Conference misery::feline_v1

    Yes, my Benj used to go out and had a habit of turning his head and
    getting scratched above his eye.  One time he even got his eye
    scratched - oh, that was a fun time!
    
    Yes, I believe you can treat abscesses (sp?) yourself.  I have used
    hydrogen peroxide (which Benj HATES because the fizzing frightens him)
    and also some antiobiotic goo that the vet usually gives you.  I would
    be awfully careful if the scratch is near his eye though, because I
    imagine the peroxide would hurt like heck if it dribbled into his eye! 
    I used to put some one a Q-tip and dab it on. 
    
    Benj also used to get his inner ear scratched.  This was such fun. 
    Getting the goo in his ear without his shaking it all out again was the
    challenge of the decade.
    

    The way that abcesses take care of themselves is to burst.  That
    is not a pleasant thing for cat or for owner.  The puss that has
    built up under the skin is foul smelling, and messy.  Most abcesses
    must be drained, one way or another.  If you take the cat into the
    vet, they will lance the abcess and sometimes put a drain in it,
    in order to keep it open long enough for all the puss to come out.
    The problem with cats is that the surface of the skin heals faster
    than the layers underneath.  So, even an abcess that bursts on it's
    own can still be a problem, since it is common for the opening to
    seal up before all the infectious matter (better word than puss)
    can drain out.
    
    Also, if a cat has an abcess, then it also has a bacterial infection.
    The vet will usually put the cat on antibiotics, to help it's system
    combat the infection.  If infections are left on their own, there
    is a chance that the bacteria can travel through the blood, and
    cause problems in other parts of the body.  That usually only happens
    if the cats immune system is severely stressed.
    
    Anyway, in cases of abcesses, I would have to advise to take the
    cat to see his personal physician.
    
    Jo

    Somemore on abcesses......
    
    I have alot of strays in the neighborhood and I see them sick once in a
    while and hurt.  I can't do much, if I can't catch them.  There is a
    male: PRETTY FACE.....he is SCRUFFY's brother, I believe.  He is pretty
    FERAL and comes near me and LET's me pat him occasionally.  Well, last
    summer it looked like he had the top of his hine-back half off and was
    it ever pussy..........YUCK!!!  I swore he would die!!!  I feed him and
    tried to catch him, but was more afraid.  It would almost heal and then
    look worse, I imagine from being outside.  Suddenly it did clear and
    dry-up and then totally healed.  He survived.  It was big....so they do
    have their own anti-bodies that do help and your in-door/out-door pet
    even has a better chance, with you looking after him!
    

    My point was that while many cats can survive abcesses on their
    own, there will occassionally be one cat that can't.  Also, the
    mess from a burst abcess is enough to make you not want the cat
    around much.  The smell is atrocious.  A burst abcess also hurts
    the cat.  Much easier, cleaner, and less painful for everyone if
    the cat is seen by a vet, and put on antibiotics.
    
    Jo

    I would definitely take the cat to the vet for treatment of
    an abscess.  Actually, if the cat is taken to the vet when you first
    notice it has been hurt, the antibiotics will prevent an abscess
    from forming.  A neglected burst abscess is really horrid for the
    animal.  (Would you rather have a pill popped down your gullet
    for a few days, or have a large painful bruised-feeling area
    get worse and worse for a week or so until it ripped open from the
    pressure of the puss trapped underneath, and then maybe stayed 
    infected as small areas of it partially healed and trapped more
    infection underneath?)
    
    rathole warning on:
    Since Percy is getting hurt fairly often, have you considered if he
    would be happier inside?
    rathole warning off:
    

    Mmmm, thats what I thought - I'll still take him to the vet. I wouldn't
    like going around with an untreated abscess! Perhaps he'll get used to
    the trips in the car!
    
    Re : indoor cat
    
    Not really an option. Percy LOVES going outside. We live in a small
    village surrounded by open countryside and he would be miserable if
    we didn't let him out. We only moved here in late August, so I
    think he is still marking out his territiory - hence all the fights.
    He is a big cat and well able to stand up for himself - its just
    that he gets 'caught' occasionally :-) !!
    
    
    Percy is much better today. The abscess has dried up and he is more
    like his old self. I hate it when he is unhappy :-( !
    
    
    
    Lisa plus Percy and Pookie
    

    Is Percy neutered?  If not, neutering would help cut down on the
    number of fights that he gets into.
    
    Jo

    Jo,
    
    Yes, he is , but he thinks if he beats all other cats up, then they
    won't notice!
    
    Lisa plus Percy and Pookie.
    

    re: .8  Typical Male   ;-)

    :-(
    
    
    I feel really GUILTY! Poor Percy had a small lump in his fur on his
    forehead. I thought he had something caught in his fur and it would
    drop out. Well, last night, he looked a bit odd. His eyes seemed to be
    a bit shut. He jumped onto my lap and just sat looking at me until I
    noticed all this GOO on his head. It was an abscess which had burst.
    He was crying and looking SO unhappy. I bathed it in hot salty water
    to drain it and he went to the vet this morning.
    
    I feel so bad - I should have realised. He must have suffered alot
    of pain before it burst :-(.
    
    
    Lisa.
    (Alias stupid!)
    

    You aren't stupid, Lisa.  If you have never seen an abscess, you
    couldn't have known what it was.  I have only seen one even
    though I have 18 cats - I had no idea what it was.  My friend
    had to tell me what it was and how to treat it!!  I had no
    idea.  This one was just above the base of his tail, which
    I handle and play with, but it was just over to one side, and
    I guess I didn't catch it.  I, too, felt pretty dumb!!
    It's the guilt.
    
    E.T.

    This happened to me too.  I guess someone is trying to tell us
    that giving ouur cats a good once over pretty frequently is a good
    idea.  (You want stupid?  Let me tell you about when Pussycat, my
    first cat, came to live with me, and kept rubbing his head all
    over everything.  I took him to the vet because I thought his skin
    must be itching him....)
    

    Sorry folks, I am STUPID - second abscess in 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    We're talking REALLY STUPID HERE!!!!!!!
    
    :-{
    
    
    Lisa.
    
    

    This note just fits what my litte fella Pepper is going through now.
    
    Only just a few hours ago, I took him to the Vet thinking he might
    have a bladder/urinary tract infection since he's been so lethargic and
    running a low-grade fever.  The vet decided he didn't really have that, 
    but I was feeling under his chin (chest area) while I was holding him on
    the table and noticed a long, narrow lump there.  Sure enough, it was
    an abscess and the vet then put him on antibiotics.  
    
   If it's caught in time, there's a good chance this will do it.....
    
    Our other cat, PeeWee wasn't so lucky who had an abscess which 
    burst last year so I had my first experience with drains, etc.
    
    By the way, PeeWee is still missing - does anyone remember that he ran
    off at the Lancaster Animal Hospital last September and I have been
    mourning the loss this whole winter.  I think of PeeWee a lot and wish
    I could (if not get him back) at least know what happened to him
    
    
    Mary B
    

    Gee, its so sad to hear that Peewee is still missing.  Perhaps some
    kind soul took him in and just never saw your lost pet posters.
    I hope so.
      
      I don't know how to say this gently, but I want to make the
    offer -
      If you ever are sure, in your heart, that PeeWee has left this
    world and you'd like him added to the Silver Lining Memorial List
    you just let me know.
      Personally, I still hope you'll be reunited.
       Nancy DC

    I too am sorry to hear PeeWee is still missing. I have thought of
    him so many times during this long winter, keeping a positive thought
    that maybe he found someone, and is warm and well fed.
    
    Barbara

    Poor Pepper - it is difficult to find an abscess! Percy is OK now,
    but it is horrible for them when they burst :-(
    
    I hope you find PeeWee soon.
    
    
    Lisa plus P&P