Deep Wound in cats
Deep Wound in cats
If you hear some shrieking and hissing sounds at night, coupled with spitting, you know it's the neighborhood cats fighting. Cats love to fight and roaming tomcats love to dig into their enemy so that they can claim the lady in question for themselves. So, it's not surprising that despite this victory, cats also go home with bites and wounds.
Their body structure also lends itself to a good fight. Take a look at their loose skin which can he easily grabbed in a fight. It allows the area to accommodate abscesses. The folds of the cat's skin stretch out as pus fills the pockets of skin around the new wounds. The skin being loose makes for better pain management since tight skin often gives rise to more pain and less mobility if a pus pocket forms.
As a cat owner, you should take care that a bite does not become infected, as this could lead to painful swelling, pus in the coat, lameness, lethargy or reduced appetite. In such cases, consult a vet immediately.
Have all bite wounds examined by your vet. Besides, a cat that has just come out of a fight has bacteria filled in its mouth which can seat itself in his body tissues where they can multiply. Small wounds too can lead to a life-threatening infection so take care of even the most innocent ones.
Treat an abscess with an antibiotic. Your vet may choose to drain the toxic pus with a tube for a few days or if it is far too deep, this may take long to heal.
If your cat suffers a deep puncture in a cat fight, this can grow into important parts of his body such as his chest where it can cause deep-seated damage to important blood vessels, nerves, or the abdomen. This can not only cause him pain, but can be a real problem when he barks or when he is attacked by a large cat, and often they can be life- threatening too.
If your cat suffers a serious wound infection, he may need to be under the vet's treatment for just a little longer until it clears completely. But if it is a mild infection that the vet caught in its early stages, perhaps your cat will need just a good flush.
The downside of a bite wound is that it can spread chronic virus infections that could affect the cat's entire body. Instances of these infections include Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), so have your cat examined for these infections if your cat has just been bitten. Though you can vaccinate your pet against these viruses, the better way is to keep him indoors.
And finally, you can tell if your cat was the poor victim or the aggressor by looking at the site of the wounds. If he has a wound at the back end, he is the poor victim. From this, you will know if you have a devil for a pet or a scared cat.