Caring for a wounded cat?

Question

Hello again! I've already left a ? about a cat I'm caring for that has been badly (aprox 2x5 in size) cut. But I've got more questions now. The cat seems to be doing pretty well and it's been a week now. I've ditched the hydrogen peroxide and just using warm soapy water and wound lotion. On some days the cut looks really good, but others it looks like the nastiest thing I've ever seen. Is that normal to go back and forth like that? He licks it quite a bit and the cat does have worms so that's probably definitely not good. Can I worm him right now? I've always read to never worm a sick cat, but is a bad cut considered sick? He also has pelvic damage as he's a little unsteady at walking so I removed the litter from his resting cage because of the mess and I was constantly rinsing litter out of the cut. I'm just using newspaper now. About how long will it take for a cut that size to heal? It's actually my father-n-laws cat and he'd rather kill it than help it! I just hope I'm doing right

Okay so I forgot to mention that the first time I left a question a few days ago I mentioned there that I did take the cat to the vet...but this was an outside cat that had been missing for 3 days and it since the wound was that old and the tissue had already started to dry the vet said he couldn't suture it together. He said it would have to heal on its own. As far as the pelvic damage goes, he said they could do an xray to definitely determine pelvic damage, but damage or not the treatment would be the same...simply cage rest. So I'd like another go at this, please! Sorry for the confusion!

Answer 1

First, don't use hydrogen peroxide any more. It does more harm than good. Give it a good cleaning with warm water and a *touch* of mouthwash. Next, and this is going to sound a little weird, sprinkle a teaspoon of sugar into the wound. It will kill the bacteria. Honestly, you need to get an e-collar (one of those things that look like a satellite dish) and put it on the cat for a few days to keep him from licking it. And, yes, worm him by all means! It can only do good. With the sugar treatment, it should heal nicely in a few days. Once he;s got a nice scab, then use Neosporin on it to finish the healing :)

Answer 2

It sounds like your trying hard to do the right thing, but honestly it needs to be seen by a professional. The cut on the leg is not going to heal on its own. It needs to be sutured in a certain way so that the skin will heal together and so that no infection may brew. If the cat doesn't get treatment the leg could get necrotic and eventually have to be removed. And if its truly necrotic it can get to a point where the cat could die a agonizing death. (I don't mean to scare you but...) Think of it as if the cat was ur kid....would you just treat it yourself? I know its your father in laws cat but if you don't just take the cat to the vet.....you could annonymously contact animal control. They would take the cat and get it treatment. If the cat has worms then its not getting all the nutrition it should be getting. Intestinal Parasites live in the intestine for the most part and remove all the vitamins and fats that they can. So the cat should be dewormed but it should get something from a veterinarian. The over the counter products don't truly work and no medicine removes ALL parasites. So the vet should do a fecal test the find out what parasites the cat has. Well. Good luck.

Answer 3

If you are caring for the cat, it sounds like it might be more your cat than it is his by now.

No, it is not normal for the wound to go back & forth like that. It doesn't seem like the wound is healing. If it keeps getting licked at and getting stuff in it, it will just make the wound worse. And there is the potential of the infection from the wound going into the rest of the cat's body and him getting a systemic infection.

The wound may not heal without it being stiched up and I'm sure the cat would benefit from some antibiotics.

Even if, financially, you can't do the full treatment of surgically repairing his pelvis and all that. At least get the wound treated and him on some meds for the infection and for pelvic pain.

Answer 4

cats like most animals will hide their wounds if vet is not an option you should begin feeding it more vitamins this will help it get better. you can buy the cones so it doesnt lick at it or pick it since cats do have pretty dirty mouths. i would recomend the worm thing because this could make the cut not heal as fast. if you get the cone you can buy steri strips to put the cut back together they work well but i am not sure how will they will stick with fur. along with the other people i would strongly recomend that you take it to a vet, however this is only my judgement on not seeing this animal and you in fact may have more smarts and experience with animals than i do. good luck and God bless

Answer 5

The cat may need stitches and antibiotics, otherwise it could get badly infected. Or a cone collar so that he doesn't lick the wound. It's best to get it to a vet for all these problems.

Answer 6

The cat should really be on antibiotics and the wound may never heal if he keeps licking it. You really really need a vet.

Answer 7

You're trying your utmost but I think the best thing to do is take the poor wee thing to the Vet or Animal Shelter.

Answer 8

its needs antibiotics and and e collar, the more they lick the more damage they can do! and everyone is right may need stitches.

Answer 9

you should realy go to the vet...

Answer 10

plz don't kill it take it to the vet and see wat they can do