Health

How to manage minor wounds and skin irritations on your cat!

November 10, 2015
cat licking wound

Your cat has come home with a wound. What should you do? Firstly, do a tip to tail check to see what you’re dealing with.

Deep cuts through the skin exposing underlying tissue and puncture wounds such as from a tooth or nail may require veterinary attention. In the first instance, it’s best to jump on a call with one of our vets. In the meantime, if the wound is bleeding, apply a sterile gauze and pressure for about 5 minutes. Hopefully, this should stop the bleeding. However, don’t remove the gauze as that may cause the wound to bleed again. If possible apply a light bandage over the top, then safely hightail your cat to a veterinarian.

Minor cuts or abrasions are a different matter. They are not usually life threatening and can often be treated from home. These kinds of wounds are small (think grazed knee!) and may have superficial bleeding.

Now, ultimately your cat is in control and they are going to decide what you can and can’t do at home. Wounds are sore and if your cat doesn’t want you near them, there is every chance they will try to bite or scratch. If you cant safely examine them, you are better off scooping them up and into a carrier and heading to the veterinarian where they can do a thorough assessment.

If your kitty is docile enough and you’re dealing with a minor cut or abrasion, steps are as follows:

  1. Stop any bleeding – use sterile gauze and keep pressure on the area for five minutes.
  2. Apply a water – based lubricant- i.e. KY jelly directly to the wound. This stops further dirt or hair getting in.
  3. Use clippers on the hair around the wound – this allows air to reach the wound and you can clean and monitor it more easily. Again, safety first! If your cat freaks out don’t do it! Leave it to the professionals.
  4. Bathe the wound with saline. You can buy this from the pharmacy or you can make your own at home: 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in 1 cup boiling water then cooled before use.
  5. Dab with dilute betadine (povidone-iodine). Betadine needs to be diluted in water to make it the colour of weak tea. This is a more effective concentration.

Repeat steps four and five twice daily and continue to monitor the wound very closely. If the area is swollen, red or smelly, or your cat becomes unwell, it’s no longer suitable to manage at home. It is best to consult your vet for further treatment.