However, wounds do not necessarily mean a traumatic injury such as a bite or scratch. They can have many other origins, such as infections and other illnesses.
Check out other possible causes for the appearance of skin lesions:
Possible causes of cat fur sore
Bacteria
Any bacterial infection on the skin of cats (and also dogs) is known as pyoderma. Therefore, it can be caused by a large number of bacteria.
Their wounds usually do not have pus (although this is indicated in the name of the disease), but they are very red and form crusts on the animal’s skin.
fungi
Cats suffer a lot from dermatophytosis, which is contagious. Among the main symptoms are alopecia (hair loss) and reddish lesions.
Another disease that plagues cats is sporotrichosis, which begins with ulcerated lesions, which can be spread over the body, but are usually concentrated on the animal’s head. This fungus can even spread to internal organs, and proper treatment is extremely important.
allergies
Cats can have allergies to several factors, and the symptoms are usually the same: skin sores and intense pruritus (itching). Therefore, it is important to identify what is causing the allergy and eliminate the factor from the animal’s life.
One of the most common is allergic dermatitis to flea bites, which makes it necessary to control the environment in order to eliminate this parasite.
Sarna
Most people are under the impression that mange only affects dogs. But cats also suffer from the problem, which can even be transmitted to us humans, as it is a zoonosis .
Cats are affected by three variations of the disease: notoedric mange, cheiletielosis and demodectic mange (black mange).
Virus
Some of the biggest fears of the gatekeepers, FIV ( feline AIDS ) and FeLV (feline leukemia) are viral diseases. None of them has a cure and both have skin lesions due to a drop in immunity.
Both are transmitted through biting, licking or sexual contact. They also have congenital transmission (from mother to babies).
Other causes
In addition to all these, there are other causes that can cause wounds on the skin of cats: fights with other animals; carcinomas (cancer); vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels); metabolic changes; self-mutilation; leishmaniasis and, sometimes, abuse.
possible complications
If they do not receive immediate and adequate treatment, wounds in cats can evolve into:
- infections;
- abscesses;
- myiasis (wormworms);
- metastases (in case of carcinomas).
How to treat the wounds?
If the wound is superficial and the origin is known, you can start the treatment at home, before seeking veterinary care. Follow the steps:
- sanitize your hands;
- immobilize the animal, making it feel safe;
- cut the hair around the wound;
- if there is bleeding, press a clean towel over it for a few seconds, until it stops;
- clean the wound with saline solution;
- use an antiseptic (chlorhexidine or Bürow liquid).
Do not use tapes or bandages that muffle the wound, which will facilitate the proliferation of bacteria.
If it reaches the lesion, it may be necessary to use an Elizabethan collar. If you have other felines at home, isolate the injured kitten to prevent licking.
Remember that skin healing in cats occurs much more slowly than in dogs and that, because they have thinner skin, they are much more prone to poisoning.
So look for a vet! Only he can correctly diagnose the cause of the wound on the skin of cats and say what should be done. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or just a topical treatment such as ointments and shampoos may be prescribed.
