Practical Advice from a Small-Animal Veterinarian

I’m a small-animal veterinarian who has spent years in general practice, and I’ve seen all kinds of cat wounds—fight injuries, fence scrapes, botched “home grooming accidents,” and the occasional mystery cut that somehow appeared overnight.

Caring for a wound on a cat isn’t just about cleaning and bandaging. It’s about knowing which injuries can be safely treated at home and which need to be seen by a professional quickly. I’ll share what I’ve learned from real cases in my exam room and what I’d do if it were my own cat.

First, decide whether this is genuinely a home-care situation.

One of the most common mistakes I see is owners treating serious injuries as minor ones. Cats are very good at hiding pain, and what looks like a small puncture may actually be the tip of an abscess developing beneath the skin.

I generally tell my clients: if the wound is deep, bleeding heavily, associated with limping, near the eye, or smells foul, the cat needs veterinary care. Bite wounds in particular often look tiny on the surface but are pushed deep under the skin. Those are infections waiting to happen.

I still remember a tomcat brought in one late afternoon with a thumbnail-sized scab on his hip that “didn’t seem like much.” His owner had tried ointments at home. Underneath was a large abscess that eventually ruptured. He did fine after proper drainage and antibiotics, but his owner told me later she wished she had come in sooner instead of assuming it would heal on its own.

If the wound is minor, start with a calm, gentle assessment.

Before you try anything, make sure your cat is secure, and you’re not going to get scratched or bitten. Even the sweetest cat will react defensively if a sore area is touched.

I usually suggest placing the cat on a non-slip surface and having someone calmly hold them, or wrapping them loosely in a towel with the injured area exposed. If your cat is lunging, growling, or can’t be safely handled, that alone is a reason to schedule an exam instead of pushing through.

Once you can see the wound clearly, you’re looking for a few basic things: is there debris, is it open or just a superficial scrape, and is there swelling around it? Dried blood or dirt can make injuries look worse than they are, so cleaning comes next.

Cleaning the wound without making it worse

Owners often want to “disinfect” aggressively, and that’s where I see damage done unintentionally. In my experience, cats tolerate simple, gentle cleaning best—and their tissues heal better that way.

I prefer plain warm water or a properly diluted saline solution. Flush away visible dirt and clotted blood. If hair were matted into the wound, don’t cut right against the skin unless you’re very confident with scissors; I’ve treated more than one cat whose wound care turned into a second problem because someone accidentally snipped the skin.

Avoid alcohol and undiluted hydrogen peroxide. I’ve watched cats’ skin turn red and raw from repeated peroxide use. It bubbles impressively but delays healing by irritating healthy tissue.

To bandage or not to bandage

People often assume every wound needs to be wrapped. Many cat wounds actually heal better with air circulation, especially minor scrapes that are clean and dry. Bandages on cats also tend to slip, tighten, or get chewed off.

The situations where I’m more likely to recommend covering the wound are those with ongoing surface bleeding, areas your cat won’t stop licking, or locations that are easily contaminated—like the paw pads. If you do place a temporary cover at home, keep it loose, keep it dry, and understand that this is usually a short-term solution until a clinic visit.

One client once wrapped her cat’s leg so tightly with layers of tape that the foot swelled dramatically by the next day. She was trying to help, but compression on a cat’s limb can become dangerous fast. If you’re unsure, light protection or a soft collar to stop licking is safer than elaborate wrapping.

Licking is not “self-medication.”

I hear it a lot: “He keeps licking it because he knows it needs cleaning.” Cats don’t disinfect wounds by licking. They irritate them and sometimes make them worse. Constant moisture breaks down fragile new tissue and invites infection.

I’ve had more than one case where a small wound became a raw, open hotspot simply because the cat was allowed to work at it continuously. If your cat will not leave the area alone, use an Elizabethan collar or soft recovery collar for a few days. Most cats tolerate them better than owners expect.

Watch for signs of infection over the next few days.

Even a wound that looks minor today can change quickly. I advise owners to recheck the area daily. Redness spreading beyond the edge, heat, swelling, discharge, a bad smell, or your cat suddenly acting painful or lethargic are reasons to stop home care and schedule an appointment.

I think back to a young indoor cat who escaped outside briefly, came back with a small scab near his tail, and seemed fine. Two days later, he was hiding, refusing food, and had a firm swelling under the skin. That turned out to be a developing abscess from a bite. The behavior change was the biggest clue.

Pain control is not a DIY project.

Cats do feel pain from wounds, and they rarely cry or whimper like dogs. Instead, they may hide, avoid being touched, or act irritable. I strongly advise against giving human pain relievers. I’ve treated cats that became gravely ill after being given over-the-counter medications meant for people.

If your cat seems painful, that’s a conversation for a veterinarian. We offer options that are safe for feline metabolism and ensure the underlying injury is addressed rather than masked.

Preventing another wound matters too.

Outdoor access, intact males, and multi-cat household conflicts are common threads I see behind recurring injuries. In my experience, neutered male cats get into fewer territorial fights, and gradual introductions between housemates prevent claw and bite wounds inside the home.

Sometimes the “wound problem” isn’t just bad luck—it’s a pattern that can be changed. I’ve watched formerly scuffle-prone cats become peaceful once their environment and routines were adjusted.

Final thought from the exam room

Caring for a cat’s wound at home is possible in many mild cases, but it requires a balance of gentle care and good judgment. Clean, minor, non-painful wounds often do well with basic cleaning, protection from licking, and close observation. Deep, swollen, smelly, or painful wounds—or anything caused by a bite—deserve professional treatment sooner rather than later.

My own rule of thumb, both as a veterinarian and a cat owner, is this: if you’re unsure, err on the side of calling your clinic. I’ve never had a client regret asking earlier, but I’ve seen quite a few who wished they hadn’t waited.