Dirty cat with wound & bald patches: How to clean without getting wet?

Hello. That looks like a moist and sticky bacterial infection, but a proper diagnosis would come from a hands on examination with your veterinarian. It would be best to have him looked at ASAP, but in the meantime....the main goal is to clean the area and try to keep it dry. You can use some dish soap and water to gently clean the area, then wipe excess soap away and dry it . Do not rub or scrub the tissue very hard as it is probably uncomfortable. Your veterinarian will need to prescribe the appropriate antibiotic to eliminate the infection. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Hello. It is a little tough to tell exactly what is going on, so if you have a chance to let your vet take a look, that would be best. Are you having problems with fleas? That might be one reason he is so scratched up. Bathing in Dawn will help to control the fleas until he is old enough for a flea preventative. If not, then I would pick up a skin cleanser like Hibiclens at any pharmacy, dilute it about 50:50 with water & clean the irritated areas twice daily. Hopefully, this will clear up quickly. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Stormy! I would shave the fur away from the wound then clean it well with water and a mild soap (avoid hydrogen peroxide). Then apply triple antibiotic ointment twice daily. The most important thing is to have Stormy wear and E-collar to prevent licking and keep him indoors. He should see a Vet as soon as possible to at a minimum get antibiotics but to also see if surgery is required to close the wound. I would call your local SPCA to see if they offer a low cost Veterinary clinic. I hope this helps and I wish Stormy a speedy recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Skin lesions like you are describing can have a variety of causes, including skin parasites (fleas or mites), an infection (bacterial or fungal), allergies, or another underlying medical issue. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his skin lesions, so he could start any treatment (antibiotics, anti-itch medications, parasiticide) that he may need. In the meantime, I would clean the area will diluted betadine if possible and then keep it dry, and trim his nails back as much as possible to keep him from scratching at it. Good luck!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. You need to clean it twice a day with antiseptic solution. 4% chlorhexidine would work best, you should be able to buy it at pharmacies or online. Also, make sure that that your Kettey is not scratching that area and that the other cats are not licking the wound. It should go away after a few days, but if not, she will need to be put on a course of antibiotics.

Hi there and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When you are petting her and your feel little seeds or what feels like little millet seeds, then it is very possible she could have miliary dermatitis. The #1 cause of military dermatitis is actually an allergy to fleas. It is only takes one flea to induce a flea allergy and the adult fleas can be hard to spot! Eggs and larva can be hard to see as well. Fleas find cracks and crevices to enter your home making household cats susceptible to acquiring fleas. If going to a vet is not an option, you can try bathing her in dawn dish soap (that will get rid of the adult fleas). You can then purchase an OTC flea treatment and preventative product such as Frontline Plus or Advantage to use monthly to ensure your are taking care of the entire life cycle of the flea. If the itching does not subside in a few weeks with the flea preventative, then it may be possible she has another environmental allergy or a food allergy, but I would rule out an allergy to fleas first. :) Thank you so much for your question and I wish you and Ishiban the very best!

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is very hard to tell from the photo what is going on. It is uncommon for cats to get general wounds just by rubbing up against something or scratching themselves - usually a wound is due to direct trauma like a bite from another cat. If he goes outdoors this could very well be the case. This wound may turn into an infection (abscess). At this stage I would just monitor the wound. Do not put anything on it. If you notice any of these things then you need to get him to your vet ASAP. * swelling around the wound * discharge coming from the wound * wound is hot to the touch * Casey stops eating/drinking or becomes lethargic * vomiting or diarrhea Hope this helps. Best wishes.