Cat licking wound, can't heal

mesacakes

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 14, 2015
Messages
36
Purraise
9
Location
St Louis
Help! I have had one of the cats from a barn where I board my horse at home for a month trying to get his minor wounds to heal! The issue is every time they look good, just pink skin, scab gone, he licks it and it gets angry and raw again! New scab, start over. His leg wound healed but his right side still has a big bald spot. Once again raw & red from licking.
He has an e-collar and is stuck in my basement bathroom except the three times a day I visit him. I got him a tank top to wear so he can have a break from the cone when I am there. Those work great except if I am not watching close enough and he gets a few licks in between protective gear. Argh!
It started as a small dime-size bald spot and he licked it to larger than a silver dollar! So I brought him home thinking it would be a quick healing process.. He had an antibiotic shot at the vets and they thought it would be fine, said he didn't even need the e-collar. Wrong!.
Do all cats do this or is he unique with his sand-paper tongue on new pink skin? I really want to return him to his barn cat family and am going crazy. I really don't think it will heal if he keeps licking it raw. I guess I have to keep him in jail & coned until the fur grows back??
How long will that take??
PS - he is a great cat but very needy and I already have 2 very unsocial cats upstairs.
 

stephenq

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 19, 2003
Messages
5,672
Purraise
944
Location
East Coast, USA
Help! I have had one of the cats from a barn where I board my horse at home for a month trying to get his minor wounds to heal! The issue is every time they look good, just pink skin, scab gone, he licks it and it gets angry and raw again! New scab, start over. His leg wound healed but his right side still has a big bald spot. Once again raw & red from licking.
He has an e-collar and is stuck in my basement bathroom except the three times a day I visit him. I got him a tank top to wear so he can have a break from the cone when I am there. Those work great except if I am not watching close enough and he gets a few licks in between protective gear. Argh!
It started as a small dime-size bald spot and he licked it to larger than a silver dollar! So I brought him home thinking it would be a quick healing process.. He had an antibiotic shot at the vets and they thought it would be fine, said he didn't even need the e-collar. Wrong!.
Do all cats do this or is he unique with his sand-paper tongue on new pink skin? I really want to return him to his barn cat family and am going crazy. I really don't think it will heal if he keeps licking it raw. I guess I have to keep him in jail & coned until the fur grows back??
How long will that take??
PS - he is a great cat but very needy and I already have 2 very unsocial cats upstairs.
Bumping this for assisatnce.
 

artiemom

Artie, my Angel; a part of my heart
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 22, 2014
Messages
11,122
Purraise
23,104
Location
near Boston
I know some people use a baby onesie  for healing. It is one of those baby  one piece tops. A lot of people are very crafty and can adjust it to accommodate their cat and the injury; i.e. cut to fit, sew velcro or ribbon to fit...

I do not know if this would help but it is all I could think of...

hopefully others can help. 

I do think you will need to pretty much confine him until it is healed. In other words, no rough play with the others and indoors.

keep us updated.
 

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
For horses, we use this but I would not use on a cat unless the vet approved. http://www.sstack.com/first-aid-equine-wound-care/wonder-dust/ You want the wound to actually dry out a bit and heal at the same time. These types of wounds can be typical on cats and the more they lick the bigger and hotter they can get. :shame: The cone may be the only way for a few days time.

Other's have used with great success these products: http://www.derma-gel.com/index1.html I also use Vetericyn wound spray. VERY safe and non-irritating. http://www.calvetsupply.com/product...rce=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping

I would also check with your regular vet and see what they recommend for deep non-healing wounds/hot spots. MEGA vibes for your barn kitty and thank you for caring. :hugs: :hugs:
 

54321

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Messages
4
Purraise
1
try covering the wound so the cat cant lick it.
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,986
Purraise
17,678
Location
Sunny Florida
He may need more antibiotics, but I also can't help but feel that he may be going a bit stir crazy in the basement bathroom alone. He is probably accustomed to much more activity and interaction in the barn than he is now experiencing, so licking may be his outlet for his boredom.

Is it possible for him to spend some time in a room upstairs, making it easier for you to visit more often?

I also think that when wounds are healing they get dry and itchy, so a lubricant, such as udder creme, may help soothe and reduce licking if applied regularly.
 

stewball

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
11,747
Purraise
809
Location
Tel Aviv
You might as well have been talking about me and my blighty. He has/had a dreadful sore on his leg which I must confess I neglected as he is so hard to take to the vet. Months after he started licking and it was big we managed to get him there. The vet looked at it. She gave him an antibiotic injection good for two months advantage just in case he has/had fleas. I'm 100% sure there were no fleas, and a cream, that I use fortunately, saved some money, to try to rub on the sore. That was difficult as he ran and licked it off yuk. However it appears to be healing. He's licking less and new fur is growing. Such a relief. The vet doesn't agree with the collar for a cat. Makes them too depressed. Blighty would have gone mad with a collar.
 

stephenq

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 19, 2003
Messages
5,672
Purraise
944
Location
East Coast, USA
It occurred to me that your E-collar may not be long enough and that you should consider getting one that makes it a bit harder for her to get at the wound....
 

missycab

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 8, 2015
Messages
93
Purraise
24
One of my cats had to use the "lamp" collar and he hated it. He ended up being a super contortionist and eventually, he'd lick his wound.

So all we could do was to keep the wound as desinfected as possible, rubbing iodine. Another important thing is (I don't know the name in English, as it's not my first language) a "curabichera": it's a product that is applied over the wound to keep flies away and prevent them from putting eggs in the flesh.

We also applied the dust that Feralvr mentions, only that we used the one that we had at home for us humans. It worked in the sense that it'd dry the wound, and help the healing.

We tried to cover the wound also with some bandages, the problem is that we couldn't shave the area near the wound. But if you say that the wound is in the leg, it's easier to bandage (our cat's was in his back)
 

stewball

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
11,747
Purraise
809
Location
Tel Aviv
One of my cats had to use the "lamp" collar and he hated it. He ended up being a super contortionist and eventually, he'd lick his wound.

So all we could do was to keep the wound as desinfected as possible, rubbing iodine. Another important thing is (I don't know the name in English, as it's not my first language) a "curabichera": it's a product that is applied over the wound to keep flies away and prevent them from putting eggs in the flesh.

We also applied the dust that Feralvr mentions, only that we used the one that we had at home for us humans. It worked in the sense that it'd dry the wound, and help the healing.

We tried to cover the wound also with some bandages, the problem is that we couldn't shave the area near the wound. But if you say that the wound is in the leg, it's easier to bandage (our cat's was in his back)
Have you de-flee'd the kitty? Could be an allergy to the spit of said animal.


I'm afraid
 

missycab

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 8, 2015
Messages
93
Purraise
24
Have you de-flee'd the kitty? Could be an allergy to the spit of said animal.


I'm afraid
He had a skin tumor. He had surgery once, but later the wound opened again. We took care of it for over a year, but then the cancer took over.

This cat of mine had a previous wound on his leg and we bandaged him and put sugar over the wound. Sugar is good for healing too
 

stewball

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
11,747
Purraise
809
Location
Tel Aviv
Unfortunately the sore is too near the top of the leg for bandages. Is honey good to put on their sores, knowing he'll lick it off?
However the sore is so much better I don't want to encourage him to start licking again. He doesn't lick as much as he did.
His name is blighty and he's black and white and came from the street.
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,986
Purraise
17,678
Location
Sunny Florida
M mesacakes

This is your thread - how is your barn cat doing? Is he beginning to heal again? I'm hoping you've found something that helps!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

mesacakes

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 14, 2015
Messages
36
Purraise
9
Location
St Louis
I ordered a bitter spray called Wound Guard and am waiting for it to arrive. I saw it mentioned on an Australian cat site I found. I am hoping with applications of it he will stop licking the new tender skin. The healing looks great I just need to get all the fur to grow back! The lower edge has some fur sprouting finally. I think it will be another two weeks for the top though. [emoji]128542[/emoji]
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #16

mesacakes

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 14, 2015
Messages
36
Purraise
9
Location
St Louis
Also the cone and tank-top work pretty well. He gets a break from the cone for a few hours each day though he is ok with the cone. I did have to put a few safety pins in the tank so it fits better but he seems fine with it. He is very tolerant.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #18

mesacakes

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 14, 2015
Messages
36
Purraise
9
Location
St Louis
Frank says hello & thank you for trying to help. Here he is snuggling in his Incredible Hulk tank top!
PS - he gets Revolution so has no fleas.
 

Sarthur2

Cat lady extraordinaire
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Mar 8, 2015
Messages
35,986
Purraise
17,678
Location
Sunny Florida
Bless you!

I am glad you have a solution and that he is beginning to heal. That looked nasty!

The tank top is too cute! I love the pictures!

He looks like a real character and also like he enjoys the attention! ;)

It may take a little while for his fur to grow back.

Is he neutered? His ears tell me he's been in a few fights - poor boy.
 
Last edited:

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
Frank says hello & thank you for trying to help.
OH FRANK!!! You are TOO cute and SOOO lucky that you are being cared for this way. He looks VERY VERY happy and yes, very tolerant. He may not want to leave your place and go back to the barn!!! Keep up the great care and hard work to get him all healed up. :hugs: :hugs: :hugs:
 
Top