My cat has been bitten by something, how do I help him at home?

[RaLaRaLa]

My fur baby runt (well he’s really an elderly runt now at 12…) has been out this evening and something has bitten his paw. It looks a like two puncture wounds and he’s got a shallow scratch by his ear. I suspect new neighbour’s cat or perhaps a fox, we live very rurally.
Anyhow, any ideas on how I can help
him at home? He seems ok now, in bed, licked his wounds which are only bleeding very little currently. I think he was very shocked initially as I found him shivering, hiding under the green chair outside. But he is calm and sleeping now. He’s insured but l’m not sure he needs to see a vet for this? I feel so bad for him, poor little sausage! Any advice appreciated, he’s never been injured before.

Try to clean it/keep it clean. The worry is more he will develop an abcess/the bite wound will become infected. Ideally he should see a vet, they would likely clean it up and give him an antibiotic.

Clean it with cooled boiled water with a little salt added, and then keep a close eye out for any sign of infection.

Take him to a vet as a bite could become infected and lead to septis. They are likely to give antibiotics as a precaution.

Take him to the vet, it’s very likely to get infected. They’ll give him antibiotics and some painkiller. Poor baby.

Yes, keep an eye on it for infection like pp’s have said. Our boy got bitten last year although we didn’t know until his entire leg swelled up like a balloon and he nearly died. The amount of pus that the vet drained off him was insane!

It seems unanimous to go to the vet- I will do. Poor little sausage, he’s sleeping in his safe place by my pillow now so I hope at least the shock has gone.

You need to take him to the vet for painkillers and antibiotics. Don’t leave it. There may also be more injuries that you can’t see. They’ll clean everything properly and get him out of pain, which they hide very well.

Almost certainly another cat if it is clean not swollen and no discharge just keep it clean at home.
The advice is to no longer give antibiotics unless the cat is unwell ( antibiotic stewardship). Even then we often just drain the abscess and provide pain relief.

He has been seen now, it swelled up quite a lot over night and he couldn’t walk at all this morning. Vet was a little concerned there was a fracture involved but hopefully that is not the case. He’s better already and relaxing in his favourite bed.

Poor boy. I'm glad to hear that he's feeling better now.

Poor thing. I'm glad you took him to the vet, OP, and I hope he continues to recover uneventfully.