i know that i am going to have to take my cat to the vet. but its 3 pm on a saturday. everything is closed... but i just noticed that my cat has a hole in its left arm. and it appears to have pus in it. i just cleaned some of it out with hydrogen peroxide and put gauze on it until i can take him to the vet. but i have NO CLUE where this came from. he is an indoor cat and couldn't have gotten outside and into a fight.
just wondering does anyone know what might have happened? or what it could be?
2007-05-12 07:57:49 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
It's still perfectly possible for an indoor cat to injure itself, just as you can injure yourself in your home. There are hazards everywhere even in the safest home!
There are other possibilities for abscess cause - self trauma caused by itching from an allergy or fleas (which indoor cats can certaily suffer from) or other skin condition. Some of the rarer causes might be skin cancer or felina herpes. I expect it's an injury caused by catching herself on something - cats tend to lick their wounds and then the bacteria from their mouths helps a niiiice infection set in.
Chalice
2007-05-12 08:03:28 · answer #1 · answered by Chalice 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He probably had an abscess or little cyst that burst. Different things can cause them, but it's likely nothing you did. Just like humans, cats can get weird things for no apparent reason. You did right with cleaning it, and your plan to take him to the vet when they reopen Monday. Don't put your faith in web surfers, especially on a Saturday night! Your vet is your second best friend...and your kitty will always be first!
2007-05-12 15:57:13 · answer #2 · answered by rb29440 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's a tiny hole that isn't bleeding (about the size of a pin head or slightly bigger) it might be a maggot hole.
Gross, I know, but I had a kitten once who had this on it's belly. If you squeeze it gently you might be able to get the maggot to the surface and grab it with tweezers. then just reapply hydrogen peroxide and cover it again and dispose of the maggot.
Your cat might have had a small wound that attracted the fly in the first place or it might just be a random thing - it's certainly no reflection on your housekeeping or the cleanliness of your cat : )
2007-05-12 08:15:34 · answer #3 · answered by livbennett 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It looks like your kitty has injured himself on something sharp indoors lie a protruding nail, thumbtack, slither of glass... could be anything. But you did very well in cleaning the wound with hydrogen peroxide. When you take him to the vet, he may be given some antibiotics - injection or oral syrup or pills (to take home). Kitty should be fine. :)
2007-05-12 08:07:13 · answer #4 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋