Treatment For a Cat Abcess

Abscesses form when a cat receives a puncture wound, especially from a bite. Bacteria enter the wound through the puncture and form an infection under the skin. The cat's body forms a capsule around the site in an attempt to contain the infection and sends a flood of white blood cells to fend off the bacteria. The blood cells and bacteria combine to form pus, which gradually fills the capsule and creates a swollen area that is painful and warm to the touch. A trip to the vet is necessary to treat an abscess because surgical intervention and antibiotics are required to eradicate the invading bacteria.

  1. Lance

    • Abscesses are treated while the cat is under anesthesia because it can be a painful process. If the abscess has not yet ruptured, the vet will make a small incision in the center of the lump to allow the pus to drain. If the abscess is very large or diffuse, several incisions may be necessary to coax out all of the pus.

    Clean

    • The vet will then flush the wound with an antimicrobial solution. Using a syringe, the vet will send large amounts of solution into the furthest reaches of the wound, repeating until all solution that drains out is clear of pus and debris. Once the wound is clean, the vet is better able to assess the condition of the surrounding tissue and gauge the severity of the infection.

    Debride

    • If the abscess ruptured on its own before surgery, the edges of the wound may be dead or compromised. In this case, the vet will use surgical scissors to neatly trim the edges of the wound to expose fresh, pink tissue that is more conducive to healing. The vet may also remove any tissue inside the abscess site that looks severely infected or otherwise compromised. After debriding, the wound is flushed again to be absolutely sure that no foreign or infectious agents remain.

    Close

    • If the abscess was small and no tissue has been debrided, the vet will likely leave the wound open. If the wound site is large, sutures or a bandage may be required. If the wound was severely infected, the vet may place latex drains that keep small incisions open to allow pus to drain as the wound heals, to avoid the formation of another abscess. The drains are removed within a few days, and the small incisions are allowed to close naturally.

    Medicate

    • The vet will give the cat an antibiotic injection immediately after the procedure, and will send him home with a week or two worth of oral antibiotics to completely eradicate the infection. A topical antibiotic ointment to be applied directly to the wound, as well as a bottle of antimicrobial solution for daily cleaning, may also be included. Some vets also recommend hot, moist compresses several times per day to reduce swelling and encourage drainage.