MY POOR CAT has a cut on his foot, but i just noticed it and it's obviously a few days old, what should i do?

Question

we put peroxide on it , and wrapped it up in some gauze & are making him stay indoors( he's and indoor- outdoor cat & we're pretty sure he stepped on something outside). but he came up to me earlier and there was a slight odor in the area, so i started to take the bandage off but he freaked out ,so now he's working on taking it off on his own.

should i wrap it back up? or should i let it get some air? was the smell just because it was wrapped up? or is that a sign of infection? i'm mostly looking for at-home remedys and will go to the vet as a last resort. also, is it safe for him to lick at the wound if has peroxide on it??

thanks

Answer 1

Usually if there is a smell it's due to infection. You can cleanse the wound one more time with peroxide to clean bacteria out. Then use a good triple antibiotic cream (neosporin) do not wrap. If the paw feels warm and swollen you can try an Epsom salt soak for the foot. Epsom salts draw out impurities and is fairly cheap to buy. You want to mix it into a plastic glass w/ warm water and insert foot slowly. let soak about ten Min's. Depending on your cats attitude, this may not be easy. If after the soak and application of neosporin there is still a funky smell. A trip to the vet will be needed to get antibiotics and make sure there is nothing imbeded in the foot.
Good Luck.

Answer 2

You should have left it open for him to lick. A cat's saliva actually has all of the same properties as the peroxide you put on it, and he would have kept it clean on his own. However, now that you have wrapped it, since he couldnt get to it and it was moist, it may be infected and you'll have to take him to the vet. Next time you notice something like that, just try keeping kitty inside, but leave the wound cleaning to him.

Answer 3

How big is the cut? Is it swollen/red/hot? Does he have a temp? If there's an odor, it could very well be infected, and you'll need an antibiotic from your vet.

As a Vet Tech student, one of the first things we learned was "if you wouldn't put it in your eye, don't put it on a wound." We were highly advised against using peroxide on wounds. Try some saline and some Neosporin.

The other concern would be that there is something stuck in the foot.

Answer 4

yes, it is okay for him to lick it if you put peroxide on it. Cats get into all sorts of stuff, as long as it wasn't a massive amount, it is fine. Personally, I would take him to the vet, but if that isn't possible, you can always call the vet. Most vets will give you advice over the phone, you could explain your situation, and ask what you should do. If you can't afford it, they will often see you anyways and charge a discounted price ( as long as you don't do it too often.) If you can, make sure there isn't something stuck in it, such as a thorn or a stick. If there is something stuck, don't try to take it out yourself. In that case, you will definatly need vetrinary care. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Poor kitty! First of all, one mistake we humans make is trying to 'treat' our pets' injuries and illnesses like we would our children. The truth is, the cat is not a human with a foot, but a cat with a paw. Some people go to school specifically to treat said creatures, they're called vets! But there is one rule common to all of us and that is "if it smells, it's infected!"

Because he's an animal, he will try to lick it to clean it but he may worsen it. He may even need stitches so please, take him to the professionals.

If a child was injured or sick, would you take him to the pediatrician as a last resort? (obviously i'm an animal lover, sorry!:)

Answer 6

You should take the cat to a vet. If the wound is infected, the vet will be able to prescribe an antibiotic.

Answer 7

Clean it, put neosporum on it and wrap it. Do this everyday.

Answer 8

keep cleaning it, if it isn't better in a day or so, call a vet.