My cat has two abscesses on his face. What do I do to make sure it's doesn't get infected.

My cat is an outdoor cat and of course for him to be a boy he has to show his dominance and fight other cats. He's declawed so fighting results in huge abscesses on his face. (This has happened multiple times already so we are used to him getting abscesses.) We have already given him shots for worms because of his frequent fighting so I'm not too worried about him getting worms. Anyways, he has one on the top of his head and another on the side of his face. They've already popped on their own. The one on the side of his head is still oozing and I've been wiping the puss away with warm water and a paper towel. I'm trying to keep this one clean as much as I can so it doesn't get infected. The one on the top of his head is what I'm most concerned about. It popped and already scabbed over. I think theirs more puss under the scab as well so I need to reopen it. I've tried soaking it with warm water, but he doesn't stay still for anything. He's a loving cat, but gets pretty grouchy if something makes him uncomfortable and I can't take him to the vet because of financial reasons. Is there anything I can do to take off the scab and reopen the wound so I can get the puss out and make sure it doesn t get infected?

You shouldn't let a declawed cat outside.  He is defenseless.  @catwoman707   may have some ideas re wound care.

I am so saddened by this, that I will likely come off as scolding you, but please just hear me out.

When a cat gets declawed, it is very unnatural for them. It changes them, they now know that their only defense is to bite. 

They can not climb to get away from a dog, scale a fence, etc.

They become a target basically.

You obviously have unneutered male cats in your area who are continuously beating the crap out of your cat.

Let me tell you what WILL happen, if it hasn't already. And worms are the last thing to be worried about! There is MUCH worse out there.

Not only are there many dangers and pain associated with these infected bite wounds, and yes, an abcess IS an infection.

Can you picture your cats head and face being bitten like that while he is defenseless?

Even worse is the fact that unneutered cats are the ones who spread FIV and FELV. Both of these common diseases are in many, many male cats who fight. So every single time your poor cat is getting bitten, you are allowing a good chance of him getting infected with one of these diseases or both. Literally. 

As many times as it sounds like he has been bitten, I would bet he has a pretty darn good chance of already being infected with one of these. You can't tell yet, both take a long time to start showing up and damaging his immune system.

If you are having financial problems and can't get him seen by a vet now, imagine when he does start showing signs and his system weakens, how often he will need vet care.

Something to seriously think about.

A declawed cat has absolutely NO business outside, period.

If you are unable to keep him inside or don't really want to, I highly suggest rehoming him to an indoor only home and getting yourself an indoor/outdoor kitty that hasn't been declawed.

As far as his current abcesses, the key to preventing the infection from spreading through his body is to keep the wound hole soft so that fluid can drain completely.

You can't hurt him by picking the scab he now has off, but you can keep ointment on it so it softens, which will allow the fluid to drain out again once pressure starts to build up, it will break through the scab, likely on the side of it and drain again.

For the ointment, use either Neosporin or a triple antibiotic ointment, not cream though, it must be ointment. This has a consistency like vaseline so it will stay put and soften the scab.

Do not use vaseline though! 

I feel so sorry for your cat having to get used to abcesses and bites on a regular basis. This will NOT have a good ending, I can guarantee you of this. 

Not only abcessed bites, since an unneutered male cat's intent is to actually kill the other cat to protect his territory, which is not likely to happen, but it most surely will do some other damage at some point in his encounters, I have seen horrific damage done by unneutered male cats.

In fact, I am currently caring for one right now I got the other day.

Or Buddy, look at what a male cat did to his eyes.....


Buddy was completely blinded, and the infection was so bad I had to have him euthanized.

The cat I am caring for now has his nose so torn up his mouth hangs open, he is skin and bones from not being able to eat or drink, and will have a long road ahead of him for recovery, long road.....

PLEASE keep your cat inside, and as I said, if it's just not possible, do him a big favor and find him a new home or take him to a no kill shelter, declawed cats get adopted easily, so they will take him in.

The abscesses are already infected if they are swollen and oozing pus. Pus is the result of an infection. Get your cat to the vet and have the cat treated for the infection and possibly have the abscesses lanced. He probably also needs to be neutered. He won't want to fight anymore once he's neutered. But don't let him out at all from now on in any case, as everyone is advising.

Thank you for the advise about the ointment on the scab so it could soften. I think that was the only advise I needed it helped a lot.

Also, I am so sorry to hear about buddy ... I'm sure he is in a better place.. I will pray for your loss.

catwoman707 said:

 
For the ointment, use either Neosporin or a triple antibiotic ointment, not cream though, it must be ointment. This has a consistency like vaseline so it will stay put and soften the scab.

Do not use vaseline though! 

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Adding - use only the regular Neopsorin (or other similar oinment), not the ones that contain pain relief medicine. The pain relief medicine is harmful to cats.

Please try to tke your cat to the vet as soon as you can. An oozy pus filled wound really should be examined and treated by a vet. Are there any low cost vet clinics in your area? Or maybe a Banfield vet hospital that offers a free first exam? You can also check this for vet care help: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/no-money-for-vet-care-how-to-find-help-and-save-your-cats-life

The reason I could not take my cat to the vet is because my parents refused to take him since this is the second time it has happened. They're convinced that it will go away on its own, but I just now finally convinced them that it's getting worse, it won't get better on its own, you can tell my baby feels awful, and he needs to go to the vet. So tomorrow as I get up we're taking him to the vet so he can feel better ASAP. :') thank you so much for your concern and help. @LTS3

Please also get him neutered or keep him inside.  This will continue to happen, and it will not end well.

Soon as I had my boy neutered he had no more fights. Had an abscess drained at the same time. It's illegal to declaw cats in Austraila. You can't put a declawed intact male outside, it's cruel.

Thank you for your kind advice but I will not rehome my boy. He is happy where he is and I wish you could see him when he cuddles next to me in the mornings. I also will not deprive him from going outside. He is an animal that falls back on his instincts. Although you are trying to give me kind advise that I am greatful for and now am more aware of being a cat owner, I will not rehome him or take him away from being outside. Thank you.

If you continue to let your cat outside while declawed and not neutered he is going to end up dead. It is not an if, it is a when.

Please make some decisions for his safety. You could either allow him to be inside only, where he is safe, or neuter him and allow him outside under supervision.

With all due respect, it is abuse to put a defenseless cat outside. My cat is also declawed and that's just the truth. This is animal abuse.

Alexis909 said:

The reason I could not take my cat to the vet is because my parents refused to take him since this is the second time it has happened. They're convinced that it will go away on its own, but I just now finally convinced them that it's getting worse, it won't get better on its own, you can tell my baby feels awful, and he needs to go to the vet. So tomorrow as I get up we're taking him to the vet so he can feel better ASAP. :') thank you so much for your concern and help. @LTS3

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so glad to hear he is going to the Vet....keep us posted...

He needs to be kept inside, if he is declawed..

I agree with the above posters....

did you declaw him?

 and if he is not neutered, he needs to be, for his own sake..

He's declawed and neutered already. He has been ever since we got him. I would keep him inside but my parents won't let me. And I'm not going to rehome him because of my parents decisions. I do not see how letting him inside is animal abuse in anyway, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions and definitions coming down to animal abuse and neglect. It's not like this is a constant issue of him getting hurt. If it was I would definitely keep him inside. To ease your strict, open concern of my cat I will say we took him to the vet and he is doing much better now. He DOES NOT have anything wrong with him besides the abscesses. The doctor said he is perfectly healthy.

I'm really glad you were able to bring him to the vet. It's obvious you really love him, and just aren't able to make a lot of decisions for him because your parents are in charge. People are worried because he has no way to defend himself properly against the outdoor cats. Declawing a cat isn't natural, it severely handicaps them from being able to climb and fight. The person who declawed him was making a commitment to keep him safely indoors, and they didn't fulfill that for him. Your cat is probably often in pain. Abscesses are are very painful. And you might not even be able to notice all the bites and scratches that don't get infected and become abscessed. There are serious diseases spread between cats, but I'm sure you guys have his shots up to date since you go to a vet regularly. I'd be worried that your cat is just an easy target for the outdoor cats to bully and attack. I understand that you aren't allowed to keep your cat inside, and that's unfortunate. A lot of cats live happy, fulfilling lives indoors. I have three indoor cats who are really content, and all of them are former outdoor cats. If you're ever in a situation where he can be brought inside or kept enclosed in a tall fence, you should really consider it to help him live longer and healthier.  Also, if you ever make him an inside cat you can train him to walk on a harness and he can have fun outside as you watch over him.