if possible.
My cat has seemingly been in a fight a week or ao ago and just yesterday something on her head began oozing yellow/cream pus.
She tried to clean it away with her paw but it wouldn’t stop coming out. I grabbed a cotton ball and slightly warm water to wipe it away. It was coming out and after a while some blood was coming out along with it.
She seems to have completely cleaned it and also taken her hair off herself so I can see it.
When I looked earlier there was a hole with blood inside but now it has closed and a hard bloody covering has formed (likely a scab).
Shes been acting fine and I believe it was sore when it burst because her tail and eye was twitching.
Do I still need to take her to a vet or is it fine now?
Its always better to get a vet opinion, but if that is not an option you can watch it for pocket formation and abscess growth. There is no way to tell how it will look. Watch it closely. I assume she is up to date on Rabies vaccine.
Hi Dr. Stewart,
I need some advice from another vet desperately. About a month ago, I noticed my cat (15 year old short haired) stopped eating as much as he usually does and was having trouble keeping food in his mouth(clicking noise when he chewed and head turned while food falling out) so I took him to a regular vet. Regular vet said he had bad teeth and it was likely his teeth and took a blood test that showed elevated liver counts. They prescribed him gabapentin and demamarin for his liver.
After that appointment he stopped eating all together … he was turning jaundice.. so I brought him to the emergency vet. They took all kinds of X-rays and blood tests and showed he was going into liver failure if we didn’t put a feeding tube in ASAP. X-rays of the head showed muscle deterioration. They thought he had myositis in the jaw muscles, placed the feeding tube and gave me some prednisone.
Fed him with the feeding tube for a total of 3.5 weeks. During that time the tube displaced twice and a large mass formed about 4-5 inches away from the tube site on his shoulder, same side as the tube.
I brought him to a specialist at the same emergency vet office who ran another blood test . Blood test showed that the liver counts were decreasing but still elevated. She felt the mass and said it was likely a tumor. She requested an ultrasound of his abdomen, which I allowed. The ultrasound showed a “bright liver” and inflamed lymph nodes. I declined to allow her to Biopsy the mass (because I have spent around $4,000 at the point). I felt that if it was cancer, I’ll know bc he won’t get better.
After that appointment he got much better. Eating on his own (with a little help from some appetite stimulant at first) and was starting to be more energetic and not hiding. Then, suddenly the mass was gone a few days after the vet inspected it. There was no open wound, but I could feel the empty sack and all the fluids under the skin. He was still acting fine and doing well.
Brought him back to the vet again the same day I noticed the mass had burst internally, they examined and put him on antibiotics. She said she has never seen anything like it. My cat is still acting better and doing well. She gave me some antibiotics.
Everything was great with my cat. A week went by…cat dislodged the tube again. I was no longer using the tube tube for feedings very often (just to administer meds) So, I decided to have the tube removed. On removal the vet noticed “some” puss. She asked to culture it- I refused (due to 4K spent thus far). He was already on an antibiotic and I decided to just continue with the antibiotic and clean the tube site often.
About 4 days after the removal, I noticed swelling of the tube site. I used warm compresses and kept it clean. It was very hot.. but he was acting better than ever and eating tons of food on his own. Then.. I noticed a scab at the tube site and pulled it off. Puss started pouring out from the site. I am not over exaggerating when I say- I drained puss from the tube site for over an hour. Just when I thought it was done… he would move him neck and more would come out. It was like there were pockets of puss in the entire region of the tube site… even down near where the mass used to be. I was physically pushing puss up from the mass site on his shoulder up to the tube site. It smelt of rotten eggs.
He didn’t seem in pain and seemed to enjoy it actually, my sweet boy. So… now… it’s been 2 days. Vet office refuses to see him unless I agree to having it flushed and put him under anesthesia. Called another vet- same story. No one is willing to prescribe an antibiotic without culturing him. Meanwhile, my boy is doing the best he’s ever been. Even playing last night.
Vets are saying the infection and puss will likely come back… but I’m cleaning, monitoring, squeezing while reopening the hole (using sterile gloves of course) and nothing is coming out. The area is no longer hot and my cat seems back to his normal self prior to this whole fiasco.
What the heck do I do? I have spent so much money and time… I doubt most would have endured the aggressive feedings and shelled out the type of money I have spent (and I am not a wealthy person). This has stretched me financially and I don’t want to put my 15 year old kitty through anymore stress. I also don’t want to let him die of something treatable when I have gone this far to help him.
Is it possible that he could fight off this puss situation… he seems to be… or is it inevitable that it will come back? The vet makes it sound like it will definitely have it come back.
Could use some advice from someone who doesn’t have something to monetarily gain from this. Starting to feel like I’m being taken advantage of because they know how much I love my cat.
Sorry for the long message- just wanted to tell my story accurately. Thank you in advance.
It is an interesting story and sounds like (briefly) the tube got infected (very common) and you had the cat on the wrong antibiotics that did not help the infection. The culture would have determined this faster BUT in the mean time cats are super hardy and resilient and the cat fought the infection himself. The liver situation seems like fatty liver if the cat was not eating and now you know your cat needs to eat every day or this will likely come back. The jaw (and maybe teeth problem) was the ultimate stimulation for this whole cascade that started with liver and ended with simple infection and pus pocket. In a sense you might be out of the woods and just need to watch the cat. I would have agreed to the culture but understand the financial aspect. Just watch for changes at this point and good luck! If you seriously think your vet is running tests for money…. SWITCH VETS 🙂
I have an indoor cat who got out and came back with a bad wound. Hid eye was swollen shut. I cleaned it and thought that would be okay. The next day it was huge and he started leaking blood. I figured that it ruptured on it’s own and I just had to keep cleaning it. The swelling started to go down and he seemed normal. Until yesterday night. His mood changed. He seemed a little disoriented. He isn’t his usual playful self. He isn’t eating, only drinking excess amounts of water. Barely wants to walk. Same thing today. He is also leaking a strange light brown liquid from his bum. His eyes are watery. One thing I did notice is that he has a medium size bump on his forehead/wound area that feels pretty hard. Please help, what do I do.
Bring him to a vet? Sounds like he has a nasty infection that is going systempic and attacking his immune system. There is literally nothing I can advise you to do except get him a FULL work up and vet visit. You treated the wound ok, but it clearly was not enough or way more serious than originally thought. Sorry but see a vet.
hello i have a question about my cats’ abscess. the abscess has burst, seems to be draining okay, no signs of spreading, and the swelling is little to none. my cat is acting normal just a little scared. i do however see a white tissue looking thing inside the abscess that feels like rubber. will that drain on its own, should i try to pull it out or should i be concerned?
HArd to tell from this, I would not pull it out but not sure exactly what it is. If it is necrotic tissue then it will dissolve with much more pus and infection and you should have a vet look at it. If it is a foreign material I would only then consider pulling it out. If it is more pus and a capsule then you need a vet visit or flush the wound very strongly.
turns out not sure what it was but it came out on its own and he healed perfectly fine thank goodness. my aunt’s vet game him a look and said everything turned out okay. thank you so much! he also learned his lesson lol
Great!
Hi Doctor,
My cat has an infected piece of tissue above the eye, it was treated by the vet and he is finishing the course of antibiotics. I was advised to keep him inside to avoid fighting with other cats. However, he has been an outside cat his whole life and is not used to using litter boxes. He is also very unhappy and keeps crying to go outside. Would it be advisable to let him outside during the day when he does not fight or should I still keep him inside?
There is no good answer here. If you vet advised being inside because he is on pain medication that might alter his state, then you have no choice. If the vet wants this wound to heal before he gets other wounds from fighting then you need to wait until the wound is sufficiently healed I would think. Otherwise, you need to decide what is best for the cat. I think outdoor cats always get into fights and kill wildlife, so try to convert him or just let him out……
Hi! I have a feral. Trapped him and got him neutered and vaccinated but I had them run other blood work and he tested positive for FELV and FIV. They suggested euthanizing but he seemed too healthy (I won’t let a cat suffer, but I knew he had a lot of purrs left in him). That was a year ago and since then he stays mostly on our deck and has let me pet him if conditions are right. Sweet guy. Still extremely skittish. He got in a fight last night and I believe these bites will begin to abscess. I managed to get 2 mL amoxicillin in his mouth. I have amoxicillin and prednisolone in my fridge from another pet who had pillow foot. Getting this guy to a vet would be extremely hard. Should I give him prednisolone as well? Or just amoxicillin? Hopefully I can get this taken care of here but if I have to get him to a vet I’ll try to figure a way. Appreciate any advice.
SO a few things… 1) The FELV/FIV is now spreading to the other cats in the neighborhood via these fights. One of the reasons people suggest euthanizing “feral” cats who test positive. The FELV has a 1-3 year life expectancy from diagnosis or even less depending. The FIV is not as bad but can really cause problems down the road and is quite contagious. I would consider all of that. 2) Unless you are going to run a course of antibiotics you are doing MUCH more harm to the cat, the environment and the other animals around giving spot doses. This is how resistance occurs and please stop. 3) Prednisolone is the absolute last medication I would suggest as it causes immunocompromisation in animals and will make the infection and the viral loads much worse. This cat needs convenia or another long acting antibiotic that is injected or he just needs to try to heal on his own (or of course if you can get antibiotics in twice daily without fail use the amoxicillin). Antibiotic resistance is a major thing, and will actually cross to you and your family. Sorry for the lesson, but this is important stuff.
Hi, I was trying to surf the web to find out how I can treat my cat’s bursted abscess. We’ve taken him to the vet twice. Both times it was cleaned and he was given antibiotics, but our problem is it’s not healing. He’s had this abscess for about 2 and a half weeks. He’s 16 and an indoor/outdoor cat. I have no clue what to do and I know it’s dangerous to put an older cat under anesthesia so I am trying so hard to figure what I could possibly do to make it heal. Any advice helps. Thanks in advance 💗🙏
Most cats do not need anesthesia for abscess lancing and treatment. If it is coming back again and again on the same spot with no cause then you do need anesthesia for a biopsy. Mabye this is more than an abscess. I would “maybe” try a calm 3rd round of antibiotics and lancing with no anesthesia and a good long dose of antibiotics (3 weeks) that you are 100% the cat is getting. After that I would move to anesthesia and a biopsy.
It’s not that it keeps coming back, it just starts to dry up and then he tries to get his cone off, eventually he does and scratches it causing it to bleed. Do you think just getting it removed would be the easiest solution? He’s old and very set in his ways lol I’m just nervous with him being 16 that he won’t wake up from anesthesia. 💔
Very hard to assess. I would likely not remove it. You should ask your vet about this.. they will have a better idea on the condition of the would.
Hi,
Thank you in advance for your advise.
I have a 17 year old cat, indoor- she recently had an abscess appear out of nowhere- 1st one- it burst- took her to the emergency room- they drained it. Couple days later, followed up with the vet- they said she looked great- everything was healing fine.
Today, about 3 weeks later- she had a small- fluid like bump in the same exact spot- it burst. Another abscess.
Why another one? I am trying to drain it on my own the best I can. Today is a Friday- no where is open until Monday- she is acting completely- fine – can I wait until Monday to take to to the vet. I don’t want to pay for the emergency room again.
Impossible to tell…. you can PROBABLY??? wait but only you can tell. Depends on how big and if the cat is doing well.
Hi. I took my cat to be declawed. When they sent her home her paw was open where they glued itand bleeding. Called vets office and took her back and they ended up putting sutures in her paw. She ended up having a cut in her eye as well when I picked her up from the initial declaw. I began to ask the doctor about her eye and they said it was an ulcer. Her pre exam was done before declaw and she’s never had an eye problem until I picked her up from declaw surgery. I asked the veterinarian how was it possible she developed and ulcer in 24 hrs?? He said its possible. Then the other vet that put in her sutures said should could have herpes. She was fine before I brought her in no eyes problems and health was in optimal condition. I asked them how is it she has herpes but on all of her vet records no note of this or any symptoms. The more I questioned her she became irritated and snatched my poor cat out of her cage after they just put sutures in her foot and the tech brought her out while I was questioning the vet. As she took her out the cage she told the vet tech to close the door to the room we were in and proceeded to snatch my car out of the carrier and hitting her leg on the metal of the door. I told her to just leave her alone your hurting her. Her foot was stuck in the door. She began tussling with me over the cage and cat be because I told her I didn’t like her handling of my pet. Finally after begging her to let her go and let us leave the vet tech opened the door for us and said just let them go. She followed me out the door yelling at me I told her you were intentionally hurting my cat. I made a complaint with the director and police for her assaulting me as she was yanking the cage she grabbed her bruised my arm. The director and head veterinarian refunded my money for the declaw. Now her paw is swollen. Took her back and they said she is fine even though the veterinarian there that day didn’t look at her paw or do xrays although she said they might have to instead Gave me gabapentin. Took her 2 weeks later for suture removal and her paw is 3 times the size they said no infection and she is healing “fine” Called director and sent pictures and she talked to head veterinarian and they gave me onsir for 3 days. Cat not walking just laying around with head down. Foot still swollen. They apologized numerous times and said that should not have happened and yet my poor cat Is still sick with swollen paws obviously due to the trauma of the vet snatching her out of her cage after her surgery hitting her leg against the metal door of her carrier. I’m disgusted this is the humane society y the way. Not sure what to do at this point please help with advice. Sorry so long thanks in advance!
I would seek a second opinion stat and see what is going on. Declaw is a very painful and slow healing procedure if not done well or with a laser (much better), so it could be infected or still healing. Have a second opinion from another vet asap!
I need help. My few weeks old kitten is having seizures. I woke up at 5 am on Tuesday, August 17th, and took a shower for school. A minute or two after I got out, I heard my mom ask my little sister, “What’s wrong with him?!” My sister replied, “I don’t know!” I wrapped my self up then ran out of the bathroom and asked what was going on, to which my mother said my baby kitten was having a seizure! I walked closer to see him and blood was on the blanket that was on my living room floor. The blood came out of his nose and mouth. He was meowing and he kept dragging his body around. (By the way, his name is Tiger.) Tiger also kept scratching behind his right ear. His breathing was off like it was small fast breaths. His breathing changed to him taking tiny deep breathes, but then it went back to normal. We are bottle feeding him and his brother because their mother abandoned them and the rest of the litter, but we only got Tiger and Oreo (the brother cat). At one point, Tiger got up and kinda walked by himself, but his body and legs were shaky. I think he was trying to lift his head up too because his head would go up, but then fall again. He tried this 2 or 3 times. I cried and I stayed next to him. I tried to comfort him by telling him everything is going to be okay and that I’m here for him. I also told him that he’s a fighter and I’ll help him as much as I can and that I love him. I stopped him from scratching himself after the first 2 times, because I thought he was hurting himself. I kissed his head and stomach gently because I was trying to comfort him. My mom told me to prop up his head, so I did. We separated him and Oreo, and we put the blanket in a big box then we put tiger in there. Before I left for school, he was still moving and meowing and his breathing was still a little off, but he was still alive. I can’t afford to take him to the vet and i’m not letting myself throw in the towel! So I need advise on what I should at home. What home products can I use for him to be okay and maybe help him recover? (Does heat work?) What can I do to make sure he’s alive? Is there any advise you can give me that would help me help him? And also, did he even have a seizure? I don’t think a seizure can make you cough up blood, can it? *I just arrived home and he is still alive!*
Wow, there is a lot going on with Tiger. Tiger needs a vet, no way around it. I would be worried about a shunt if he is seizing (a loop that skips his liver) (google portosystemiic shunt in kitten) or it could be massive worm infestation and he is anemic, could be bad nutrients (depending on the milk you are feeding him and you need to get on soft kitten food asap, severe ear infection and inner ear disease or a HOST of other issues. I would try to get him to the spca for a visit or seek out a shelter or rescue that you trust. Tiger needs a vet, there is just too much going on. For now you can just nurse him with good quality wet kitten food and keep him comfortable. No heat or cooling, and just make sure he does not suffer. If he is suffering…. you did not “rescue” him… just remember that. Sorry and good luck.
Having animals my cats and dogs my whole life, sometimes the vet just isn’t a possibility. I’ve learned a lot with experiences throughout my life with animals and how to prepare when veterinary care just isn’t possible financially. My question is my cat Blue, who’s both indoor and outdoor cat fights with a known stray cat fairly often. when I went to pet him, and felt the excessive swelling on the side of his face. The whole cheek is swollen and hard. Probably the size of two golf balls if combined. After noticing, I immediately wanted to find or see what is exactly is causing the swelling. Gently moved the hair and see two puncture marks without any scabs that are open without scabs. There’s dark reddish brown blood that’s wet not dried at all. I could smell the infection. I’m not a vet or do not have any professional degree but do have first had experience in dealing with the same type of cyst for 6 years reoccurring. I am very good with animals and feel confident in treating him at home if it was from the fight. I even have an antibiotic. I do worry though that if these two puncture wounds could possibly be from a snake bite. I live in fl, on the lake, surrounded by woods. We definitely have snakes. I haven’t seen or experienced snake bites with animals. I know what symptoms and what behavioral changes that are possible. The question is are there any distinctive differences in what the puncture wound looks from another cat or snake bite? Like sizing, shape, spacing, or depth. He’s definitely not himself. This morning after i located the punctures he was alot more irritable than now. after moving his hair to see the marks he let me know that his pain level was high and not to touch. Also in the early morning he was having rapid breathing which has stopped. still lethargic, if awake tail goes back and forth without stopping, Heavy eyes, appetite and thirst decreased.
Abscess or snake bite. It is too late to treat them differently. Drain, pain meds, antibiotics.
I would see a vet for pain medication and appropriate antibiotics for sure. This is one in which lack of care will cause the cat to suffer.
I have a six month old kitten who went in to be spayed. When she came home she developed an abscess on her jaw. Took her back to vet and it was lanced. (She is only an indoor cat so likely scratched or bit at vets when stayed over night for spay) she is on antibiotics and metacam. Noticed this am that the lump is hard again. Will antibiotic take care of it or does she need to have it lanced again. It is getting expensive. Paid for spay and vet visit to have it looked at and lanced plus antibiotics. She should not have come home with an injury from another animal that I’m now paying to treat.
I would agree this is weird… talk to the vet and ask what happened??? Otherwise a firm lump probably needs to be lanced again BUT it might also heal with antibiotics. More likely to heal faster with a lance.
I just wanted to thank you and tell you how awesome it is you go out of your way to provide good advice to people free of charge just because you are obviously a animal lover and pretty much a great human being keep up the good work and the world needs more people like you.
Thank you!
I have a cat that got out and returned with a bite wound. I didn’t notice until she was straining to poop. She eventually became blocked and I took her to the vet to get her bowls unblocked. The vet noticed a small wound on her lower back and gave me a topical ointment for it. After being home a couple of days though, I noticed her starting to strain again to poop. After trying to help her I noticed a very deep abscess on her inner thigh. I had never seen one that big and deep before. So, I returned to the vet and he gave her antibiotics and something for me to flush it out daily. The wound slowly healed and closed up but she still continues to struggle pooping. I have to give her lactulose and Miralax to help her poop, but it’s always a strain. At first I thought she had damage to her anus and couldn’t push it out, but the vet said it wasn’t the problem. I’m wondering if she had muscle damage where the abscess occurred and that’s why she doesn’t have the muscle strength to push her poop out. I do cat rescue and planned on finding her a home since she’s very sweet, but now she can’t even be in the house since she makes such a mess when trying to poop. I’ve managed to keep her from getting blocked again, but one missed dose of her laxatives and she has a problem again. If the tissue died from the abscess, could this be the cause of her difficulty pushing her poop out? I just don’t know what to do with her so that she can have a somewhat normal life. I don’t mind giving her the medicine, but it doesn’t cure the problem. It just allows her to somehow get her poop out without getting blocked, but she still strains and makes a mess with it. Do you have any advice on how to help her?
Hard to assess if the abscess or bite wounds would changer her defecation ability. I will say that many cats have that problem without any trauma. There might be nerve damage to the large intestine that prevents normal movement BUT just as likely she has some other condition that might have been exacerbated by the stress or just coincidentally occuring. There are certainly drugs and tests you can do to help, as well as biopsies and imaging to determine the cause….but…. the cost is usually prohibitive and often I think people just manage chronic constipation with diet and laxatives. You might consider subQ fluids daily as well to help keep her over hydrated as well as a wet diet and loads of water. If there is a physical obstruction in her colon or rectum, then I would think more about the trauma being the cause.
Hi there
My cat gets a pussy abscess every other week on the same paw and in the same place. It heals after antibiotics and then she gets another. This has happened around 8 or 9 times now and each time it swells, leaks and we start all over again, is this usual for cats? I know you said that it is probably a bite wound, but surely it wouldn’t always be the exact same place, back left ankle area! I am really concerned as having to attend the vet every month will get a bit waring after a time (no offence LOL) What is your opinion? I also have 2 other cats who have no issues at all 🙂
That does not sound normal….at all. Is there a chance there is a cancer in that joint, or a piece of foreign material that is causing this? Maybe a serious infection that is not fully cured? Have you cultured it? Have you xrayed the area? Maybe the vet needs to sedate and explore the wound. 2-3 times I can understand but 8 or 9 seems way too many. I would start to seriously explore and investigate. If you vet is reluctant you can ask for a second opinion? If this is an inside cat even weirder…….. Finally make sure the cat is not immunocompromised with FIV or FELV or something. Good luck.