My cat fought a stray and has a head wound. What should I do?

Hello. If you have or can purchase a skin antiseptic, one with either 2% chlorhexidine or 1% povidine iodine, then you can gently clean this 2 times daily. Antibiotics would hasten healing, & if the wound is not looking better by early next week, I would consider a veterinary visit. But by keeping this clean, it will heal, & yes, this has the look of a typical cat bite abscess, so he did get into an argument with another cat. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Definitely take Blanco into see a vet. It's like he's developed an abscess from the fight, and the discharge you are seeing may be pus. He will need the wound drained and flushed, and he will need antibiotics to treat the infection. I would have Blanco seen by a vet on call ASAP or take him into an ER vet now.

Ouch, poor Luna. I'd gently wash it with warm water and antiseptic soap. Keep the wound clean and dry, and monitor it for signs of infection. If you see redness, swelling, warmth to the touch, or pus, then it is infected and she will need to see the vet for antibiotics to treat it. Best of luck.

This looks like some sort of wound either from a cut such as against a fence or even from another animal. It does look infected so if he would allow you to clean it off with warm water and a little mild soap that might help. Ideally he would be given antibiotics to help this heal. However that could be very difficult with stray cats. Do not give any pain medications meant for people as they are very toxic to cats.

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.

Hello. It sounds like Marmalade has an abscess. Based on its location I would worry it may get worse as if can't drain properly. Sometimes warm compressing may help these things but usually wound care and antibiotics are needed. If you do warm compress it and keep it clean and it stays small it may be able to wait until Monday. But if it continues to have discharge, has swelling or Marmalade seems painful he should see a veterinarian before then. Do not give any human pain medication as it can be very toxic to cats.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Lilly! Is the wound right by his penis? If so that is a very hard location to bandage without covering his penis. The skin around the wound is very swollen and red. i am concerned about an abscess or a warble/cuterebra, which is a fly larvae under the skin. I recommend that you take him to the Vet Monday to have the area evaluated and to start antibiotics. Otherwise he needs an E-collar or cone to prevent licking. Good luck!