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My cat is scratching and licking a wound. Is it a hot spot or bite?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | British Shorthair | Male

What had caused these injuries? Has my cat been bitten?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jenny, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 16th, 2017

it is possible but it looks more like a hot spot from constant irritation and scratching. These usually start from a wound or trauma to the skin, they begin to lick and scratch to make it worse. The best thing to do is try to clip (no scissors) the hair to clean the skin with soap and water. From there you can apply cortisone cream and Neosporin until you can get him to the vet. He may need an e collar from a pet store to prevent further licking and grooming of the area.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Daniel Fonza, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 12th, 2017
Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. From your description and the pictures that you provided, there are multiple possibilities of what this could be. Without examining lucky it is difficult to say for sure what this is. Several possibilities that I would suspect would include a wound that was created secondary to Lucky excessively licking and chewing at the area that may have been triggered by an insect bite, a skin tumor of some type that was causing discomfort and now lucky Has worsened It by licking and chewing at it, or what we call an e acidophilic plaque which is part of a complex process called eosinophilic granuloma complex. Due to the several possibilities of what this could be, I would suggest having your veterinarian take a look at this in order to examine it and fully determine what this could possibly be. Your veterinarian can then choose the most appropriate tests to be performed in order to deduct what the most probable cause is. Once your veterinarian knows more about what this could possibly be, then the most appropriate treatment can be administered. I hope this helps! Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available by phone or text based consultation if you need me.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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