Recurring abscess

My older kitty, Spot, had an abscess on his head. We (meaning my vet and me) tried a series of antibiotics, cultures (came back with no growth), warm compresses, and saline flushes to treat it. After two months, we finally did surgery to clean out the area and get a biopsy. That was back in January. The vet said she thought it might be a cyst that had ruptured. After the surgery, he head healed and his hair grew back. We figured it was finally cured.

On Monday, it started to swell in the same area. He went back to the vet, who wanted to wait and see what happened. On Wednesday, his poor head was so sore that he grumbled the entire time I did the compress. On Friday, we did surgery again. The vet cleaned out as much material as possible and stitched him back up. We also did a dental and removed two bad teeth (the teeth are not in the same area as the abscess, so they aren't part of the problem). We put him back on the one antibiotic he tolerates, Baytril, to prevent infection as it heals.

My question is whether anyone else has had problems with recurring abscesses? If this thing comes back again, what should we do? Spot is an older kitty (probably 12) with hyperthyroidism and a heart murmur, so I hate putting him under anesthesia. Is there something else that could be causing this problem over and over again? The vet has no idea what to do if this lump comes back.

I have no experience with this just wanted to send prayers and belly rubs to Spot and you. Best of luck!

oh my goodness.. My old cat Midnight ( 13 years old) Just had an abcess! I took him into the vet on Thursday evening to have it drained.. it was huge and on top of his head... I have antibiotics and sab for his wound but it's healing great so far after 2 days.. He seems to be doing okay but I had that thought to.. what if it comes back! I'm praying for your poor Spot.. When they get old.. it gets so scary because there are so many things that could happen to me.. especially if they're outside kitties, like Midnight.
Midnight too has a heart murmur....

I Hope everything will be okay... I know this is scary... Maybe Spot should be kept inside for a while?

Originally Posted by LeosMum

oh my goodness.. My old cat Midnight ( 13 years old) Just had an abcess! I took him into the vet on Thursday evening to have it drained.. it was huge and on top of his head... I have antibiotics and sab for his wound but it's healing great so far after 2 days.. He seems to be doing okay but I had that thought to.. what if it comes back! I'm praying for your poor Spot..

When they get old.. it gets so scary because there are so many things that could happen to me.. especially if they're outside kitties, like Midnight.
Midnight too has a heart murmur....

I Hope everything will be okay...

I know this is scary... Maybe Spot should be kept inside for a while?

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Oops! I meant to say 'them' not ' me' !!

Actually, both my babies are indoor only. Spot was obviously outdoors when I found him, but the only time he has tried to go outside since is when he wants to follow me as I leave. He's the more agressive kitty, so I highly doubt that Willow has caused this abscess for him. My only guess is that it is from an old injury that keeps flaring up again.

I've had an outdoor cat colony for eight years. One of my female outdoor cats, a very mellow cat, started getting an abscess on her left cheek about five years ago and has had one in the exact same spot at least three or four more times. We took her to the vet who thought it must have been an injury, although we have no idea how she'd get an injury on her lower cheek. The vet has no idea why it keeps reoccurring. It usually lasts a few weeks, leaves a deep hole, then heels. It doesn't go through to her mouth. This time she seems sicker when she got it. She's getting better but hides a lot and seems more listless. The vet still has no idea what could cause it except an injury. Any ideas?

I have a feral colony, that I have been taking care of for about 5 years now, and I have an older cat(about7) he had an abscess on his face for a few weeks that finally drained. He has since had it at least twice more in the same exact spot. I have not been able to catch him since I first caught him to have him fixed. Not sure why it continues to resurface. He seems fine before it and after, but looks awful for about 5 days when he gets it. I have had cats all my life and never come across such a thing. While it is something of a relief to hear of another such case, I wish there was a clear answer as to what is wrong, and what can be done.