Do I need an emergency vet or can this wait?

cordiality · 2023-02-20T22:21:27+00:00

We were at my mum’s over half term and was at work today so I’ve just seen my cat properly for the first time since last Tuesday. She has an injury on her tail where it joins her body - big patch of fur missing and two wounds, total size is about a 50p piece I reckon. There doesn’t seem to be blood and the area is clean, but there’s definitely shiny liquid, not sure if it’s pus. No idea when it happened. She seems happy enough in herself. I’ll attach a photo in the next post, don’t look if you’re squeamish. Do I call emergency vet tonight, or is tomorrow ok? Does it look like a bite to you? Thanks 🙏🏼

Original poster

cordiality · 20/02/2023 22:22

Pic attached

Do I need an emergency vet or can this wait?

OP posts:

Icanflyhigh · 20/02/2023 22:23

If she's happy in herself I would say you'll be OK to get her in tomorrow. It may be a stress thing if you've been away. I run a boarding cattery and we have a fair few over groom through stress and always around the base of the tail.

Icanflyhigh · 20/02/2023 22:24

Is she peeing and pooing ok, and eating?

Hellocatshome · 20/02/2023 22:26

Bath with warm salt water and call the vet in the morning.

lljkk · 20/02/2023 22:28

that can wait a day or 2 fine; might even fix itself without vet attention

Original poster

cordiality · 20/02/2023 22:32

Thank you so much for quick replies!
I don’t know about pee/poo unfortunately as she goes outside and she’s very private (unlike my other cat who likes to wait until she has an audience…)
I’ll see now if she’ll let me bathe it a little for me, and call the vets in the morning

OP posts:

VeryQuaintIrene · 20/02/2023 22:33

We have had good luck putting hydrogen peroxide on that kind of thing to keep it clean and uninfected. Worth keeping an eye on, though, to make sure it doesn't start to look infected.

Original poster

cordiality · 20/02/2023 22:35

Icanflyhigh · 20/02/2023 22:23

If she's happy in herself I would say you'll be OK to get her in tomorrow. It may be a stress thing if you've been away. I run a boarding cattery and we have a fair few over groom through stress and always around the base of the tail.

It didn’t occur to me that she could have done this to herself! Poor little cats 😞 that must be upsetting for you to watch

OP posts:

Cinnamontoas · 20/02/2023 22:35

Use the spray on Leucillin while you wait for a vet appt x

StarDolphins · 20/02/2023 22:39

It might be a stress thing if you’ve been away. My sister cat used to have a big sore patch every time she went away.

Will be fine tomorrow or get some CLX wipes & wipe 3 x per day.

StarDolphins · 20/02/2023 22:40

Meaning fine for vets tomorrow not that the sore will be fine!

Original poster

cordiality · 20/02/2023 22:40

Cinnamontoas · 20/02/2023 22:35

Use the spray on Leucillin while you wait for a vet appt x

Thanks, I think I can get this at the vet’s - will go past there first thing and show them the pics at the same time

OP posts:

Original poster

cordiality · 20/02/2023 22:42

StarDolphins · 20/02/2023 22:40

Meaning fine for vets tomorrow not that the sore will be fine!

Ha - I’ll buy the wipes in bulk if they’re that good!

OP posts:

Clarich007 · 21/02/2023 09:57

Oh I thought it looked like an abscess. Might be wrong, but the bald patch and two wounds could be bite marks?
Hope she's ok.

MrsSkylerWhite · 21/02/2023 10:00

Whatever it is, looks like it’s healing. I’d still go to the vet, in the morning, though. If it was a dust up, there could be other hidden injuries and you don’t want an abscess anywhere.

HazardaGuest · 21/02/2023 10:04

This is something I would leave, keep an eye on cat, make sure they’re eating and seem happy. It really stresses most cats out being taken to the vets so I only go for emergencies.

OhNoNotThatAgain · 21/02/2023 10:10

One of my previous cats would get abscesses round his tail. The vet diagnosed cowardice, and said it was caused by another cat biting him on the arse as he ran away!

It does look like a healing abscess to me. If that is what it is, the vet will probably give an injection of antibiotics to clear up any remaining infection.

Original poster

cordiality · 21/02/2023 20:56

Thanks all for your help and advice, the cat crew is the loveliest.
I took her into the vet this morning, she did hate it but it seems it was necessary.
It most probably is indeed a bite (lol at the diagnosis of cowardice - absolutely!), and then I think she’s licked off a lot of fur trying to clean it.
The vet says not currently an abscess, he gave it a big clean, and gave her an antibiotic injection, and she has some painkillers to take for a few days.
Apart from that she’s absolutely fine, though he did empty a ‘large anal gland’ for her while we were there, which made me very glad that I’m not a vet 🤣🤣🤢

OP posts:

Icanflyhigh · 22/02/2023 11:24

cordiality · 21/02/2023 20:56

Thanks all for your help and advice, the cat crew is the loveliest.
I took her into the vet this morning, she did hate it but it seems it was necessary.
It most probably is indeed a bite (lol at the diagnosis of cowardice - absolutely!), and then I think she’s licked off a lot of fur trying to clean it.
The vet says not currently an abscess, he gave it a big clean, and gave her an antibiotic injection, and she has some painkillers to take for a few days.
Apart from that she’s absolutely fine, though he did empty a ‘large anal gland’ for her while we were there, which made me very glad that I’m not a vet 🤣🤣🤢

Glad she's ok!!