How Do I Treat a Cat for a Scrape?

Not every feline injury warrants an expensive trip to your veterinarian. You can treat your cat's minor cuts and abrasions at home using some common household items. The key is to address the injury right away so that you can prevent infection.

  1. Prepare the Area

    • If your cat has long fur it might get caught in the scrape and cause infection. You can carefully trim the hair so it is just short enough to stay out of the wounded area. Do not attempt to trim too close to the skin. If you have a short-haired cat you may be able to skip this step entirely.

    Check for Bleeding

    • Scrapes, also known as abrasions, only affect the top layers of skin. However, they can still bleed significantly. To stop the bleeding, apply pressure with two fingers over a gauze pad or clean towel. Keep the pressure until the bleeding stops.

    Clean the Wound

    • Saline solution or soap and water can effectively clean your cat's abrasion.

      Common saline nasal sprays are ideal for cleaning an abrasion. The squeezable bottles allow you to aim it directly at the wound and disinfect without touching it. Or use warm water and a small amount of hand soap. Simply wet a sterilized gauze pad or clean towel and allow it to flow over the injured area. To soften any scabs that might prevent you from cleaning the entire area, hold the wet towel against the wound . By gently patting the area dry, you can avoid more bleeding.

    Apply an Antibiotic Ointment

    • A small amount of triple antibiotic ointment will help prevent infection to the wounded area. Ideally, you should apply it twice a day as the injury heals. Healing usually takes about a week.

    Signs of Infection

    • If a wound becomes infected, it turns into a more serious problem. Call your vet immediately if you see signs of distress such as crying, lethargy or a favoring of the affected area. If the wound does not heal, continues to ooze or appears swollen, your cat will need prompt veterinary attention.