Cats can sometimes sustain wounds or injuries while exploring or playing. Today, we discuss common causes of wounds in cats, how to care for a cat wound, and when to take your feline friend to see a veterinarian.
Cat Wounds
Cats are generally curious, adventurous animals and are therefore likely to sustain some type of wound during their lifetime, whether they spend most of their time indoors or a lot of time outdoors.
Wounds are injuries that damage the skin and/or underlying tissues. While these may be open wounds such as cuts, they can also be closed wounds like bruises.
These wounds can easily occur if your cat has stepped on a sharp object, gotten an item stuck in their paw or fought with another cat. While you may be able to treat some minor wounds at home, more serious injuries should be addressed by a veterinarian.
If you find that your cat has an injury, it's important to remain calm and have the wound treated as soon as possible, as bacteria and viruses can make their way into even minor wounds and cause infections. Untreated wounds and subsequent infections can cause more severe health issues.
Today, we'll list signs of cat wounds to watch for and steps you can take to help care for your kitty.
Signs of Cat Wounds
Cats generally hide their pain quite well. As a cat parent, staying on top of monitoring your kitty's body for signs of injury can help you make sure they get the medical treatment they need early, before infections and secondary health complications occur. Here are some clues your feline companion may be injured:
- Missing fur
- Limping
- Torn skin
- Bleeding
- Pain
If a wound isn't noticed and treated right away, it can worsen or become infected, potentially leading to these symptoms:
- Fever
- Abscess
- Pus/Discharge
Common Wounds in Cats
If you see any of the above signs in your kitty, they may have one of these common wounds or injuries:
- Scratches
- Hotspots
- Cuts
- Ulcers
- Scrapes
- Burns
- Skin Rashes
- Insect Bites
How to Care for Cat Wounds
The minute a cat is injured their immune system will automatically start working to heal itself and try to fight off any infections. However, this isn't enough. You need to take action immediately to keep the wound from becoming worse and to prevent the development of any infection.
The first thing you will want to do is call your veterinarian. Every type of wound requires different first aid steps. Your vet will be able to provide you with the exact actions you need to take and provide you with specific tips for how to take care of a cat wound using first aid techniques.
Here are the first steps you should take if your cat is wounded:
Contact Your Veterinarian
If you notice your cat is injured don't hesitate to call your veterinarian. They will tell you the steps you need to take based on the type of wound your cat has received and the level of bleeding that's occurring. It's very important that you follow these instructions carefully.
Assess the Wound For Signs of Infection
If your cat's wound is older it could already be developing an infection. Some signs of infection are abscess, fever, noticeable discomfort or pain, behavioral changes, or/and a discharge of pus. If you find signs of infection it's essential to bring your cat to the vet as quickly as possible for treatment which could consist of antibiotics.
Determine the Severity of the Wound
If you didn't spot any signs of an infection, your kitty's wound is most likely fresh. It should be easy to determine the severity of the wound just by looking at it. If a cast, stitches, or surgery is required you need to call your vet or bring your cat to the nearest emergency vet immediately.
Manage the Bleeding
When it comes to treating a cat's minor open wound, administering successful first aid care and managing any bleeding is key. You may be able to staunch the bleeding by applying pressure directly to the wound with a sterile gauze or a clean cloth. Depending on the depth and location of the wound it could take approximately 10-15 minutes for a blood clot to form. If a blood clot isn't forming properly you need to take your cat to see an emergency vet straight away.
If possible you can also try to help slow down the bleeding by raising the limb to the level of the heart.
When to Take Your Cat to the Vet
If there are signs of infection, severe bleeding, broken, limbs, fever, or other severe damage like the examples listed above you should take your cat to the vet as quickly as possible.
If you are uncertain if a veterinary visit is necessary, call your veterinarian who will inform you if your cat's injury needs to be addressed by a veterinarian.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.