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How to treat my cat's bleeding tail wound if he won't let me?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 1 year and 11 months old | 20 lbs

I need to know how to treat a wound / gash on my cats tail. It was bleeding this morning and he won’t let me cover it

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Angel Alvarado, LVT

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on May 9th, 2018

Tails can be very difficult to keep wrapped or bandaged. Consider an e-collar (cone) to prevent licking and to allow healing. That wound in the image should be addressed by your veterinarian. Ideally, the hair around it should be clipped to prevent contamination. The wound itself should be gently cleaned. Sutures may be indicated if it is a fresh wound or deep wound. Antibiotics and pain management may also be indicated.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 10th, 2017

    Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. It is difficult to see how deep the wound goes from your pictures. I would make sure that he is not licking the wound and making it worse. You can use a plastic cone around the neck to prevent licking. I would keep the area clean with a diluted solution of Betadine and saline (a light brown color) and clean the wound 2-3 times daily until you can be seen by a vet. He will likely need a course of antibiotics and depending on the depth of the wound, may require a drain be surgically placed in the wound to help facilitate healing and proper drainage. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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