My cat has holes on his back and can barely walk. What's happening?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Goldy. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. I am concerned that his wounds have become infected and painful to him. He will likely need antibiotics to help the wounds heal, but could require surgery. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chilly. If you can submit a picture that would be helpful. If she has a small open circular open wound, it can be a breathing hole for a fly larva known as a cuterebra. In this case, you can see the larva moving in and out of the breathing hole. If this is the case, she will need to see her veterinarian for removal. If not, she could have a wound from trauma such as a bite if she is around other animals. She will need to see her veterinarian to determine the cause and if treatment is needed. In the meantime, do not allow her to lick the area as this can lead to infection. I hope this information helps!

I would be concerned that Rocket was attacked by another animal, or may have been hit by a car. Sometimes bites from other animals can be hard to find, or injuries from trauma are internal and cannot be seen without tests such as x-rays. It's very concerning he is in a lot of pain, and he needs to see a vet now. He needs pain medications, and he should be evaluated to see what is causing the pain so he can be treated. You cannot give him any OTC human pain medications, as many are toxic to cats and are fatal if given. He absolutely needs veterinary care now, please take him into one immediately.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Based on this picture, it looks like it could be a growth. There is a possibility that this skin defect can be closed but that depends on an examination and if it makes sense clinically. This could be a benign or malignant growth. There is no way of knowing what it is just based on its appearance. This is often differentiated by a test called a fine needle aspirate (FNA) which is a pain free, inexpensive and easy procedure which in most cases will help reach a diagnosis. Sometimes a biopsy is needed for a definitive diagnosis. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. I am really hoping for something benign. Good luck and have a good night!

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can eventually 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.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Mister. I would assume from what you are describing that one of two things has happened. Mister either got into a fight with another cat/some wildlife or he has suffered some other trauma such as hit by car/other. I would advise taking Mister to your veterinarian. They can get a detailed history and do a thorough examination of the affected areas. Typically with fights, the hind end is involved since one cat is often running away from the other cat or animal that is attacking it. Of course bite wounds and scratches can occur anywhere on the body. Your vet can then discuss a sound treatment plan which could involve sedation/anesthesia, clip/clean wounds, drain placement, antibiotics, rabies booster, pain medicines, anti inflammatory medicines, etc. If you are not sure what happened, your vet will most likely advise a rabies booster shot (if no fever) in case this was a wild animal such as a raccoon, skunk, etc. Good luck with Mister.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm very sorry to hear that Alfie's back legs stopped working acutely. This is really concerning, and I would have him evaluated by a veterinarian right away. This could be due to some sort of trauma/injury, like to his back/spine. It could also be a neurologic problem. It is also possible for cats to get something called an aortic thromboembolism (ATE), which means a blood clot gets lodged in their aorta (the body's major artery) right where the vessels to the hind legs branch off. This is also called a saddle thrombus, and results in acute loss of blood supply to the hind legs, which is extremely painful. Regardless of why Alfie has stopped using his hind legs, I recommend having him examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian can try to localize the issue and decide what treatment is best. I hope this is helpful!