My cat's bite wounds are sore days after vet care. Is that normal?

It all sounds normal. Cat bite abscesses can really take a toll on their bodies. Draining is good - it means that the infective material is getting out of the body rather than staying trapped under the skin. You can keep it clean by gently wiping with a warm wet washcloth before applying the topical medication. Decreased appetite and lethargy are also normal, but if they last longer than 24-48 hours, I would call your vet to see if she needs to go in for a recheck. Otherwise, just let her rest and heal.

I'm sorry to hear about Gooty's injury, but I'm glad to hear that he's already been started on appropriate antibiotics and pain medication. The white discharge that you are seeing certainly could be some lingering purulent (pus-like) discharge that is an accumulation of dead white blood cells, but it is also possible that it is a fibrin (protein-like) substance that is promoting healing. I can't differentiate between these two discharge types from the picture, but either one is still normal to find just 2 days after a bite wound injury. If the discharge continues by early next week, or if Gooty experiences lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, or a decreased appetite, he should go back to the vet for further evaluation. I hope that all goes well and that he feels better soon!

No, the swelling should not still be there after a week. Cat bites get infected very easily so Oliver probably needs antibiotics and anti-inflammatories to get this to clear up fully. The swelling you are seeing is either an abscess or cellulitis. He really needs to see your vet for this. Here is a link about cat bites that will give you more in-depth information. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/wounds-fight-wound-infections-in-cats There is nothing I can recommend you give him at home.Cats are very sensitive to over the counter medications (unlike dogs) and you could really cause him some harm if you try to give him any of those. He really needs medications prescribed by your vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You could try to keep it clean but aside from that, I am afraid that he will need veterinary care. Puncture or bite wounds can get infected rather quickly and result in a fever which may be why he is not eating. They can form abscesses that require local treatment and antibiotics. You could perhaps consider taking him to an emergency veterinarian who is open over the weekend. Good luck and have a great day!

That is a pretty large wound! That being said though, it looks like it is healing fine. It does not appear swollen or to have discharge coming from it. The tissue looks healthy. Having it stitched when it first happened which would have allowed it to heal faster. I am not sure how long it's been but a wound that size would take weeks to heal without stitches. If I were you I would keep applying a topical antibiotic cream and just leave it be. Stop using the Betadine. If he is licking it you must stop that behavior by using an Elizabethan collar (cone). As long as he keeps licking it will not heal. If you want it to heal faster you need to take him to a vet to have it stitched. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

If it is not painful and it is not soft and squishy (like an abscess) and he is eating/drinking and acting normally then I would suggest that you just leave it alone. Looks like he healed up just fine! Best wishes!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes it can take some time for cats to recover from anesthesia and administration of these medications together so that could be a reason why it has been taking him longer than expected to recover. If he is eating and otherwise doing well, it may be ok to monitor him for a bit longer. However, if he worsens or by tomorrow he has not improved, he should be evaluated by his veterinarian for reevaluation. Good luck and have a great day!