In her mind, she’s a tiger, But your cat might think she’s tougher than she really is!
Veterinary practitioners often note the most common wounds they find on cats are from other cats but cats can injure their skin from excessive scratching due to fleas or skin conditions.
Outdoor cats can be wounded by wild animals, neighborhood pets, cars, other machinery or even human cruelty. Regularly observe the behaviour of outdoor cats when they return to the house, paying special attention to any change in routine. An injured cat may sometimes hide the wound or ignore it out of pride or defensiveness.
Indoor cats are just as much at risk of injury, even if they always land on their feet. Cats can become curious about small spaces, easily surprised and are notoriously bad at backing up safely once trapped. It’s up to you to safeguard your house and keep up with the day your cat had while you were out running errands.
Whatever the cause, wounds can become infected and the infection – and often the wound itself – can go unnoticed until it is even more of a problem than the original injury. Petting and playing with your cat isn’t just fun for you both – It’s an important ritual that allows you to inspect your cat for damage he might have earned while being the small lion that he believes himself to be.
Cats have a tendency to hide when they feel feverish, so a missing or unusually reclusive cat is a good tip off that the cat might be feeling sick. Indoor cats are surprisingly enough more likely to get infections due to poor litterbox maintenance and lack of immunity-causing exposure to all types of gross things found outside.
If a wound stops bleeding on its own you can prevent infection by applying neosporin and wiping fresh wounds. You can also pick scabs out of fur, as long as they have completely come away from the actual wound. These practices can help prevent an infection but once the area around a wound becomes red and inflamed, you should take your cat to the vet immediately. It is likely that the area will need to be shaved and in severe infection the cat may require antibiotics and possibly even surgery.
Most importantly: Avoid developing antibiotic-resistant infectionss by preventing infection in the first place. Your wild-at-heart little cougar will appreciate the attention and your wallet will thank you for not dumping money into veterinary treatment you could have avoided~! Inspecting and grooming your cat mimmics natural cat social behaviour and makes cats feel loved, so don’t be afraid to treat wounds yourself!