How to care for my cat's open leg wound when I can't afford a vet?

That is a pretty large wound! That being said though, it looks like it is healing fine. It does not appear swollen or to have discharge coming from it. The tissue looks healthy. Having it stitched when it first happened which would have allowed it to heal faster. I am not sure how long it's been but a wound that size would take weeks to heal without stitches. If I were you I would keep applying a topical antibiotic cream and just leave it be. Stop using the Betadine. If he is licking it you must stop that behavior by using an Elizabethan collar (cone). As long as he keeps licking it will not heal. If you want it to heal faster you need to take him to a vet to have it stitched. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

The first step in wound treatment is to get the hair out of the way. You will need to use clippers to clip a wide area around the wound - you can't use scissors or a razor, you have to use the buzzing type of clippers. The next step is disinfection. I recommend using a first aid chlorhexidine scrub to gently rub into the wound, and wash copiously with clean water. You only need to do this once. The third step is to prevent Gio from licking the wound. Licking spreads bacteria and decreases the rate of healing. You will have to buy an e-collar or cone for her to wear since cats are very flexible and a bandage will not be able to stay in place on this area of her body. You can apply Neosporin ointment twice a day, making sure she doesn't lick it off. If you follow these steps, small wounds will often heal on their own. If the wound has already been infected, or continues to swell, oozes a creamy discharge, or he has a rectal temperature above 103 (normal is 100-102.5), Gio will need prescription antibiotics to allow the wound to heal.

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!

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do anymore at home for Ace because it's been over a month. This wound could be infected, and it's concerning that it keeps reopening bigger than before. He has to to see a vet for this, it may be infected and it likely does need to be closed by a vet for it to heal correctly. I can give you some resources that may help you afford a vet. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
 God's Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help.
 The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.
 Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay. IMOM is dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. Please take Ace into a vet first thing in the morning.

Poor cat! There are no photos attached so I can't see what this wounds look like but I can say that if there is pus, it's infected. This cannot be treated at home, he has to see a vet as soon as possible. If you can't afford a vet, I can give you some financial resources that may help help you. Your other choice is to take him into the local SPCA. They can treat him and find him a home. Best of luck. If paying for a vet is an issue, you can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. I'd also see if you can borrow money from family and friends. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/

It definitely sounds like Halo needs some medical attention. If that's not possible, try to gentle rinse it with a very mild soapy water and rinse well. Then put an e-collar on him so he can't lick it, and keep him inside to try to keep it cleaner. It sounds like the wound might already be infected, but it could possibly heal on it's own if kept clean. Being a young guy works in his favor here. Good luck!

Poor kitty. Lacerations like this need to be surgically repaired. It's the only way to resolve this without risking severe infection to your cat. I would suggest getting a parent involved here who can help you afford Orenji's medical expenses moving forward. Until you can get the help you and Orenji need, I would suggest cleaning this with Betadine diluted 50:50 with warm water to help keep the risk of infection down. I do hope that our poor kitty can get this cut treated appropriately soon! Best of luck moving forward and take care.