Treating Cuts On Cats

Cats may occasionally get injured. If a cat gets hurt, the cat owner should know how to do basic cat first aid or call the veterinarian. Certain cat cuts can be treated at home, while others require veterinary care. Any cut that exposes bone or muscle tissue needs to be examined by a veterinarian immediately.
If an object is stuck in the wound, the cat owner should avoid removing the object. If the object is removed, it could cause severe bleeding. Instead of removing the object, the cat owner should take the cat to the veterinarian.

A scrape or abrasion is usually a minor cat injury. Superficial cuts that have only damaged the skin are also minor. All minor injuries that have caused a break in the skin should be disinfected by the cat owner in order to reduce the risk of infection. If the cat becomes aggressive while the cat owner is checking the severity of the wound to determine if the cat should be treated at home or taken to the veterinarian, the cat owner should take the cat to the veterinarian’s office or veterinary hospital for treatment.

If the cut is bleeding a substantial amount, the cat owner should consult the veterinarian. Otherwise, a small amount of bleeding can be stopped by applying a sterile gauze pad with a little pressure. If the cut continues to bleed after five minutes, the cat should be taken to the veterinarian.

Once the bleeding has stopped, the cat owner should proceed with disinfecting the wound. If the cat has long hair, the cat owner may want to trim the area around the cut to make it easier to see and clean. Shaving or trimming a lot of hair is not necessary. The cat owner may use soap and water to clean the area of the cut. The cat owner should avoid rubbing the cut while cleaning it. Often, just rinsing the area with soapy water is enough to clean the cut. Hydrogen peroxide may be used either after the cut is cleaned with soap and water. If cat owners have any questions about an injury to a cat, they should consult the veterinarian.