2006-07-08 18:39:04 · 11 answers · asked by Veneda P 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Cats are prone to infection, especially from the bites of other cats. Yours probably has an abcess. See your vet for some antibiotic ointment (DON'T use human pharmaceuticals without vet's advice) If it is an abcess, treatment will clear it up eventually. The cat may even lose its fur in a patch around the wound, but it usually grows back in time.
Insect or spider bites can cause abcesses, too.
2006-07-10 07:15:50 · answer #1 · answered by Spel Chekker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of wound is it? Is there pus coming from it? Blood? If it looks like a large lump, and has one hole (possibly with a scab) then it could be the living place for a cuterebra (botfly larvae). Cats can sometimes be a host for these "worms". That might be what the person you talked to was referring to. If this is the case for your cat, then it needs to be treated. Your vet can remove the larvae and your cat will be fine.
The botfly lays its eggs in the ground or near its mating place. Then the tiny larvae enter a host through openings in the skin (abrasions, etc) or through the nose or mouth. Then they make a "home" under the skin in a cyst-like structure. They breathe through a small opening on their posterior (rear) end which they put up to that hole in the skin to get air. These larvae look somewhat like grubs, if you know what those look like.
Here is some more info:
"Newly hatched larvae measure from 2 to 4 mm long and are grayish-white. As the larvae mature, this color changes gradually to reddish-brown, and finally to dark brown just prior to emergence from the host. Fully grown larvae will measure from 20 to 42 mm in length to 7 to 10 mm in width.
The early stages of Cuterebra infection are rarely evident from external inspection, and they do not become noticeable until growth of the warbles [larvae] can be detected by touch."
Sometimes the larvae can be seen wiggling under the skin. Ultimately, your cat should see the vet. Whether this open wound is caused by a cuterebra or not, it probably needs to be seen and medically treated so the cat can go about its natural routine. Infections from open wounds can cause fever, lack of appetite, and lethargy that can then lead to other more involved problems for your kitty down the road.
Hope this helps!
2006-07-09 01:57:01 · answer #2 · answered by casie_kitty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have a kitten that showed up 3 days ago. picked it up today to clean a wound on it's face. guess what. amidst all the oooze and puss there was something poking up and then going back into a hole in this kitten's head. i could tell by touch the cat's right side of head was puffy so i gently mashed and cleaned up the oooze. yuk. anyway. i sterilized my tweezers and got the alcohol and peroxide and when the worm poked its head up once again, i grabbed it. that joker was fat. and about 1.5 inches long. poor kitty. so i put the worm in a jar of alcohol to kill it, but it isn't dead yet. hmmm. kitty seems to be feeling better, is currently scratching that ear area. i came online to find out what that worm thing is. i think we have a botfly worm here from other replies to your letter. gross. thanks for posting your question though, maybe we saved a kitty!!! p.s. no vets available today.
2006-07-15 18:12:36 · answer #3 · answered by keith r 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take your cat to the Vet.
It could be something dangerous or just a scratch but that's what the Vet is for.
Once you adopt a pet you take on the responsibility for it's care as if it was your child. Not only that but cats that are not properly cared for are a danger to other cats they come in contact with.
So please take you cat to the vet.
2006-07-09 02:04:39 · answer #4 · answered by heraldmage56 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your cat may have also been bitten by an insect and simply wounded itself by scratching the bite...
Something to consider, but regardless I'd get him or her to the vet right away!!!
2006-07-09 01:45:00 · answer #5 · answered by Snacks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's called a warble and it is a larva that burrows into the subqutaneous skin of an animal, usually around the neck or ventral areas (underneath) and when it its incubation time is complete, it will fall out. it needs to be removed, as infection can result
2006-07-09 01:58:43 · answer #6 · answered by KLH 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a parasite, maybe a ringworm which is extremely contagious(you can get them too!!!!), get the kitty to the vet ASAP!
2006-07-09 01:44:23 · answer #7 · answered by amd730 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take your cat to a vet...
2006-07-09 01:45:07 · answer #8 · answered by qdrama1956 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey my dog has the same thing. if u find out what it is tell me.
2006-07-09 01:43:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is the larva of the blowfly,yes please take that cat to the vet right away!!!!!!
2006-07-09 01:48:44 · answer #10 · answered by boopsie38922 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋