Mystery bald spot with a hole on my cat's back!! please help!!

I just noticed this spot on my cat, she got out yesterday, she's an indoor cat, but I just now noticed it, I don't know how I could have missed this. She had a similar spot on her chest when we first got her, she kept scratching it open again and again, but it healed after I got her to stop scratching. Any idea what may cause this? I'm also wondering if my dog may have bitten her, or something happened outside. My dog is not ferocious, I have three young kids too. But I'm worried seeing this on Sammy, the hole itself is about 1/4inches wide! And I can't see a bottom, just infection or drainage. I have been cleaning it regularly with the same stuff I use for my kids, bactine, and I want to cover it so she'll leave it alone. I am also going to remove hair from the area, in the picture, I don't know what caused the bald spot, but the same thing happened with the last one of these she had..

I don't know what might have caused it...don't think it is a dog bite though or there would be TWO holes, wouldn't there?  This could be caused from some sort of bug, I suppose.  Whatever it is, if there is infection in there, I would think she might need an antibiotic.  Does she flinch when you put the Bactine on it?  I'm surprised she let's you do that, as I suspect that stings quite a bit.  Along with cleaning it, warm compresses might help draw out any pus.  That's what the Vet had us do when our old girl had an abscess.

Yes, that's what I was thinking about if the dog bit her, where it happened before was near her neck, and she had gotten outside, we really thought something might have attacked her, but we never knew. And my dog has never bitten anyone or anything, but she can get over excited with the cats sometimes.
Yes, she flinches when I mess with it, that bactine I have is supposed to take pain away.. She kinda growls at me when I'm trying to move her hair to get to the spot, but she doesn't seem to mind when I actually put the bactine on.
She has been acting like a loner around the other cats, growling at them when they come near, but she's been just staying in my bedroom, and around me and my family, and she acts just fine towards them. I'm gonna try the warm compress like you suggested, that may help me get a better idea of how big it is, and keep her hair from getting matted into the wound. I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I've seen on TV the botfly, it's a parasite that lays eggs in the skin, and the maggot grows out through the skin, and that's what this looks like to me. As far as I know, there are no botflies around here, they live in South America, I think... It's just so weird looking. Thanks for replying!

I'm also going to take her to the vet, honestly, I just don't want to pay emergency prices over night and the weekend, that's why I posted here, to try and get more insight on what's going on with her.

Just be sure it continues to drain so the infection is allowed to escape, it should be fine.

Very likely a bite that abcessed as they always seem to.

The fur falls out when there is inflammation/swelling.

Now, I'm really freaking out, she's gone missing. We last saw her Sunday morning, no one saw her get out, we've searched everywhere, usually if she gets out, she doesn't stay out, and there were terrible thunderstorms yesterday, and usually, if she's out and it starts raining, she wants in immediately. But I am super worried about her, we've been driving around calling for her, and it scares me thinking she's out there somewhere with an open wound...

there are cuterebra botflies in  north america, especially where there are rabbits and rodents. however, these lesions are most common in summer and fall, especially between july and september.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/i...nfestation_in_small_animals.html?qt=&sc=&alt=

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...animal-health/cuterebra-or-warbles-in-cats/80

I'm afraid she's gone for good. I've been so upset, it's almost been a week since we've seen Sammy, and I just have a really strong feeling that she's not coming back :'(

I'm so sorry you can't find her.  Once one of my cats got outside by mistake, and she was gone for 3 long weeks before we found her, so maybe you'll still find her. 

Here is an article with some helpful hints on things you can do to help locate her:  http://www.thecatsite.com/a/help-my-cat-is-lost

Here's a thread about lost cats too:  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/248019/tips-for-finding-a-lost-cat

Thank you for the links, and I've been getting a lot of hopeful responses from friends on facebook. It's just not like her to stay out, we just moved in August, but I know she's familiar with the area where we live now. Usually, the second it rains, she's at the doors or windows trying to get in. She's never been gone this long and that's what giving me such a bad feeling. Where we live is very rural, and there are lots of strays, and I know a lot of people around here wouldn't even take a second look if they saw her in their yards or something. I doubt anyone would catch her and turn her in, plus she has no collar. I've called shelters, I'm putting up signs around our tiny town. I keep hearing from people that their cats have done things like this before, so I'm hoping every day that she'll show up on my porch. But we live about ten ft from the main road in our town, and people fly down this road, so sadly, I've been checking the sides of the road all week. Thanks again for the links, I'll definitely check them out. It's also upsetting that she's out there with this open wound...

Hey, everyone! Sammy came home and get abscess is completely healed!! I couldn't be happier !! She just showed up in my backyard after a WEEK of bring gone!!

bnsbowles said:

Hey, everyone! Sammy came home and get abscess is completely healed!! I couldn't be happier !! She just showed up in my backyard after a WEEK of bring gone!!

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Yay!  Wonderful news  (on BOTH accounts)

So good to hear about happy endings!!