What to do if my cat's leg hurts after a fight with another cat?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats are miraculous healers. The leg could just be sore. I would worry about an abscess forming from the bite. Abscesses required opening them up and antibiotics. The only thing you can do is clean the wounds twice daily with warm water and a mild soap and warm compress the wounds after each cleaning for the next 3-5 days. I wish you the best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is difficult to know the most appropriate course of action without knowing the extent of his injuries. However, the best thing you can do is to keep him as quiet as possible for now until you can have him evaluated by a veterinarian. He likely has trauma in multiple places which is why he is so responsive to the touch. Often times after fights they have injuries beyond what you can see from the outside. They would be able to check the extent of the injuries and recommend the best course of action but for now, I recommend that you rest him as much as possible and keep an eye on him to make sure he is ok. Good luck and have a great day!

Please keep this area clean so the skin will heal. I use hydrogen peroxide as it doesn't sting. You can then apply a thin film of antibacterial ointment on it. Luckily cats heal very well so as long as he is moving normally, is not in pain and the area doesn't get infected you do not need to him take him in. If he stops eating or the wound becomes infected or smells or he stops using the leg then take him in for an exam. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Adee. I am concerned that she may have an abscess as a result of a fight wound. This a deep infection trapped under the skin. It is painful and makes the cat not want to eat. She will need to see a veterinarian to determine if this is the case. If so, treatment such as antibiotics will be necessary. I hope this information helps!

If you can't treat her at home because she won't let you then you will need to get her to a vet for treatment. They may have to sedate her to provide treatment. If you want to try at home, you can soak the foot in warm Epsom salt water for 5 minutes 3 times a day (if she will let you). This should draw out the infection. The other option is to use this wound spray. She won't like the spray noise, so you can douse a cotton ball with the solution and then wipe it on the wound. ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/vetericyn-cat-wound-and-skin-hydrogel ) If she is licking the foot you will need to get her a cone to wear. No matter what you put on this to treat it, if she continues to lick, it won't heal. Remember, the cone must be long enough to go past the end of her nose or she will still be able to lick the foot. You can buy these at your local Petco or other large pet shop. Also, keep her indoors until healed. Hope this helps.

She most likely has an infection and it can develop, if it has not already into an abscess. I would recommend trying to find an emergency veterinarian if you can. She most likely needs antibiotics. If this is the case, there is nothing you can really do at home. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If she has no fever, pain or lameness I would continue to keep the area clean using saline or dilute chlorhexidine or iodine based disinfectant and monitor for any additional marks which may indicate an infectious cause. Handle with care and wash hands thoroughly as ringworm can appear similar to this in some cats and can be contagious to people