My cat's tail area is swollen with brown fur. Could it be a bite?

If Cali fights with other cats, she could have an abcsess on her tail from a cat bite. I would be concerned because it’s bothering her, so I would take her into a vet today or tomorrow to have it examined, diagnosed, and treated. I hope this helps!

Hi there. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Felix has an abscess on his tail. it is very common for them to get this from the bite of another cat. The loss of appetite is usually due to a fever from the infection. The other possibility would be a fracture in the tail. Either way, he needs to see a vet for treatment. Your vet should be able to distinguish between these two possibilities with just an examination. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Rilian. He will need to see his veterinarian as he most likely has developed an abscess under his skin. Cat teeth are very sharp and puncture the skin introducing bacteria deep inside. The overlying skin heals quickly trapping the infection underneath. A visible swelling will develop. This is what I suspect has happened to Rilian. Most cats will develop a fever and may stop eating. He will likely need antibiotics and possibly to have the abscess lanced. In the meantime, it is fine to shave the overlying hair. I would not apply anything topically aside from water to cleanse the wound though. You can apply warm compresses for 5 minutes 3 times per day if he will tolerate it as well. I hope this information helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A dog bite would almost always leave puncture wounds but perhaps a cat bite, another trauma (landed wrong, etc). In case it is a big abscess, I’d strongly recommend you see the vet as soon as possible. It will need to be lanced, drained, and flushed and Lady will need some antibiotics. It’s likely not an urgent emergency but the first available appointment tomorrow would be good. Best wishes to you and Lady!

It looks like it could be an injury to your cat’s tail. If he’s allowed outside, he could have gotten into a fight with another cat causing the wound. Cat bites frequently become infected and cause an abscess, so I would have this checked out by a vet today or tomorrow. The vet can clean it up and can give antibiotics as needed. I hope this helps!

Mano should be examined by a veterinarian. Cat bites can quickly become infected which will require antibiotics for treatment. The puncture in her abdomen should be examined to make sure it did not puncture the abdominal wall. This would be a serious situation. The swelling near her tail could be a developing abscess. You can share pictures if you request a consultation, but Mano would be better served by a physical exam followed up with the appropriate veterinary treatments.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You could try to keep it clean but aside from that, I am afraid that he will need veterinary care. Puncture or bite wounds can get infected rather quickly and result in a fever which may be why he is not eating. They can form abscesses that require local treatment and antibiotics. You could perhaps consider taking him to an emergency veterinarian who is open over the weekend. Good luck and have a great day!