a cut or scrape behind ear

I just notice there a scrape. The chances getting him to a vet this a week or anytime is pretty low but I will try to get my mom to bring him. What can I apply?

T

Sorry for the delay in getting replies!! I enlarged the photo. I see hair loss as well and the sore looks a bit nasty to me. Has the cat been scratching the ear? Does the cat go outdoors? Could the cat have picked up fleas? If it were my cat, I would not wait to take the cat to the vet for a check up. Hopefully it will be something simple. I would not want to tell you what to put on this "wound" because I think it needs to be diagnosed first and foremost. I hope your mom will agree to take your cat to the vet. :cross:

p.s. IF you need to put something on the area until your mom agrees to take the cat to the vet, then I would apply Colloidal Silver to the area at least three times per day. This is safe to use and will also cure fungus. I buy it online but would think that a pharmacy would carry CS as well. I would get the 500ppm though if you are going to buy some. A vet check would probably cost the same but CS is always good to have on hand - for pets and for people. here is a thread on CS with some information too: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/246886/colloidal-silver

STILL.... I am sticking with my original advice to take the cat to the vet. The wound doesn't look new to me.

It does look old, i just noticed it that day, he is outdoor cat, i got a flea comb and i dont see any fleas. He doesnt scratch. It looks like it came from something maybe from another cat? Maybe he got into something?

She wont unless she absolutely needs too, she sees it as a simple cut that will heal all on it own.

It doesnt look any worse

I will ask my mom if we have any cs

mwallace056 said:

It does look old, i just noticed it that day, he is outdoor cat, i got a flea comb and i dont see any fleas. He doesnt scratch. It looks like it came from something maybe from another cat? Maybe he got into something?

She wont unless she absolutely needs too, she sees it as a simple cut that will heal all on it own.

It doesnt look any worse

I will ask my mom if we have any cs

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the best thing for wound care is chlorhexidine at 0.05%

"Chlorhexidinediacetate 0.05% has sustained residual activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria, while causing minimal tissue inflammation."

http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/eme...wound_management.html?qt=chlorhexidine&alt=sh

mwallace056 said:

It does look old, i just noticed it that day, he is outdoor cat, i got a flea comb and i dont see any fleas. He doesnt scratch. It looks like it came from something maybe from another cat? Maybe he got into something?

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Since he is outdoor only, then there are many possible causes of this scratch. It could be from a cat fight. Is he neutered? :cross: Have you seen any other cats coming around to eat his food? I would try to get the Colloidal Silver or what "detmut" listed above.

There is also this and I have it on hand all the time for wounds of this sort. Vetericyn http://store.vetericyn.com/ If using the spray for anywhere on the face/ears, I spray it on my clean hand first and then rub it all over the area, gently. Use this four times per day as well.

My other concern is the hair loss on that ear whether related to the scratch or not. Although, I am thinking the hair loss IS from the scratch due to the cat trying to clean the wound with his paw. Just keep watch on his head and if you see any other hair loss areas then there may be a fungus/mange/mite situation going on. for your cat.

He is neutered, all the cats are fixed, he is a kitten still, once in awhile i do see a cat but that because a female was in heat but since i got all of them fixed i havent seen him, Should i give him a bath in case it is mites or something, what shampoo do i use? Should i give all of them baths?

Laceration. Large and the anatomy of the ear pinna affected does not look self-inflicted by him scratching his ears. It is most likely a classic claw wound from another cat. If it's his only wound, a swiping "warning" gesture from another cat is the most often cause.

Keeping it clean and open is key. After good scrub and flush when initially occurred, warm compressing for 7 minutes multiple times daily can keep it open and decrease inflammation.

Neither of these can help with bacteria embedded deep into tissue though. Depending on the depth of the laceration, he may heal without antibiotics, he may get a nasty infection and possibly abscess from trapped bacteria deep under the dermis.

Conservative care initially may lead to progression of the wound that fast treatment would have prevented; but limited finances and pay period timing leading you to wait and see may be unavoidable. If you weren't able to cleanse it when it first occurred, and he won't let you touch it, a vet with the ability to restrain and flush the dickens out of the laceration to get a good examination of the wound may be the only option now.

Hope he's continuing to be comfy, eating, eliminating, and has good energy/activity. If lethargic, slower, decreased appetite, then fever and/or infection is a concern. Pain is definitely a concern with both of these as well.

It don't looks self inficted to me either. I rinsed it with plain water

All the kittens and the three cats get along excellently esp since we got them fixed maybe one of them was having a bad day or it from a feral

He doesn't seem to have any pain, but he seems to be more bother when I touch it compare to the other ear, he don't scarch it or anything, he moves his ear without problems, he got his normal eating habits, play with the other kittens

mwallace056 said:

He is neutered, all the cats are fixed, he is a kitten still, once in awhile i do see a cat but that because a female was in heat but since i got all of them fixed i havent seen him, Should i give him a bath in case it is mites or something, what shampoo do i use? Should i give all of them baths?

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No I would not bother giving him a bath at this point in time because I am not thinking this is mites/mange or even ringworm. BUT, do keep an eye on the cats by running your fingers, going against the growth of the hair around the neck and face to see IF you notice any other balding areas. More steps will need to be taken if you are seeing more hair loss in those areas. At this point, I think your cat was scratched by another cat and is only cleaning the back of the ear with his paw and possibly rubbing the hair off a little bit from over-grooming the area. Just keep watch and see if you can apply any of the recommended products. I would not bother washing it or getting it wet. Keeping it dry is the best for now anyway, other than applying an antibacterial ointment. Even Neosporin a couple of times per day which is safe for cats too.

I got Neosporin but I didn't bother using it because the cap was missing

mwallace056 said:

I got Neosporin but I didn't bother using it because the cap was missing

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push a little out and throw it away. then it should be ok to use unless it's dried out. 

I bought nutrI-vet wound spray, it have benzalkonium chloride 0.13 is that good?

mwallace056 said:

I bought nutrI-vet wound spray, it have benzalkonium chloride 0.13 is that good?

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that's satisfactory. 

Ok I spray it on it

mwallace056 said:

Ok I spray it on it

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Kitty might not like the spray noise right near his ear. Spray on your clean hand first and gently rub it in. The Neosporin you could have still used.. as Detmut said - squeeze some out. Strange thought that the cap was missing. You could return it for another. I think your cats ear will heal up just fine. :cross: Let us know though!!

We had the neosporin too long to be return, i dont know when the cap went missing. Can i use both neosporin and nutri-vet spray or is it overkill or could cause problems? I jusr noticed a feral cat eating with them maybe he or she did it

mwallace056 said:

We had the neosporin too long to be return, i dont know when the cap went missing. Can i use both neosporin and nutri-vet spray or is it overkill or could cause problems? I jusr noticed a feral cat eating with them maybe he or she did it

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I would not use both at the same time. Pick one or the other. I would personally use the Neosporin first. As to the new feral cat you saw; very common to see more cats come around when one is feeding. Best to have plans for trapping any newbies and get them neutered. Definitely could be the cause of some aggression and agitation amongst the group as a whole.

Actually i saw him a few times, he been hanging around but i rarely see him, he went under the house, where everyone else sleeps. I am planning to buy a trap and put it under rhe house to trap it. So i apply neo, how long after do i apply the spray? Do i apply neo in the morning and spray in the evening? I don't see any bald spots when i run my hand though

mwallace056 said:

Actually i saw him a few times, he been hanging around but i rarely see him, he went under the house, where everyone else sleeps. I am planning to buy a trap and put it under rhe house to trap it. So i apply neo, how long after do i apply the spray? Do i apply neo in the morning and spray in the evening? I don't see any bald spots when i run my hand though

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Good that you see no other balding spots!!! Phew. After thinking about this more. I would prefer and would use the spray as opposed to the Neosporin right now. Keeping the wound more "dry" than wet is important, I think. Spray the Nutri-Vet wound spray on the palm of your hand, then dip a finger into the spray and wipe it on the scratch making sure to get enough on and gently rub it in. I would do this three times per day. The Neosporin may keep the wound too moist, and actually, the cat will probably just wipe it off with his paw soon after you apply. A spray type wound care product will dry quickly and do a better job, especially for an outdoor cat.

Aw - good luck with trapping the other feral cat. My goodness, you are quite the cat saint. Let us know if we can help with anything on that front. We do have the Feral Forum and you could start a thread there on this cat, if you like. Thank you for helping the cats. :grphug:

So morning, when i get home then one more time before bed.

I already did, i believe it the same cat, never saw his face before but it looks like the same one http://www.thecatsite.com/t/293342/a-feral-been-hanging-out-around-herel