Hi, my cat had a scraped area on her belly. I treated it for her. When I checked her the next day it's a hole.

Question

I am so upset! After tending to what appeared to be just a scrape with hydrogen peroxide and anti-biotic cream, her superficial injury had somehow opened into a gaping hole that looks like she was eating her way through herself. It freaked me out so bad that I could hardly sleep last night. My husband wants to put her out of her misery, but she is walking around and eating fine. I am sure that a vet would put her down also, it really looks awful. How can this have happened? Why would she turn a scrape into a life ending injury? Can cats have a flesh eating virus that might have caused this? If so, can it be spread to people? Help please!

I am not at home, but at work. And, her fate is sealed as far as my husband is concerned. Even if I could, I am sure this injury is too much for them to fix. It is bigger than a silver dollar and I don't even want to type about what is visible through the opening. If she was a person, It would require skin grafts, without a doubt. It is very infected, from the look of it, and there is no bleeding coming from it. I am sorry to bring this grossness to everyone's attention, but, I need to know if anyone has seen this before.

I can't leave work. And, I can't go against my husband's wishes. Believe me, I would LOVE to take her to a vet. Makeing me feel worse about it isn't helping the situation, but thanks for trying. The last time I took a cat to the vet, it racked up a huge bill over the course of a week, and they euthanized my cat anyways, I never saw him again. And, all it was wrong with him was a bladder infection that they handled poorly. I cannot convince my husband to take another cat to the vet, specially when it already looks like a lost cause. No, I'm not a doctor or vet, but I've lived with cats my whole life and love them alot, and can tell that this is alot worse than a cyst or clean puncture wound or spider bite. Even if it started as a spider bite it is out of control. This cat is a feral outside cat that I have little control over, but care for anyways.

Answer 1

I really hope this helps. As gross as it is you need to try and see if there is something inside the hole. My daughter has a cat and she lives in the country,but about a month ago she kept telling me that she thought someone had shot her cat behind the ear.She got to checking the area behind the ear as it got really infected, and this may sound unbelieveable but she came into town to see me and brought what she had found in the hole behind her cats ear.It was a larva at least that is what it looked like and it was still alive It looked like a giant fat worm. When she started checking the cats infected area she saw something and took a pair of tweezers and pulled it out.The cat is doing fine now she put antibotic cream on it . We think a giant dragonfly flew really hard at thr cat and laid its egg inside.I will pray for you and your cat, I have a Siamese cat and her name is Sarah. She is my friend and i have had her for 4 years. I had a problem with her after she had a litter of kittens and you can go to Ask.com and there are vets on there that will answer your question for free. They did mine and I was able to get her through the problem.Good Luck and God Bless. It is great that you love your cat enough to ask for help..

Answer 2

If it's a spider bite, as some people have suggested, you might need to get your house checked by an exterminator. A vet will comfirm whether or not was a spider, and be able to help your cat at the same time. If none of her organs are pucntured, she'll probably be fine. You might search the web for a local vet office that is open after you're done with work/ask if you can get off a couple hours early/explain the situation to your supervisor, and ask to go home, to take care of your cat.

Good luck!

Edit - Wether it's a poisonious spider, a virus, whatever, you might want to find out for your own safety, to say nothing of the cat. Also, you could take to the humane society, if your husband dosn't want any bills. Whatever you decide, good luck. To you and the kitty.

Answer 3

Take her to the vet. Animals are amazingly resilient, and she will most likely bounce right back with an exam and some medication. If she was hiding and not attempting to eat or drink anything, then I would be more worried for her. How would your husband feel if he had a treatable injury and someone wanted to put him out of his misery...You cannot make that kind of decision without having an exam. One of my cats stopped eating for a few days, dropped half of her body weight and when we went to the vet, he determined that she had suffered a stroke and her kidneys were affected as well as her vision. I thought sure I was going to have to have her put to sleep also; but with some food supplements and vitamin supplements, she was gaining ground in about a week. Now it is two years later, has gained all of her lost weight back, only has slight balance problems once in a great while. She is fat and cuddly and happy, just as any queen should be!!! Peroxide may not be the best choice for injuries, it has been proved now that it does cleanse the area; but it can also break down the new tissue (generally seen as a scab) and actually slow healing. This has only been recently discovered, within the last year and it is because I have several friends who are nurses that I even know about it. I actually use a mixture of tea tree oil (a natural antiseptic from Australia) 1/3 tea tree oil and 2/3 filtered water (because the town water has too many chemicals). I keep this at hand for all cuts, bites and scrapes. It works wonders. It will also fade scars on skin. I even use it in my cats (I have 4 spoiled babies) and dogs' ears for mite removal, instead of all the chemical mixtures you can buy. ( I have 1 Pom) Please go to the vet, before you make any decisions. Best of luck to you and your fur baby....!!!!

Answer 4

TAKE HER TO A VET ---> NOW.

to assume that a vet would put her down is silly......she probably needs stitches and and bandage. Stop typing on the frigging computer and go to a vet pronto.

UPDATE***

"even if I could, I am sure this injury is too much for them to fix. "
...I didn't know you were a doctor....that explains everything now...That doesn't sound that big...sutures should close the hole...and an infection can be helped with antibiotics and bandages.

How can you sit at work and be like "I am so upset!" - but not do anything?

....if you really loved your cat, you would at least try to help him. GO HOME for a couple of hours and take the animal to the vet.

And hand him over to the vet, and say that "my husband and i are not equipped to take care of another living thing." ...it is sad that people like you own pets - there should be better laws.

Answer 5

RELAX!! This has happened to my cats many times. she probably got into a fight with another animal. the scrape you seen turned into a cyst. Keep doing as you had by keeping in cleaned out with peroxide and putting the anti-biotic cream on it. as long as she is acting normal there is probably no need to take her to a vet. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

Firstly, get her to the vet ASAP.

Secondly, cats naturally try to clean their wounds. It's what their bodies tell them to do. In all likelihood, she tried to clean herself after you did and she exacerbated the problem.

The vet will need to treat the infection first of all. If it's not treated, she will die, case closed. The doctor will sew her up and treat her with antibiotics. I know that it may be expensive, but this is what will be necessary to keep her alive.

Good luck & let me know how things pan out.

Answer 7

I dont know what would cause this but you need to take her to the vet and tell them you want to help her not put her to sleep the vet should give you antaboctics and cream to but on the injury.
and think of stuff that could of happen maybe she injured herself on a sharp object a nail maybe just make sure she eats drinks and take her to the vet.

Answer 8

What!!??? That does not mean the cat must die!!!!! My mom's cat had the same thing happen to him, and it eventually healed on it's own. He was just fine. I would say if it does not start to close up, or your cat starts acting sickly in the next few days, TAKE IT TO THE VET. Chances are, the vet will just stitch it up.

Answer 9

HERES AN IDEA I BET YOU NEVER THOUGHT OF: TAKE HER TO THE VET!!!!!! IT SOUNDS TOO SICK TO THINK ABOUT. DON'T LET YOUR STUPID *** HUSBAND KILL HER THOUGH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE. TAKE HER TO THE VET IMMEDIATLY THOUGH. IF IT'S INFECTED THEN WHY ARE YOU AT WORK TYPING ON YOUR STUPID COMPUTER!!!! IF YOU HAD A HOLE ANYWHERE ON YOUR BODY, I KNOW THAT YOU WOULDN'T SELF TREAT IT!!!!! HOW COULD YOU HAVE GONE TO WORK TODAY IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!!!!! GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH, THAT SOUNDS GROSS!!! OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE ABSOLUTLY NO COMPASSION FOR THIS ANIMAL CAUSE IF YOU DID THEN SHE WOULDN'T BE SITTING IN YOUR HOUSE WITH A GIANT HOLE THROUGH HER STOMACH!!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T GIVE ME THAT BULL**** THAT YOU ARE UPSET BECAUSE ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE ANSWERING THIS QUESTION CAN TELL THAT YOU ARE NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T HAVE ANY SYMPATHY FOR YOU AT ALL!!!!!!!!!! TURN HER INTO YOUR LOCAL SPCA FOR GOODNESS SAKE!!!!!!!!! I HATE PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

Although you believe a vet would want to put your cat down, I think you should take your cat to the vet. Have you found hair wads around your house where your cat could be pulling her hair out? That could mean she has fleas. Anyway, my solid advice to you is take your cat to the vet.