Cat fights are a common cause of injuries in cats. Some cats are more territorial and aggressive than others – especially entire male cats (tom cats) – and most fights occur at night. Desexing your cat (both male and female) significantly reduces the incidence of fighting, however your cat will still defend its territory if a stray cat enters your property. Keeping your cat inside or confined at night will also reduce the number of fights.
The site of the wound may help determine whether your cat was the aggressor (or willing to defend its territory) – with wounds to the front half of the body – or running from an attack with wounds to the back half of the body. Once the skin is punctured by teeth or nails, the contaminating bacteria start to proliferate and cause infection, pain and swelling of the affected area. If allowed to progress, the infection can form an abscess (accumulation of pus). Once formed, an abscess needs to be lanced to allow the pus to be drained followed by flushing of the wound. As the skin heals quickly, sometimes a rubber tube will need to be inserted to assist with drainage of the pus – this tube needs to be cleaned regularly until its removal. Antibiotics are prescribed to kill the bacteria causing the infection. Abscesses which burst by themselves often reform if not followed up with drainage and antibiotic treatment.
Prompt treatment of wounds with antibiotics following a fight can stop the spread of infection and development of an abscess.
