Cat Bites

Outdoor cats can be quite territorial and if your cat has outdoor access, they are unfortunately at risk of getting into scraps with other neighbourhood cats!

Cats carry a lot of bacteria in their mouths and when they bite, their long sharp teeth can cause a lot of damage under the skin surface, leaving their bacteria behind.

If you notice that your cat has a wound, it’s important to make an appointment to see the vet as the bacteria in the wound will cause an infection, stopping it from healing and making your cat quite unwell. Your vet can examine your cat for other hidden injuries and give your cat pain relief, disinfect the wounds and give antibiotics if needed.

Cat Bite Abcesses

Your cat’s thick coat could hide their wounds for a number of days and if the wounds have not been cleaned and treated, they may close and form an abscess. You may notice this as a large soft swelling, which is very painful for your cat. Again, this should be brought to our attention as soon as you notice it, so that we can help with the pain and discomfort and prevent the infection from spreading.

Your vet will give your cat pain relief and remove the infected material from their abscess. If your cat is painful or stressed, they may need sedation for this procedure to be carried out comfortably and safely. Once an abscess has been treated appropriately, it should heal within a week to 10 days.