My cat has a draining hole with pus. Can I treat it at home safely?

The cyst was actually an abscess or pocket of puss from a cat scratch or bite. I'm glad it is draining as it will heal quickly now that the infection is coming out. I would massage all of the infected material out of the wound then clean the area with hydrogen peroxide. Then apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. Keep it clean and treated daily and this should heal in a few days to a week. Since it's draining a veterinary visit shouldn't be needed unless it fills again and Salem stops eating due to a fever. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Salem.

Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent rubbing or pawing. Apply a warm compress for 5-10 minutes several times daily to promote drainage. Keep the area as clean and as dry as possible. Monitor for lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite or fever. He will likely need antibiotics. Your vet may explore the wound to rule out foreign body or deeper abscess.

Poor Ninja. This sounds like she has an abscess (pus filled pocket just underneath the skin) that has ruptured. These are caused by trauma to the skin. I would not attempt to treat this at home because honestly most cats won't tolerate you flushing this out with an antiseptic, and you cannot get her on antibiotics without a prescription through the vet. Perhaps you can convince your folks that Ninja is in need of medical care to properly treat this before it gets any worse, which could potentially require further, more expensive treatment. These are relatively easy to treat if done quickly and Ninja could be on her way to a potentially full recovery within a week's time (on average). If you cannot get her in to the vet until Monday, then you can attempt to flush the wound with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water using a syringe or Pediatric bulb syringe. I hope that your folks can see the need for Ninja to see a vet, and she gets the care she needs soon. Best of luck!

This is a draining abscess. Please clean the area with a warm damp cloth until the discharge is gone. Then you can apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. If he’s not neutered I recommend getting him fixed so he doesn’t get into fights. If he’s sick then he probably has a fever from the infection and should have a veterinary exam and antibiotics. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jasu.

You can apply a warm and damp washcloth to the area, which will help the area continue to drain. Gently trim back Hocus's fur, and clean the area with antiseptic soap. I would not put any antibiotic cream on it. Although quite safe on superficial wounds, cats groom and ingest most of the topical ointment you apply and therefore should be used only under direct veterinary supervision and if there are no other appropriate options. Many human ointments contain multiple other ingredients which are not necessarily safe to be swallowed. I would keep an Ecollar on Hocus to keep her from licking at it, and keep her indoors if she is allowed outside. Monitor the hole for signs of infection, which include redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, and pus. Should you see any of those signs, I would take her into the vet as she will need antibiotics to treat the infection.

Unfortunately no, there isn't a cream you can put on it to heal. He has to see a vet for systemic antibiotics to treat it. Since he's an outdoor kitty who roams, he can be given a long acting antibiotic shot so he doesn't need to receive medication on a daily basis. Please trap him and bring him into a vet today.

You can clean the area with hydrogen peroxide. I would then take a hot wet washcloth and massage the area. The heat and massage will improve the blood supply to the area so it will heal more quickly. If there is a pocket of puss the goal is to get the scab off so the infection can drain. If there is an open wound then I would apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it afterwards. If she becomes lethargic and not eating then I would bring her in for an exam as she may have a fever and need antibiotics. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.