What is a suitable treatment for an abscess?

[RamblinRosie]

Mine and next door’s cat continually fight , frequent abscesses.

I usually just squish and bathe with salty water. Vet only if looks bad.

NDN’s cat now has one.... She’s looking for something to treat with.

I’ve read that TCP is bad, is Savlon OK?

Alternatively, does anyone have any better ideas?

Vet, pain relief and antibiotics, vet will squeeze out pus once pain relief takes effect
Any of the tcp, savlons are not good as cats lick their paws and ingest same. If you MUST treat at home buy Chlorahexidine or Hibiscrub from local pet shop, its a veterinary product, safe for animals and wash twice a day with that to keep clean

Second the pp, vet, hibiscrub and antibiotics - my cat had metacalm for his abscess.

I work in a vets, see loads of CBA, and most need pain relief and antibiotics, they can be horrendously painful. Some cats require sedation to treat them, please don't underestimate the pain they cause.

No Savlon either. If there is an abscess vet visit will be needed.
Ours starts fights too. After the first incident and a smelly abscess on his ear we now check him over and clean any wounds using Hibiscrub-we got some in Boots.
We dilute it 10 parts water to 1 hibiscrub; apply with small piece of sponge (Not cotton wool); try to leave a few mins to foam then rinse with sponge. Food is a good distractor!
I've never had such a fighter cat!!! He is neutered too.

I take mine to the vets. Abscesses hurt.

Yes, a trip to the vets is normally necessary. They will give pain relief, antibiotics and will clean it thoroughly, normally under sedation.

Thanks all, I’ll bear all comments in mind and pass the message to my neighbor.

Usually, it's Amoxycillin and lots of cleaning. The cleaning is the most important bit.

1. Keep lumpy bit of cat well away from under your nose. You really don't want the smell that's going to come from it to hit you straight between the eyes.

1. Make up copious quantities of saline - boiled water from the kettle, pure salt (sea or rock, just not with extra anticaking agents). Have towels and cotton wool at hand.

1. Often, there's a tiny bit of crusty fur. Be brave, gently pick it off. This is your way into the pocket. Usually bathing it with a cotton wool ball will soften it enough for it to come up without causing too much pain.

1. Start gently massaging the outside of the lump towards the centre. There's a good chance the most evil substance in the world will start emerging from the tiny little hole. Keep going. And keep going, wiping it frequently with the saline/cotton wool balls to make sure the whole cat isn't covered in it.

1. As the foul substance reduces in volume, start massaging further away, but always bringing your hand in the direction of the tiny little hole. Keep going. And keep going.

1. When you and cat have had enough and nothing else is coming out, clean the top again and give him/her a treat.

1. Repeat three times a day until it's healed - you will have to reopen that little crusty area every time, as that's the only way for the muck to get out.

1. Remember that cats are little bags of fur - a tiny abscess on the top of the head will extend below the jaw on both sides, like when there's a tiny hole in your handbag lining, it always manages to swallow your keys, pen, 78p, your bus pass and several tampons. It's a TARDIS underneath the stripes.

Most people don't keep going and this means the abscess seals over again and continues to worsen.

But a vet visit is important - if fighting's the cause (which it usually is) there could be several of them and only one has been noticed. I've seen and heard the scream of a cat left untreated when they've burst, pouring blood and pus all over the place because my parent was a cunt. Nobody should leave an animal to feel that level of pain.

Vets.
Are they both neutered?
TBH if my cat was constantly fighting then I would cat proof my property.