Treating Cat Wounds

From LoveToKnow Cats

Our resident cat expert, Wendy Nan Rees, offers advice on how to care for cat wounds.

Cat with scar.

Treating Cat Wounds

When cats interact with other animals, sometimes they are bitten. If your cat suffers an animal bite, you should tend to the wound right away.

If your cat has been in a fight with another cat or animal, examine his body carefully for any bite wounds that may be hidden. Punctures may be found around the mouth, ears or neck, and on the legs or fanny. Look for any signs of blood throughout his coat. Blood may indicate an area where a bite may have occurred. Even though you may only find a few bites or punctures, more trauma may have been caused to muscles or other tissues. If the bites are deep, they may require stitches. If this is the case, you should take your cat to the vet as soon as possible so they can be stitched. Your vet may also want to put your cat on antibiotics, to ward off infection. If the wound is not too serious, you can usually take care of it at home before you have to take your cat to the vet. Be extremely careful when trying to treat any bites to your cat.

The Emotional Trauma

Remember that your cat has been through a trauma, not only to the body, but also the mind. This means that the cat you snuggled in bed with last night may want to have nothing to do with you today. You need to use caution when approaching your, so as not to alarm him.

Steps to Take

Gather Your Supplies

Gather all your first aid supplies before you tackle the cat. The bathroom is usually a good place for this because you can lock the cat in with you in a small area with no escape route.

You should have the following:

  • Your cat's favorite treats
  • Scissors
  • Soap
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Several large towels
  • Gauze

A radio playing calming music in the room may also help your cat relax a bit more while you attend to his wounds.

Confining the Cat

Next, you need to take the cat into the bathroom. Call your cat with a treat in your hand, and praise him if he comes to you. Wrap him in a towel, bundle him into the bathroom, and close the door. If your cat will not willingly come to you, you will have to cautiously approach him. If he won’t let you get close, have that towel handy. You may need your spouse or a friend to help you because the cat will be very upset if this is the case. Wrap the cat carefully but firmly in the towel, and take him into the bathroom behind a closed door before you do your examination.

The Examination

Try to clip any hair around the puncture or wound, so you can see what kind of damage was done. If the wound is bleeding lightly and freely, not sluggishly, this is a good sign. It means that the blood is flushing out the wound to some extent. Wash the wound with soap and warm water, and rinse thoroughly. You then need to flush the wound with hydrogen peroxide. Do not use any other kind of antiseptic like antibiotic ointments; this only seals in anything nasty that your flushing may not have reached.

Look closely at the bite or wound. If the muscle under the skin seems to move in a different direction than the skin, the bite may need stitches. Do not use a bandage on the wound because you want it to drain as much as possible. If the bite is still bleeding profusely, cover it with a sterile gauze dressing, or a clean piece of cloth. Put your hand over the gauze and press down firmly and gently, but not hard. Keep pressure on the dressing, and this should help stop the bleeding. If it does not stop, do not remove the gauze; just keep adding more sterile dressings until the bleeding does stop. If the wound is bad enough to need stitches, don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet immediately.

If the animal that bit your cat was killed, you need to take it to the vet so it can be examined for rabies. Do not pick it up with your bare hands; use gloves and wrap it in a cloth or a bag. Your vet can take care of the rabies exam. If your cat has not been vaccinated for rabies, it will probably have to be quarantined, so it's best to contact your vet immediately.


“Remember the animals in your life are not just your pets they’re your friends” WNR

Previous Tips

Retrieved from "http://cats.lovetoknow.com/Treating_Cat_Wounds"

 


Comments

Hi Joanna,

The best thing you can do is to gently clean the area with soap and water. You don't want your cat to ingest any substances. Just keep a close eye on it. It will likely heal on its own without problems. If it does get red, puckered or appear infected, go ahead and take her to the vet.

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard

Can I give my cat cephalexin for a skin abrasion wound (cut by mistake w/scissors) but not deep. Don't want her getting a bad infection.

-- Contributed by: Joanna

Hi Beth,

Poor kitty. The first thing you need to do is to make sure the stinger is not still in her paw. You may need help to hold her and look if the paw is particularly sensitive. Once you are certain the stinger is not in her paw, then the best thing you can do is to try to keep her indoors and keep an eye on things. Watch for any sign of infection, for example. The foot should be better in a day or two, but if not, take her to the vet. The problem with an infection is that it can get into the bloodstream and cause a far worse problem than you initially started with, so it's best not to wait if you suspect this might be happening. Hope she feels better soon. Bet she'll leave those bees alone next time! Maybe :)

-- Contributed by: LoriSoard
> See All Comments on this article    


Comment on Treating Cat Wounds



(Displayed with your comment)                        (Will not be displayed)
Verification Code:   
    

Cats Categories
LoveToKnow Tools
More Articles