Why is my indoor cat biting her leg in one spot after being outside?

Hi, and thanks for your question. Even though a picture would help to understand better the underlying cause, This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any licking. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bubba! Without seeing the missing leg in person or a picture it is hard to know what is going on. I worry that there is foreign material or some other source of chronic infection in the stump of the leg. I would take her back to the Vet for an exam. Personally I would X-ray the remaining segments of the leg and consider exploring the stump or removing more of the leg higher up to prevent chronic trauma and infection. Another thought is phantom or chronic nerve pain. Bubba might feel tingling and is self mutilating. Your Vet can try medications for this. I would take Bubba back to your Vet to start figuring this out. I wish you the best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is unclear why he would have an open wound like that but likely due to some form of trauma. However, this does warrant an evaluation as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. This will most likely need local treatment and possibly wound closure as well as antibiotics and pain control medications. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to ringworm. This could also be just a focal skin bacterial infection, among other possibilities. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Ringworm can be transmitted to humans so just in case this is what is going with him, wear gloves when handling this lesion. Good luck and best wishes!

This looks like an infected puncture wound from a scratch or bite. Since it is so painful and Coco won't let you touch it I recommend a veterinary exam. They can give her pain medication and clean and drain the infection. When the puss is caught under the skin it is painful and the overlying skin can become damaged and can fall off leaving a large open raw area. If that happens it will take a long time for this to fully heal in this area. With drainage and antibiotics Coco will feel better much sooner and the wound will heal more quickly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Coco.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. This can also be a traumatic injury in which case it should improve. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

It looks like a possible lick granuloma which is from her licking. I would recommend an elizabethan collar and bringing her to a veterinarian so they can give medication to help her feel more comfortable while this heals. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.