As a cat owner, it can be worrying to discover that your furry friend has an abscess. Abscess in cats and can be caused by a range of factors, including bites and scratches from other cats or animals, injuries, or infections.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss what an abscess in cat, how to recognize the symptoms of one in your cat, and what steps you should take to treat it. We’ll also provide tips on how to prevent abscesses from occurring in the first place. So if you’re worried about your cat’s health or simply want to learn more about feline abscesses, keep reading!
Most often the abscess is a result of another cat’s claw penetrating the victim’s skin during a street fight over whose turf is whose. Otherwise, any cat that has access to the outdoors probably has developed the fine art of eliminating chipmunks, gophers and red squirrels. These little rodents will fight back, too! If seized by the tail they will turn and defend themselves by sinking scalpel-like incisors anywhere on the cat that is accessible. These tiny bite wounds often go undetected for days, hidden by the cats fur. Most of the time they probably heal with no difficulty… the owner and the cat hardly notice such trivial battle wounds.
Abscess In Cat
However, if the bite wound is contaminated by the bacteria from the rodent’s mouth or bacteria dragged in from the cat’s skin, the result very well could be an abscess. And cat’s toenails are notorious instigators of infection. Many kinds of bacteria can be cultured from the area of a cat’s toenails.
what is an abscess in cat?
It is a collection of pus and inflammatory fluids that develop at an internal site for the purpose of counteracting a foreign substance. That foreign substance could be a sliver of wood, a broken toenail, colonizing bacteria or even a chemical.
When the body strikes a response to these various invaders, all sorts of chemical messages are sent throughout the body calling 
for reinforcements in the form of white blood cells and blood-borne proteins. These defenders can themselves be a problem when they and their casualties build up but cannot be carried off the field of battle. So they build-up into a big pool of … well, of PUS! The enemy may have been neutralized long ago but now the body has a different problem and that is getting rid of this enlarging pool of dead defenders that itself triggers more reinforcements. A cycle develops until the pressure under the skin eventually disrupts the blood supply and erodes through the skin… the abscess ruptures to the outside and the pressure neutralizes and all those dead and rotting defenders exit to the outside world where the cat’s body could care less what happens to them!
Once the cat abscess opens and the pus has a way to escape, the healing process can take over. The purpose of intervening in a case of a cat abscess to to assist the cat in this process by facilitating the escape and cleaning up of all those dead and dying defenders, plus, often when the pus drains the offending instigator of this whole process gets swept right out of the cat with everything else! Some gentle flushing of the wound cavity cleans things up quickly, a touch of antibiotic prevents the damaged tissues from being reinvaded, and the painful pressure from the abscess is relieved.
You might be interested in viewing a surgical flushing of a cat bite wound in a human. A 19 year old cat bit the veterinarian and subsequently, even after vigorous (and uncomfortable) washing of the bite wound, the doctor’s finger swelled, throbbed, turned blueish-red and required surgery under general anesthesia to flush and debride the infected tissue. The images are not for the feint of heart, so… take a deep breath.
Now the cat is ready to have a little “bite” to eat and sneak back outside to get even!
Dealing with an abscess in cat can be a challenging and distressing experience for any pet owner. It’s important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible to ensure proper treatment and prevent further complications. Remember, prevention is always better than cure, so make sure to keep your cat clean and well-groomed to minimize the risk of infection. If you have any questions or experiences with abscess in cats, let us know in the comments below! Your insights could help other pet owners going through the same thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I treat an abscess on my cat at home?
Observe the veterinarian’s recommended course of therapy. This can entail administering necessary drugs and keeping the space tidy to your cat’s satisfaction.
How common are abscess in cats?
Following a cat fight, abscesses are a common problem for cats. Naturally, a cat’s mouth and claws contain a lot of bacteria that can spread to wounds and cause an illness. Untreated infection causes an inflammatory reaction, which attracts a lot of white blood cells to the location.
What causes abscess on cat?
Abscess in Cat- When a cat is pierced or scratched by another cat, an animal, or an instrument, an abscess may form. This severe localised wound can be quite uncomfortable. When germs infiltrate deep tissue and cause an abscess, this is how it happens. With time, the infection worsens, exerts more pressure, and wears away the skin above.
