My cat has a scabby bump on its back that oozes pus. What is it?

This is either a little abscess or a ruptured sebaceous cyst. You can try to remove the discharge and gently see if you can evacuate more of the whitish material. Afterwards disinfect the wound. You should also cut away some of the hair around it so the discharge does not clump the hair together and form a breeding ground for bacteria. This should heal by itself. If it gets bigger or starts to discharge a lot of pus or blood, your kitty will need to be seen by a vet.

It looks like she make have gotten a small wound on her head, maybe from getting swatted by another cat. Cat claws and bites tend to make wounds with small holes that seal over and trap bacteria inside. This will form a small abscess which will then rupture, which is what this appears to be to me. Keep an eye on it and keep it clean with a washcloth, warm water and a mild soap. Clean it two or three times a day and make sure to get all the soap off or it will irritate her skin. As long as it continues to improve and she is acting fine, eating and drinking, she should be fine. If it closes up again, swells, gets really red, hot, or if she starts acting sick or loses her appetite, get her in to see you vet as soon as possible as she may then need antibiotics to clear up the infection and heal.

The fact that the lesions have appeared on both sides of the face in nearly identifcal locations almost makes me think that Benjamin maybe stuck his face in something that cause some sort of reaction resulting in what you are seeing there. I can't think of any other reason why the face would have been affected in such a way. As your veterinarian already indicated, there is really no way to be certain or precise about what we are seeing without tests like skin cytology and/or biopsy to send out to the lab. These tests can be time-consuming and expensive, but will ultimately give you the answers you might be looking for. If this isn't a possibility, I would treat the lesions with antibiotics and pain management, and get Benjamin on an antibiotic that is good for injections of the skin. There are plenty from which to choose. If the lesions are not cleared up within a week to ten days, I would revisit the idea of diagnostic testing. Hope this makes sense.

This is an abscess and the white substance is puss. These are often caused by something under the skin that gets infected. It could be a thorn or from a bite. It's best if a vet examines this and explores the wound, because if the cause of the infection is not removed, then the infection will never clear. Sometimes these infections have potential to cause infections elsewhere, or can get worse, so a vet may need to prescribe medication to prevent this. For now, keep the area clean by flushing with water twice a day. I hope that helps and Mittens gets better soon.

Please understand that it's impossible to say what this lesion is with 100% certainty without examining cells from this lesion microscopically. With that said, Tigra's lesion looks as though it could be a cyst. Most cysts are benign lesions. Many rupture and some refill at a later date, but they won't go away completely on their own. It would be best to have Tigra examined by her vet within the next month or so, or sooner if it's changing dramatically or bothering her. Until her appointment, keep a close eye on it for changes, but don't worry about applying any topical medications.

You didn't include a picture so I cannot say for sure but the most common cause of leaking bumps on a cat would be an abscess, which is a pocket of bacteria, fluid, and inflammatory cells that is often caused by a wound (sometimes from a bite or scratch from another animal). I cannot rule out something like a cyst or a tumor that has grown too large and the skin has gotten stretched and broken open, or even a self inflicted injury from overgrooming, but the most likely answer is that this is an abscess. Pebbles should definitely be seen by her veterinarian, who will probably clean and flush the area and may recommend a culture of the area. They may also prescribe an antibiotic and maybe a pain medication, however in the meantime you can use warm compresses over the area to help it drain and to keep it clean if she allows you to. If you have an e-collar you can place that to prevent her from licking at the area and causing more bacteria (from her mouth) to enter the area. Good luck, I hope I could be helpful!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to see that Chubbs has a skin problem. This could be a small area of bacterial infection or a cyst if it has fluid in it other than pus. This could be associated with one of the many glands in the skin causing a sebaceous cyst. Other causes are a bite from a parasite (flea, tick, mite) or insect (spider/ant) among others. I would warm compress the area if Chubbs will let you to see if you can get it to come to a head and drain. You can also put Neosporin right on the area, it won't harm either if ingested. Continue to monitor the area. If it worsens, spreads, persists, have your vet check it out. They can get a first hand look and advise on how to proceed. I have a feeling just by the picture that this may resolve on it's own with some simple treatment as described. Good luck with Chubbs.