Puncture Wound

My male tabby has a puncture wound on his tail.  I have cleaned the wound with Povidone Iodine and soaked it in Hydrogen Peroxide and it seems to be healing well.  The cat is eating and, although subdued, seems to be recovering well.  I'll  keep watching for signs of infection and take him to the vet if I see any.  I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and if they have any advice to offer.  Alicia Acconcio, Molokai, Hawaii. 

it's possibly a cat bite, or from your neck of the woods, maybe a snake bite?  I would definitely keep a very close eye on it (and him, to make sure he doesn't start acting different)  Are their poisonous snakes over there? 

Hi Mrs. Green Jeens,

Thanks for your reply.  I'm glad to say, he's recovered fully.  You're right, it most likely a cat bite.  Fortunately, we don't have any snakes at all in Hawaii.  Thank you again.  Alicia Acconcio, Molokai, Hawaii

Alicia Acconcio said:

Hi Mrs. Green Jeens,
Thanks for your reply.  I'm glad to say, he's recovered fully.  You're right, it most likely a cat bite.  Fortunately, we don't have any snakes at all in Hawaii.  Thank you again.  Alicia Acconcio, Molokai, Hawaii

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You need to keep a close eye on this. If it was a cat bite, an abcess can form under the skin and cause a problem if it is not treated. I have know when cat's tails have had to be amputated because of infection.

Sounds like you did the right thing. That's all I would suggest. A few years ago, I was house/ dog sitting for a friend w/ two dogs. A Shepard & a small lab.  They had a little fight when the lab who gobbled up her food, then tried to get the Shepard's food. luckily, they stopped w/ me just yelling at them! There was a lot of blood, freaked me out!

She had puncture wounds on the top of her head, & side of her nose!  I immediately started putting peroxide on them, & called the vet.

When I took her in, they actually just shaved the area, & cleaned it out as well. They said w/ puncture wounds, you don't sew them up, because then they would abscess. You want them to be able to drain & just keep clean the way we both did.

Needless to say, they were fed in seperate areas for the rest of the time I was there!

Thanks for the heads up on not getting a puncture wound stitched up by the vet.  You're right, the best approach is to let it drain and heal on it's own.  Thanks again.