**Cat Bite Abscesses - the ins and outs, the treatment explained, and post-procedure instructions.
A cat bite abscess usually occurs when your cat is bitten by another cat, and an infected wound forms at the bite site. You may notice a sensitive area on your cat, some hair loss, swelling with a scab, or even drainage of pus from a wound.
The Treatment
In general, when we treat for a cat bite abscess, we lance and drain the abscess and flush the wound multiple times to get rid of the infected debris. A very large or deep abscess may require placement of a drain at the wound site, which will allow continuous drainage of the pus from the wound.
If the abscess was very large or painful, we sometimes need to give sedation and pain medication injections. These drugs are quickly eliminated from the body, and cats are back to normal in a few hours' time.
Antibiotics are prescribed. A long acting antibiotic injection (called Convenia) may be given, and it provides treatment for 7-10 days. Alternatively, we may send the cat home with antibiotics for the owner to administer twice daily, by mouth.
At Home Care
Please keep the patient inside, if possible, for the first week after treatment. Gently clean the area as needed if it is still draining any pus or bloody fluid, but at least twice a day. Apply a warm compress to the abscess once or twice a day if possible (for 5 minutes at a time) - this will facilitate drainage of pus.
If take home antibiotics were prescribed, do administer them by mouth twice daily for as long as prescribed.
We do not want the patient licking at the wound, as this could disturb stitches and/or a surgical drain which was placed, and could lead to further infection. Because of this, your cat will be sent home with an e-collar (the lampshade of shame) and he should wear it at all times when he is not being actively supervised. You may need to remove the e-collar for him to eat, but he must be supervised so that he does not address the wound.
If a drain was placed, please make a recheck appointment for your cat to have this removed in 2-3 days time.
Please watch for the following issues
Feline AIDS
If you cat has been bitten by another cat, they could have potentially been exposed to the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus can be potentially fatal for your cat.
If you cat is vaccinated, then we will continue to administer yearly boosters. If your cat is unvaccinated, then please make a recheck appointment for 2 months time. We can then do a blood test in our in-house lab and, if the result is negative, we can vaccinate your cat.
The Treatment
In general, when we treat for a cat bite abscess, we lance and drain the abscess and flush the wound multiple times to get rid of the infected debris. A very large or deep abscess may require placement of a drain at the wound site, which will allow continuous drainage of the pus from the wound.
If the abscess was very large or painful, we sometimes need to give sedation and pain medication injections. These drugs are quickly eliminated from the body, and cats are back to normal in a few hours' time.
Antibiotics are prescribed. A long acting antibiotic injection (called Convenia) may be given, and it provides treatment for 7-10 days. Alternatively, we may send the cat home with antibiotics for the owner to administer twice daily, by mouth.
At Home Care
Please keep the patient inside, if possible, for the first week after treatment. Gently clean the area as needed if it is still draining any pus or bloody fluid, but at least twice a day. Apply a warm compress to the abscess once or twice a day if possible (for 5 minutes at a time) - this will facilitate drainage of pus.
If take home antibiotics were prescribed, do administer them by mouth twice daily for as long as prescribed.
We do not want the patient licking at the wound, as this could disturb stitches and/or a surgical drain which was placed, and could lead to further infection. Because of this, your cat will be sent home with an e-collar (the lampshade of shame) and he should wear it at all times when he is not being actively supervised. You may need to remove the e-collar for him to eat, but he must be supervised so that he does not address the wound.
If a drain was placed, please make a recheck appointment for your cat to have this removed in 2-3 days time.
Please watch for the following issues
- Anorexia (refusal to eat)
- Pain
- Increased amounts of pus or bloody fluid drainage
- New swelling
- Vomiting or Diarrhea
Feline AIDS
If you cat has been bitten by another cat, they could have potentially been exposed to the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus can be potentially fatal for your cat.
If you cat is vaccinated, then we will continue to administer yearly boosters. If your cat is unvaccinated, then please make a recheck appointment for 2 months time. We can then do a blood test in our in-house lab and, if the result is negative, we can vaccinate your cat.