It is quite normal for cats to cause small wounds from time to time. Your feline friend may fight and get hit by claws from other animals, or he may get scratched while exploring nearby areas. If you see him coming home with a new puncture wound, cut, bruise, or more severe injury, prompt cleaning can reduce the risk of developing an infection or abscess.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Choosing a Cleaning Solution
Step 1. Get sterile saline solution
The one found in first aid kits is perfect for rinsing a contaminated wound. Washing removes bacteria and dirt, while the pH of the saline is similar to that of tissues and causes minimal damage.
The trick is to pour in a large amount to rinse the injured area well until it looks clean
Step 2. Boil some water and use it once it has cooled down
This is an alternative when the wound is very dirty, covered with a lot of mud and debris; run this water abundantly over the lesion to wash it.
Water poses a slight risk because it can damage exposed tissues, as it does not have the same composition as body fluids and can therefore drain those present in injured skin, muscles and fat. However, some clinical studies have shown that using tap water to irrigate wounds is not dangerous and does not increase the chances of a possible infection
Step 3. Make a salt water solution
It has natural disinfectant properties and makes a good emergency product for cleaning a cat's wound. To prepare it, put 250 ml of water in the kettle, add half a teaspoon of salt and stir to make it dissolve; then wait for it to cool down.
This salty mixture is quite similar to the composition of the liquids and fluids of the body, therefore it creates less damage to the torn tissues than the disinfectant solutions available on the market or plain water
Part 2 of 4: Choosing a Disinfectant
Step 1. Get a commercial pet-safe disinfectant
There are several products for sale that can be used to treat pet wounds. The most common are povidone iodine and chlorhexidine. If you have any of these substances available and want to use it to treat a few scratches on your little friend, consult your vet first.
- Remember that not all disinfectants are safe for small cats; those based on phenol are toxic to them. Read the product label to find out if it contains this substance and, if so, do not use it on the cat; you can understand that it contains phenol because that becomes cloudy when mixed with water. If in doubt, avoid using it anyway and find an alternative option.
- If you want to use povidone iodine, mix 1 ml with 100 ml of water and use the resulting mixture to wash dirt off the wound surface.
- To use chlorhexidine, combine 2.5ml of product with 100ml of water to get the correct concentration to clean the wound. Chlorhexidine is also the active ingredient in many surgical scrubs, such as Hibiscrub, which is a pink soapy solution that must be diluted in water. Chlorhexidine has excellent antibacterial properties and a slight residual action, meaning that it continues to kill bacteria even when it has dried.
Step 2. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide
This product represents another very popular cleaning agent; however, be aware that, if not diluted, it can cause a lot of tissue damage. The hydrogen peroxide foam that forms when it comes into contact with the wound is believed to simply kill the bacteria, but unfortunately it also damages the tissues, which must be healthy to heal.
To properly dilute the product it is necessary to obtain the 3% one and mix it with water in a ratio of 1: 3 (for example, 25 ml of hydrogen peroxide and 75 ml of water); in this way, a suitable solution is obtained for cleaning wounds
Step 3. Use the safest option you have available
Which product to use depends largely on personal preference and what you actually have on hand. Always follow the instructions to dilute it properly, because if you use it in too concentrated a solution you can damage the tissues. Keep in mind that many household disinfectants and some sprays contain benzalkonium chloride, which should not be applied to living tissue.
If you are not sure if a product is suitable for your cat, choose a saline solution, as it is always safe
Part 3 of 4: Disinfect the Wound
Step 1. Ask for help from another person to hold the cat still
The animal may be in pain or agitated after being injured and may attack you when you try to touch the wound area. it is a completely normal instinct even for cats who generally have a mild character. With this in mind, help from a friend or neighbor who can hold the cat still so you can focus on the injury is helpful.
Try to wrap the cat in a large towel leaving only the injured area exposed. this is a good way to keep him calm and reduce the risk of him biting and scratching
Step 2. Rinse the wound with a syringe
Take the disinfectant solution of your choice and put it in a bowl; use a syringe to aspirate and spray it on the lesion. Repeat the treatment several times until you are satisfied with the work.
- A fresh wound caused by a bite must be cleaned and disinfected to reduce the risk of it becoming infected.
- If your cat has been hit by a car or fallen from a tree causing an abrasion, the wound can be contaminated with crushed stone, gravel and bacteria. You need to do a thorough cleaning to get rid of any dirt and thus limit the risk of complications, such as an infection or poor healing process.
Step 3. Use a cotton swab dipped in the cleaning solution if you don't have a syringe
In this case, you can soak a clean cotton ball with the disinfectant product and then squeeze it so that the liquid falls on the wound; if it is very dirty and you can't get rid of the residue, try gently wiping the cotton from top to bottom to clean the leather.
- Use a clean piece of cotton with each stroke so the dirt doesn't contaminate the wound again when you scrub it again. Keep wiping until the swab is clean after rubbing it on the wound and rinse when finished.
- If an abscess has ruptured, a lot of pus may come out. Use a dry cotton ball, gauze, or paper towel to clean it; apply gentle pressure to the entire area around it and press inward on the bite wound to drain the purulent material. It is important to get rid of as much of it as possible, otherwise it could become the source of a continuing infection.
Step 4. Apply a disinfectant
Once most of the dirt has been removed, you can start disinfecting the wound; follow the directions on the package to proceed accurately.
The aim is to clear the infection as long as only clean and healthy tissue remains in order to apply the disinfectant solution
Step 5. Consider dressing the wound
In most cases it is best to leave it exposed to the air, so avoid covering or bandaging it if it is a minor injury; however, if you see that the cat tends to lick or bite it, it is necessary to cover it so as not to compromise the healing process.
It is generally thought that it is completely healthy for the cat to lick the wound; in fact, the slightly abrasive tongue of felines can damage exposed tissues rather than promote healing
Part 4 of 4: Locating the Wound
Step 1. Observe the cat for signs of injury
As the owner of the cat it is important that you know his normal behavior; this can help you assess if any unusual appearance is manifesting. Check for any changes in his typical behavior, including, but not limited to, if he eats, moves or interacts with other animals differently.
- These can all be signs of various diseases, as well as possible physical trauma.
- If his personality or behavior changes dramatically and you can't figure out why, take him to the vet. they could be signs of some health problem.
Step 2. If you have seen or heard him struggle, check if he has any injuries
If you notice that he has fought with other animals or you see him limping home, you need to check for trauma. A clear indication of a struggle is the presence of a lump of fur. Look at his body and look for areas where the fur is matted or the hair has taken an abnormal angle. Gently examine his entire body by separating the fur and checking the skin underneath.
Alternatively you can notice some areas without hair because it was torn from the attacking animal; check for wounds, patches of blood, or if the skin appears swollen. This method is easier to put into practice if the cat has white or light hair; if it is black, use your hands carefully to touch his body, so you can understand where he reacts to pain or where you can feel a wound, a swelling or a scab
Step 3. Check your cat regularly for wounds
It is not always possible to witness a fight or see the marks on his body; for this reason, it is important to examine the animal frequently to verify that any injuries have not been overlooked. This is even more important if your little friend often lives outdoors and is particularly quarrelsome.
- A good opportunity to proceed is when you cuddle and caress him; keep him calm and gently run your hand all over his body as you observe the skin under the fur.
- Some old wounds may be infected; in this case you may notice swelling, scabs, lack of hair or bloody or purulent secretions.
- Old erupted abscesses often contain a lot of pus which makes the coat dull.
- The skin under the abscess also dies, leaving a large hole through which you can see the muscle or tissue.
