My cat's lump popped and is oozing pus. Does she need a vet?

This sounds like your cat had a cat bite abscess, If you can make sure all the green goop (pus) is evacuated. If you have a mild wound disinfectant at home you can flush the cavity. Make sure all the liquid is out. It should heal by itself, if not your kitty needs to be seen by a vet and will likely need prescription antibiotics.

Hi there and thanks for posting! If you cat has a lump or mass that has appeared to have ruptured, I would visit your veterinarian right away. The mass may need to be removed or treated with antibiotics. Your veterinarian may also take a sample of the mass to determine what it is and if it needs to be removed. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. Kipsico was bitten probably by another cat, developed an abscess & it has now blown open. If she will let you clean this with warm water & a skin antiseptic like Hibiclens ( available at any pharmacy ), she will be fine until you can have her seen by your vet tomorrow. She will need antibiotics & possibly need to wear a cone to keep her from licking the area, but these things usually heal quite nicely. Make sure you keep her up to date on all her vaccinations, especially leukemia, as this virus is spread through cat bites. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

That is very oddly discolored gunk for sure. I would certainly clip (if you're able) around the area to see if it looks infected or can be kept clean at home (clean washcloth, Elizabethan collar to prevent pawing at or licking it, keeping the area trimmed and dry). If Gremlin won't let you look at it or clean it properly, more discharge is coming from it, or it's very large/rapidly changing in size, a vet visit is a good idea. They can safely clip back any hair to make sure there aren't other pockets of infection, can clean the area, and may suggest taking samples if they suspect something more than a clogged pore or minor abscess.

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.

Considering that there are multiple problems, I think it would be worth a vet exam. Skin infections along with eye infections can indicate that something is off in the blood chemistry, or with the immune system. I don't mean to scare you, but it's best to just get it checked. A vet would be able to better assess Mya's condition and determine if any further testes or treatment is needed. It's possible that these problems could get much worse if left to heal on their own, so I wouldn't recommend that. In the meantime, the wound should be cleaned well by flushing with clean water for five minutes twice a day. I do not recommend putting any soaps or antiseptics on the wound right now, because it could irritate the wound and delay healing. I hope that helps and Mya gets better soon.

Thank for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It does sound like a small pustule with pus. If it was small and it is now drained and there is no inflammation present then it is probably fine to just keep an eye on her. If a discharge develops or it becomes warm to the touch or painful, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment as antibiotics are likely going to be needed. Good luck and have a good night!