The veterinarian will treat a cat bite wound by washing and rinsing it thoroughly with an antibacterial soap. A hydrogen peroxide solution often is used to flush out and kill bacteria deep in the wound. If there is an abscess that already has ruptured and is in the process of draining, the area should be clipped free of hair and cleaned out with an antibacterial soap.
For more severe abscesses, or abscesses that have not opened up and drained, surgical drainage is needed. This procedure requires sedating the cat and surgically making a cut into the abscess to open it up and allow all the infective pus to drain. Sometimes a temporary piece of material is left in the skin to allow the wound to drain for several days. The owner usually is asked to move the material a little once or twice a day until the drainage stops. The veterinarian usually will give an antibiotic injection and prescribe some for the owner to administer at home.
Owners should use caution when treating a cat with a bite wound or an abscess. Some cats may try to bite if the area is extremely painful. The veterinarian can assist with any problems that owners may have.
Severe wounds can leave a residual scar. Reconstructive type surgery may be an option once the wound is free of infection. This would reduce scar formation and speed the healing process.
