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My cat has a bleeding, growing neck wound with fur loss. What is it?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 4 years and 7 months old | 13 lbs

My cat came home three days ago with a small part of her neck missing fur and it was bleeding and yesterday night I noticed that the area had doubled in size, I got home from school and it has gotten even bigger(shown in pictures). What is wrong with my cat?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Linda G,  MS, DVM

Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on August 25th, 2017

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It appears Precious may have sustained an abscess, probably from a fight with another cat. The abscess ruptured, & Precious has been licking the area to keep it clean. Her sandpaper tongue can actually cause more trauma to the area. You can clean the area with a little warm water & a disinfectant such as Betadine, & you may need to put an elizabethean collar on her to stop the licking. These type wounds do not always need antibiotics, but it would not be a bad idea to let your vet have a look at it just to make sure . Hope she well very soon.
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