Parasite? Abscess?

hitched_gibson

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Nov 10, 2010
Messages
1
Purraise
0
Location
Conroe, TX
This is my first post on a cat site. Woohoo. We just moved into our first home and have acquired a stray cat. It's rather young and we've started feeding it, so we are in for the long haul. Anywho, it had a nasty "lesion/abscess" on the side of its neck and we were thankful when it went away. Then a couple days ago, we noticed a new spot on the bottom of its neck right above its chest. Hopefully this picture is enough to get the point across. Thanks in advance for any help figuring out what this is.
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
With that dark center it certainly could be a cuterebra... Get that cat to the vet as soon as they open tomorrow. Do not do anything to the wound, cuterebra are covered in spiky "hairs" they used to move and will fight being pulled out. A vet will have to kill the maggot then remove it.

Hopefully it's just an abscess that the picture it making look worse for not being completely clear..
 

alicatjoy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 26, 2009
Messages
1,662
Purraise
66
Location
Northeast Ohio
I'm not a vet, but I do work at a vet clinic and, having seen warbles first-hand, I'd bet that that is what your new kitty is dealing with.

The dark center and what looks to be a protruding lesion definitely makes me immediately think of a warble. The cuterebra is a type of botfly that's larvae enter the skin of dogs, cats, and rodents (among other animals) via an open wound, the nose, or the mouth. The larvae then migrate under the skin and continue their growth cycle. It is a nasty condition, but usually treatable with a good prognosis unless the affected area is near an organ or nerve or if there are an overwhelming number of warbles.

By looking at the pictures, it would seem that the larvae is still inside of the cat. The "hole" you see is so that the larvae can breathe under the surface of the skin. You DO NOT want to even attempt to remove the larvae on your own. It MUST be done by a veterinarian or other qualified individual. If the entire larvae is not removed, it could cause a long-term reaction and if it is ruptured more serious illness (even anaphylaxis) could develop. Since you mentioned another affected area which has cleared up, my guess is that you have a cat with multiple warbles -- some of which have larvae that has left the body. Even these areas will need to be treated by the vet. If larvae is found, it will be removed by the vet and the affected area cleansed and debrided. Your cat will be put on antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections. If the warbles were severe enough, surgery to remove the affected tissue may be recommended. But, you would still be given antibiotics and possibly other medications for use following the vet visit.

It is likely that your cat is also suffering from abscesses as a result of the warbles or from a previous wound. Therefore, regardless of the cause, your kitty needs to be seen by a veterinarian ASAP. While many can go their whole lives without seeing a warble, they are more common than one may think and are transmitted to cats via food sources and areas where rodents, rabbits, and the like are prevalent. Please let us know what happens at the vet appointment (and please let the vet know it is a possible warble or abscess and that it needs to be seen and treated quickly -- be persistant!) and how your kitty is doing afterwards. But, even though we may have an idea of what this is via the internet, a vet is absolutely necessary.

Good luck and please keep us updated. And, also, once your cat is doing better, we'd love to see more pictures and hear more about him or her!

Oh, and welcome to TCS!
 

rad65

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 2, 2010
Messages
1,547
Purraise
52
I am so sorry for your cat. Definitely keep us updated, because that is one of the nastiest looking things I've ever seen. From the google pictures, it does look exact like that cutereba thing.
 

csteen85

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Messages
34
Purraise
2
Location
NYC
As someone who has an irrational fear of "holes," I would have loved a warning on that picture!!!

But I do hope your kitty is feeling better. Please update us.

Thanks!
 
Top