My cat has a ruptured paw lump with pus. Does it need stitches?

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see a small superficial wound above Toby’s eye. I recommend clipping the area with an electric clipper gently, if you have one available and Toby allows. Keep the area clean, and you can apply silver sulfadiazene (SSD) ointment once a day to promote healing. You can also get Toby an E-collar or “cone” to prevent him from scratching/rubbing the area and causing further trauma. I hope this helps and that all is well with Toby!

Hi and thank you for your post. If it is oozing with mucoid discharge (pus), and is a large enough cut, it is infected I will likely need to be flushed out by your veterinarian and stitched up. Tibbz will need to be on antibiotics as well. I would take Tibbz into your veterinarian as soon as possible to have this taken care of. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

That looks like either an abscess or a ruptured tumor. I recommend to have it examined and treated by the veterinarian. The kitty may need antibiotics and a special foot soak. The area also needs to be protected from any licking by having the cat wear an elizabethan collar at all times. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Stormy! If Stormy goes outside the lump was probably an abscess that ruptured. If he is older than it could be a ruptured tumor. I wouldn't suggest bandaging it, cats dislike bandages and it sounds like it is in a awkward location to bandage. I would use an E-collar to prevent licking. Warm compress the swelling and wound 2-3 times per day to promote drainage. Clean the wound twice daily with warm water and a mild soap. I would avoid salt because it likely stings. Then apply a triple antibiotic ointment to the open area twice daily. He really needs to area evaluated and if it is an abscess antibiotics prescribed. I would be sure to get him to the Vet this week. I hope this helps and I wish you and Stormy the best!

Hi there, and thanks for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It looks like Sophia is likely developing an abscess, which is a focal internal infection - the timing makes sense if she was in a fight 3 days ago.. If so, a topical product such as Neosporin won't help - she would need systemic antibiotics, either given orally or as an injection. I recommend having her seen by your vet so she gets the appropriate treatment. In the meantime, keep the area clean by gently washing it twice daily with soapy water. You can use a gentle dish soap such as Dawn. Hope this helps.

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.

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sadly there is nothing else you can do at home besides what has been previously mentioned. If you are very worried, call your local SPCA to see if they offer low cost Veterinary Care. Ideally the abscess needs to be lanced (opened) to allow drainage. We can not recommend that you do this at home. If Bubba doesn't see a Vet the abscess will likely open at some point on it's own. Bite wounds and infections are painful. Sometimes cats feel very sick for a few days before the abscess ruptures because they tend to get a fever. I would just wash the area locally and not give him a full bath. You can see if you can borrow clippers from someone. I hope this helps!