Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Seeking Veterinarian Help
• Method 2 of 2: Treating an abscess at home
• Tips
• Warnings

An abscess (abscess) in a cat may appear after being bitten by another cat or animal. It is formed by bacteria that enter the wound after being bitten. If you notice an abscess in your cat, take it to your veterinarian for treatment and antibiotics. The veterinarian will then tell you how to manage the wound and give your cat medication. While the cat is recovering, keep a close eye on the wound and keep the animal locked up.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Seeking Veterinarian Help

1. 1 Recognize the symptoms of an abscess. The body reacts to the bite by sending white blood cells to fight the bacteria. Then the tissues around the wound begin to swell and die off. The result is a cavity that fills with pus from bacteria, white blood cells, and dead tissue. The cycle continues and the place continues to swell. The swelling can be hard or soft. Other signs of an abscess include:
   • pain or signs of pain such as limping;
   • a small scab with signs of redness and heat in the surrounding skin;
   • discharge of pus or other fluid from the wound;
   • hair loss from the wound;
   • licking or nibbling the damaged area;
   • loss of appetite or loss of energy;
   • a wound from which pus flows.
2. 2 Take your cat to the vet. Most abscesses need medical treatment, but a small abscess that leaks pus can be healed at home. When you bring your cat to the vet, he will do a full physical. Together with an abscess, a cat may experience a fever as its body will fight the infection.
   • If the abscess is open and fluid leaks out, it can be treated without sleeping pills.
   • If the abscess is closed, then in order to open it, the cat will have to inject sleeping pills.
3. 3 Ask your veterinarian about antibiotics. Your veterinarian may send a sample of the pus for an antibiotic susceptibility test. Bacterial culture will allow the veterinarian to determine which antibiotic is most effective. After taking a sample, the abscess will be opened (if pus and other fluid is not yet flowing out of it), cleansed (all pus and other foreign bodies will be removed) and given an antibiotic.
   • Give your cat antibiotics as directed by your veterinarian and complete the entire course of treatment. Call your veterinarian if you are having difficulty giving medication to your cat.
4. 4 Find out if you need to drain. Sometimes it becomes necessary to install a surgical drain, which is a collection of tubes with which the wound remains open. With the help of these tubes, pus continues to flow out of the wound. Otherwise, the pus will continue to collect, causing more problems for the cat.
   • Follow your veterinarian's instructions on how to drain, as well as ask him what complications may arise and when to call him.
   • Your veterinarian will remove the drain 3-5 days after insertion.

Method 2 of 2: Treating an abscess at home

1. 1 Lock the cat in one room while the abscess heals. Lock the cat in the room to prevent it from hurting itself even more while the wound heals. As pus continues to drain from the wound, it may spill onto the floor or furniture. To prevent this from happening, lock the cat in one room until the abscess heals.
   • Leave the animal in a room with easy-to-clean surfaces (bathroom, toilet, or utility room).
   • Make sure the room is warm enough for the cat, and remember to provide the pet with everything it needs: food, water, a litter box, and a pair of soft blankets or towels for the cat to sleep on.
   • Check your cat's room often to pet her and make sure she eats, drinks, and goes to the toilet well.
2. 2 Wear gloves when handling a wound. Pus, consisting of blood, bacteria, and other body fluids, will drain from the wound. Do not handle the wound with your bare hands. Be sure to wear vinyl or latex gloves if you need to clean or inspect a wound.
3. 3 Keep the wound clean. The wound can be rinsed with plain warm water. Take a clean rag or towel and dampen it with warm water. Then use this rag to wipe off any pus from the wound. Rinse the rag and rub the wound again until you have removed all the pus.
   • Wipe off any discharge from the wound with a rag or towel soaked in warm water.
4. 4 Remove crust and scabs carefully. If a scab has formed over the opening of the abscess, in which there is still pus, carefully remove it by washing the wound with a cloth soaked in warm water. In the absence of pus and swelling, you do not have to worry about the presence of a scab. If you're not sure what to do, be sure to call your veterinarian.
   • To soften the crust or scab that has developed on the wound, soak a rag in warm water. Then squeeze out excess water and apply a rag to the wound. Leave it on the wound for a few minutes to soften the crust or scab. Then, gently wipe the wound with a rag. Repeat this 2–3 times until the crust or scab has softened enough to peel off the wound.
   • The abscesses form within 10 to 14 days, so keep examining the scab to see if the wound has begun to swell. Take your cat to the vet if you notice any swelling or pus.
5. 5 Check with your veterinarian before using peroxide. There is still debate as to whether or not to use hydrogen peroxide. Research shows that peroxide not only causes pain, but also damages infected tissues, slowing down the healing process. It is best to rinse the wound with plain water or a special antiseptic, which includes water and providone-iodine.
   • Just in case, check with your veterinarian to see if it is worth treating the cat's wound with peroxide.
   • If you do decide to use peroxide, be sure to dilute it with water in a 1: 1 ratio. Soak a cotton swab or piece of gauze in this solution. Then, use a cotton swab to gently wipe debris and pus off the edges of the wound. Do not apply this solution directly to the wound. Wipe the wound two to three times a day.
6. 6 Check the wound regularly. Check the wound two to three times a day. Make sure the wound is not swollen. Swelling indicates an infection has entered the wound. If the wound is swollen, see your veterinarian.
   • When examining the wound, pay attention to the amount of pus that flows out of the wound. With each subsequent day, less and less pus should flow from the wound. If you feel the amount of pus leaking is not changing, call your veterinarian.
7. 7 Prevent your cat from licking or chewing on the wound. Do not let your cat lick or chew on pus or sores, as bacteria in the cat's mouth can aggravate the situation and lead to infection. If you notice that your cat is licking or chewing on a wound or pus, call your veterinarian.
   • To prevent your cat from licking or chewing on the wound, wear a protective veterinary collar and leave it on until the wound is completely healed.

Tips

• If the cat has been in a fight, examine it for wounds and watch for signs of an abscess.
• If you do notice symptoms of an abscess, take the cat immediately to the veterinarian for an examination and antibiotics. This will reduce the likelihood of developing a more serious infection.

Warnings

• Cats that fight not only have an increased risk of abscesses, but also the spread of dangerous diseases such as feline leukemia virus and rabies. Vaccinate your cat regularly to keep it safe.