Cat Abscess

Question
QUESTION: My cat had an abscess and it healed over. Now it is swollen again and the skin is bluish/Gray. I was wondering if I could do anything before taking him to the vet, That might help to prevent a vet bill. Thanks so much!

ANSWER: Hi Elizabeth,

The skin is blue-gray because that little patch is dead and is getting ready to rupture again and cover something in your house with pus.

The problem with abscesses is that they need antibiotics to heal from the inside out. When an abscess ruptures on it's own it's never fully cleaned out deep inside the tissues.

So in a week or so the skin heals on the outside, trapping all of that bacteria again, which then fills it with dead white cells (pus).

He needs to have it drained, cleaned out and a 10 day course of antibiotics given to him orally.


That's the only way to get rid of it for good. If he isn't neutered make sure you get him neutered as neutered cats don't fight as much. Also, cats that fight can get leukemia and other deadly viruses from the bite wounds.

They are also exposed to rabies this way as well, which then puts you at risk.

So call your vet soon and get him in!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes it actually ruptured again today. I kind of figured it was dead skin. I have cleaned it and wrapped it. I have given him a natural antibiotic. Thanks so much! Also I was wondering he's already had his shots so is he still at risk for FeLV and rabies? And yet another question, he is an outdoor cat but he comes inside. Lately he's had like these temper tantrums. One minute he's purring the next he's like a wildcat. One time his pupils got dismayed when I reached down to pick up my other cat and he attacked my arm. It sounds completely crazy but it's really scary when he does it. Is it because he's hurt and not neutered? Thanks again!

Answer
All of these behaviors are due to him not being neutered. Fighting, temper tantrums (which can become violent)biting etc, are all because he is a tom cat.

He will not last long as a tomcat. Do him and yourself a favor and get him neutered asap.
He will thank you and so will your skin.