Help, I've cut my cat whilst de-matting her! (Warning, includes pic of small wound)

[AugustSeptemberOctober]

I feel so terrible, sitting here in tears. I usually have my fluffy cat groomed about twice per year, but at £70 for a full de-matt I just can't afford it right now. I decided to have a go myself, and I have cut her
The cut is only small but it's quite deep. It hasn't really bled, only a tiny bit around the edge as you can see in the photos. I am of course very worried about my cat, but also worried about a huge vets bill. I have got some cat antiseptic from when she had an abscess last year, so I could treat this in the same way... Should that be sufficient? A wound this small shouldn't need stitches should it? Gosh I feel so guilty.

Oops pics

It looks like it needs stitching to me

I think it'll be fine, just keep it clean, maybe keep her in for a few days so no dirt gets in, or till it's started to heal over. Use either the antiseptic you have or just cooled boiled salt water will do. Am sure she'll be ok.

Am a fellow cat owner, we have 2, so totally get how you will be feeling, don't feel guilty she'll be fine x

I think the vet needs to see that. Life’s very expensive right now and you won’t be the first one they’ve seen. Do you qualify for PDSA funded vet care?

I’ve had longhairs and demattted them too, we used my dads beard trimmer.

I once did that. I phoned a vet and, as I recall, sent a photo, and he advised just superglue -ing the edges of the wound together, which I did and it was fine!

@nipersvest

I think it'll be fine, just keep it clean, maybe keep her in for a few days so no dirt gets in, or till it's started to heal over. Use either the antiseptic you have or just cooled boiled salt water will do. Am sure she'll be ok.

Am a fellow cat owner, we have 2, so totally get how you will be feeling, don't feel guilty she'll be fine x

Don't use antiseptic - it's dangerous to cats.

Aww, I sympathise, I really do, have cut my cats fur so many times to get knots out and had many close shaves, literally! 🤦‍♀️ I would ring the vets as I’d be worried about infection.
If it makes you feel any better I once was grooming her with some battery clippers, she turned her head and I shaved off all her whiskers on her right side! The poor thing was so stressed, was acting like she was drunk, couldn’t walk, was staggering everywhere as she had no sense of balance. I rushed her to the emergency vets where they gave her a sedative for a couple of days, then she was absolutely fine. An expensive mistake! I now get her clipped every 8 weeks by groomers who come to the house, it costs £35. Is there anyone local who could offer that service?

It would benefit from a stitch and your cat would benefit from pain meds so ideally you'd be taking her to a vet. Otherwise you can try skin glue if you can get some from a pharmacy but you have to be very careful and have a still cat for that to be successful as you have to hold the skin together, then apply glue (don't put it in the wound) and hold it together for a few seconds.
Whatever you do DO NOT GIVE HUMAN PAIN MEDS.
In future don't ever use scissors for De-matting, get some clippers, much less likely to end up with a cut although you still have to careful as some cats have paper thin skin, especially as they get older.

You could also just ask for some pain meds from the vet describing what happened which should be a bit cheaper.

It's horrible when you really have to watch what you spend in situations like this and it drives me bonkers when people say money doesn't matter.

You could also just ask for some pain meds from the vet describing what happened which should be a bit cheaper.

Unless she's been seen recently vets aren't allowed to 'remote prescribe'. They were temporarily during the pandemic but not anymore. They are legally not allowed to prescribe meds for patients that haven't been seen very recently.

Ah, that's rubbish, my vet suggested it but they've only seen her during lockdown.

Mine had a cut like that when her stitch was removed after surgery. Took a while to knit together and heal up so you’ll need to make sure they can’t scratch it during that process when it’ll be itchy!

I did this to a cat years ago. Felt terrible but Dcat recovered and didn't seem to hate me.

I now use a seam ripper to carefully cut a few strands at a time. Designed to not tear fabric and only cut a small amount at a time. Would recommend.

Don't worry, I did exactly the same thing. She had some stiches. But actually I think it would have healed on its own. It wasn't bleeding at all. I was in bits. Cat didn't care and was fine! I now only use thinning scissors to de Matt.

Thanks everyone. I took her to the vets in the end because I knew I'd be up all night worrying otherwise, and I didn't want her to be in pain. They just said to keep it clean and monitor it, thankfully! She had a preventative antibiotic shot and some pain relief too, so a good outcome I think. I won't be taking the scissors to her again though, that's for sure!

Hope it heals well. In the meantime can you sort out grooming daily at home once it’s healed to prevent matts forming. You can’t rely on a groomer if the cat only goes every six months.

@CheshireChat

Ah, that's rubbish, my vet suggested it but they've only seen her during lockdown.

Remote prescribing ended in November last year I am afraid.

Saline solution, antiseptic, then wrap repeat twice a day for a few days if it starts pusing etc, take to the vet. Should be fine.

This thread is nearly four years old 🙄