Hello everyone, I haven't been on a lot - Petra has grown A LOT.

Anyway, I have been a little worried the past few days because she has a small wound on the side of her neck - where cats/dogs usually scratch themselves. I think it's a scratch wound but I don't want her to be in pain or get infected.

Any advice on what I should do - if I have to/can do anything.

Here's a picture of it- the best I could get.

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Do you know how she got it? Has she been outside and caught herself on anything?

How does Petra seem in herself? Is this bothering her - ie: is she scratching or licking it much?

I'd suggest at this time bathing it with warm (cooled boiled) water with a pinch of salt dissolved in to keep it clean. Do this 2-3 times daily and keep an eye on it. If it looks like it is healing ok, and Petra is showing no adverse effects or behaviour, then it would seem to be ok.

If, however, you are concerned about ANYTHING or if Petra seems to be out of sorts in anyway, then a trip to the vet would be recommended. Just to be on the safe side.

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Does she go out, or have you got any other cats? if you have and you compare it to the size of an incisor tooth (the fangs) maybe at the widest point does it compare in size and quite deep? If it all adds up could be a puncture wound. You can bath it in cooled boiled salted water and flush it out if thats what it is, and maybe do it a few times for the next day or so. Keep an eye on it as cats teeth are full of bacteria and a puncture can seal over and trap the bacteria which can cause an abcess so any sign of swelling forming, and it gets hot, then she may need a vet visit and antibiotics.

Sometimes if you can keep flushing it with the saline and remove all the bacteria so its all clean before it granulates and starts to heal its usually fine.
Also depends though on how recently done and how long before you have started to clean it.

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Thank you both for replying!

@MoggyBaby: she hasn't been outside yet and has met no other cats. I haven't noticed any changes in her behaviour, she's hyper and energetic as always - she has scratched it a few times but it is definitely not scratching it a lot.

It has started to heal I think, and it looks clean.

@Sled dog hotel: It doesn't look like a puncture wound, and I think she didn't "gnaw" on it much - it's right under her jaw so she can't lick it or anything.

It's a really tiny cut-like wound, and I only noticed because I felt the lump of it when I picked her up a few days ago.

I'll do what you both said and hope she doesn't get too nervous about the water. Thanks again and I'll update the thread if I see any progress - good or bad.

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If you use a cotton wool ball or pad to bathe the area, she shouldn't get too feisty over the water as she'll barely be aware of it.

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