How to Treat an Abscess on a Cat

An abscess is a pocket of infection that forms beneath the skin, often from a bite or puncture wound. Cats tend to form abscesses more frequently than other pets like dogs, and unfortunately these subcutaneous infections can be difficult to detect in the early stages. Often, an abscess is discovered once the infection is well established and more difficult to treat.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Betadine
• Warm water
• Washcloth
• Clippers
• Antibiotics
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antibacterial soap
• Towel
• Gauze pads
• Elizabethan collar ("lampshade" collar)

1. Begin by clipping the fur around the abscess. The hair should be removed to create a hairless 2-inch circle around the opening of the abscess. This will allow for improved air flow to the wound, improved visibility of the wound site and easier cleaning.

2. Wash the abscess site using antibacterial soap. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, allowing the water to flow into and around the wound site for two full minutes. This task will probably take two people; one person to wash the wound site and a second person to hold the cat (grasping the scruff can help immensely), who will try to struggle since cats do not like water.

3. Dry the hair-free area around the abscess with a sterile gauze pad. Use a towel to absorb moisture on other sections of the cat's fur.

4. Pour betadine---an antiseptic---directly onto and into the abscess. This will kill bacteria without causing damage to the skin, as occurs with hydrogen peroxide. Allow the betadine to air dry. Use sterile gauze pads to absorb any drips.

5. Apply a generous layer of antibiotic ointment onto the site of the abscess. The ointment should be applied to the entire hairless area. The ointment will be absorbed through the skin to combat the infection.

6. Put a lampshade collar---formally known as an "Elizabethan collar" or "e-collar"---onto the cat's neck to prevent the cat from licking the site of the abscess.

7. Take the cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible for a prescription of antibiotics. This is the only effective way to treat an abscess, since the infection is located beneath the skin and external cleaning methods are insufficient. Depending on the severity and size of the abscess, the veterinarian may decide to perform a surgical operation to drain and clean the abscess.

8. Before visiting the veterinarian, repeat Steps 2 through 5 three times per day. Once the cat is treated by the veterinarian and started on oral antibiotics, Step 5---the application of antibiotic ointment---will no longer be required, but continue Steps 2 through 4 three times per day.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not let the cat outside while he/she is being treated for the abscess. The e-collar will have to remain in place until the abscess has fully healed, and allowing a cat to go outdoors with an e-collar can be extremely dangerous. Check your cat's temperature. Normal temperature is between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees F. If the cat has a fever, this indicates a serious infection that is likely spreading. This indicates a veterinary emergency. Treatment cannot wait; visit a 24-hour veterinary clinic if an immediate appointment is not available at the cat's normal veterinarian.
• Do not delay veterinary treatment for an abscess. If not treated with oral antibiotics, an abscess will grow larger and the infection will enter the cat's blood stream. The cat will eventually die of sepsis.

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