Keeping a surface wound from getting infected?

[smosmosmo]

My cat somehow ripped a quarter-sized chunk of fur out of the back of her neck this weekend, and it won't heal up completely because she keeps licking at it - it scabs over then starts bleeding again. What can I use to keep the area clean and to get her to stop licking it?

 

[fionasmom]

Care of Open Wounds in Cats
Cat Wound Treatment (Overview) - Wound Treatment for Cats | PetMD

There is some information in each article about home care but I do have to add that each assumes that a vet has also seen the wound on the animal.

The size of a quarter is quite large for a cat's neck and you don't mention how deep it might be but it still bleeds. Given it is on her neck, a cone does not sound like a possibility at all to prevent licking.

If this is serious or if there are underlying reasons/causes that the skin was ripped in the first place, you need a vet.