How to help a stray cat with a worsening, smelly neck wound?

Unfortunately no, there isn't a cream you can put on it to heal. He has to see a vet for systemic antibiotics to treat it. Since he's an outdoor kitty who roams, he can be given a long acting antibiotic shot so he doesn't need to receive medication on a daily basis. Please trap him and bring him into a vet today.

Antibiotics in the US aren't available over the counter, and cats are picky with their food so they are unlikely to eat food that is treated with medications. You can get a live animal trap and leave food in there to try to capture the kitty so it can get proper treatment.

If it is possible I would take this cat to the SPCA or a veterinarian. This wound needs to be cleaned up and the cat needs antibiotics. If you take her to a veterinarian you would have to be able to medicate her without her running away from you and to do it safely. If you would like to continue to take care of her I would also recommend a Rabies vaccination for her to have her protected especially since you will be handling her. If you brought her to the SPCA they would take her in and after her recovery they would be able to put her up for adoption. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Ouch, poor Eddie! Unfortunately, it's impossible to fully assess this wound's severity from a picture alone. The wound itself looks fairly large and appears to be covered in a hair-crusted scab. The challenge likes in how deep the wound goes under the scab, and if it penetrates into the tooth roots, jaw, or salivary glands. To answer your question, yes, Eddie does need veterinary attention. Since he's afraid of people, it's likely that he will need to be sedated in order for your veterinarian to examine this wound. Your vet will need to determine the depth of the wound, and at a minimum, will need to clip the hair around the wound and clean it with an antiseptic cleanser. I fully expect that they'll prescribe an antibiotic or give a long-acting antibiotic injection, as it's likely that this wound is also infected. Try to get to the vet as soon as you can - preferably within the next day. Until your vet appointment, be sure to put an e-collar (cone) on Eddie to prevent him from scratching at this area, as that will make matters worse. Best of luck and I hope that he heals quickly!

It looks like this little girl has a bite wound. I would recommend trapping the cat and bringing it to a shelter if one is available. I would be cautious about touching her just in case the animal that bit her had rabies. She need veterinary care, this is not something you can take care of at home. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This sounds like a very serious injury and I would strongly recommend that he be seen by a veterinarian immediately. If he is drinking and the water is coming out of the wound, this will very likely require surgery, along with antibiotics and pain medications.

Poor Smudge. I would recommend taking smudge to a vet to have the wound checked out. IFs he is an outside cat I would be concerned about an abscess. Sometimes if cats have an abscess they will be very painful until it ruptures but than you will see the infection/smell. IF she does have an abscess she will need some antibiotics to help resolve the issue. Other possibilities are skin mites, parasites or fungal issues. A vet visit would be best. Hope Smudge feels better soon