Sores on my cat

[lottfam]

My male cat (approx 3 years old) is an outside cat.  A couple days ago he came home with what we thought was a 'battle wound' on his back right hip area.  I looked at it today.  The original spot is round, kinda looks like a canker sore which looks about the same as is did a couple days ago.  Now there is a more oblong sore next to it that looks similar (red, sunken in).  I poured peroxide on it originally and it seemed clean.  Today I poured it on three times and it was still bubbling up each time.  We've put him in the shed so it doesn't get dirty / gives him time to clean it up and he doesn't get bother by area animals.

Any suggestions as to what it might be?  Doesn't look like it's healing on it's own.  Can cats get a flesh-eating disease? or is it a reaction from a tick or something?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
janelle

[LindaTX]

Thank god you got to the bottom of it..  Poor kitty will be feeling a lot better immediately.  He should be good to go...as long as one of the vaccines he had last yr was the rabies vaccine. Give him a big hug for us.

[lottfam]

Took him to the vet this morning.  They said it was an animal bite of some sort and the infection was just coming out.  He is on 14 day antibiotics.  Thankfully we found an inexpensive vet.  We plan to monitor him closely and make sure we put him in at night until he heals.  Thanks again for all your help.

[LindaTX]

You know he may need an antibiotic injection.  You might be able to talk to your friend and get sonething at the farm supply store.  Of course it would be better if a vet could take a look at him.  We live in the country also, but because our 4 dogs are out there the critters, skunks, raccoons, etc. leave our cats alone but we have had skunks on the back patio eating the cat's food. He couldn't be scraping himself on a fence or side of a barn or squeezing through some hole in something could he?  I'm mystified...let us know what you find out.

[lottfam]

He is neutered.  Last night I noticed another patch of "sores".  I've been putting antibiotic cream on it for a couple days now.  Obviously that isn't enough.  Don't have money for a vet.  He has had some vaccines as he did get in a fight last year before being neutered. We live in the country so animals like raccoons and possums are a threat.  We do lock him in the shed over night when he comes home which is 95% of the time.  Going to show his to a friend that has various animals and treats them.  Hopefully they can get some antibiotics for him or give me a better idea as to what is wrong with him.

Thanks for all the ideas and concern.  I will post once we get this thing taken care of.

lottfam

[Fluffysmom]

I agree that taking him to the vet is a good idea.  It could be that a battle wound caused a deeper infection.

Many years ago I had a medium hair indoor/outdoor female cat.  I was petting her one night and was shocked to discover a rounded injury in her side; I was scared that she had been shot!  I was in college and short on money, but my mom helped me out and took her to the vet.

Seems she had a small injury that had gone unnoticed under all that fur, and it had gotten deeply infected.  She even had to have a small drain put in while it healed, but the vet cleaned it out, put her on antibiotics, and she healed up nicely.

Whatever the cause of your cat's sores, I hope you find a way to help him.  A vet could help you figure it out and find the best way to treat him.

[LindaTX]

It's hard to say what really happened to your poor kitty...at any rate he was hurt and injured by something.  You mentioned you thought it might be a battle wound?  You should consider getting him neutered and he wouldn't venture out to fight.  Like opus said, he needs antibiotic salve and possibly a shot as well for the infection.  My husband uses betadine on our livestock for cuts and scrapes, but I don't think that can take the place of the antibiotics..I assume he has had his basic vaccines?  Especially rabies. I would suggest taking him in to see the Vet and maybe getting him neutered to boot.

[nancyjac]

A fight wound would be more irregular in shape.  It could be a sting or other insect bite.  Probably not a tick as the tick  would still be there.  

[opus88]

to me it does sound like he's been injured in a fight or caught up in something that tore his back side??? just guessing.
the bubbling of the peroxide does indicate there is an infection and he needs antibiotics for this peroxide won't do the trick, and it sounds like he may also need some stitches.
can you get him to a Vet?