• We had to take our Tabby Jerry to the vets today. A few months ago he was attacked by another cat. He had two bad bites that we could see, one over his eye and another on top of his head. These we treated with salt water, eventualy they formed abcesses, burst and healed. However after a while we noticed he had a hole like wound on his cheek we bathed, this time it wouldn't heal. It scabed over one day and then was open again the next. I took him to the vets and he was given a long acting antobiotic injection. This however had no effect and we have had to take him again today. They have taken a swab to see if a culture can be grown, if its caused by a specific bacteria then he can be given the correct antibiotic. This is the best scenario. If its not this he will need to have it cut out and it could either be a deformed whisker root or a growth. Have to wait about 7 days for the culture. He is such a sweet cat so gentle and well behaved at the vets.


  • I have had numerous cats over the years myself. I really hope Jerry will be OK. Please keep us updated.


  • Cat bites are the worst…I wish Jerry well...do let us know how it goes.


  • Go get some "PRID" by Smile's this is all natural drawing salve. Looks like road tar but it works. First time I bought one was whole fifity cents and I think last I bought I paid $4.00 or $5.00 for this little can but it really works.

    At Wal-Mart they keep it behind the counter and same at wal-greens. It cannot hurt and it just might work we have used it on a lot of things animal wise and human wise. Good luck.

    Rita Jean


  • Thank you for your concern, i will certainly keep you posted, it will be about 7 days before the culture grows. In himself he is fine and certainly hasnt lost weight, he is a big fat Cat.
    I don't know wether i will be able to get PRID in England but will certainly try. I have tried Manuka honey but he licks it off and this then disturbes the scab.


  • Have looked up PRID on the internet, dont think we can get it here but it certainly sounds like good stuff. I have read that you are not to use it on broken skin so i'm not sure it would be suitable as the wound is quite raw at times. I wouldnt mind getting some though as it does sound realy good.


  • Reason we had Prid was because a cat took a small piece out of my grannys leg and open and would not heal. We got this and it healed like works from inside out. Anyway I wish you all the best of luck. Let us all know. Happy 4th.

    Rita Jean

  • Houston

    I had this happen once to our bunny..it ended up being a horse fly that had bit the bunny and laid eggs inside of it. Once the eggs hatched the larvaes ate a pretty sizeable hole in the bunnies stomach ( from the exterior inwards). Could this be? Do y'all have these type of horse flies in England? I was shocked, coming form little ol'e Sweden, where we have nothing that 'nasty" flying about..at least I wouldn't think so.
    Either way I hope the culture would give you some answers. I would've suggested Manuka honey, we use it for all kid and animal issues in this house. it is very potent, but only if it is left on and not licked off, silly cat.


  • @Rita:

    Go get some "PRID" by Smile's this is all natural drawing salve. Looks like road tar but it works. First time I bought one was whole fifity cents and I think last I bought I paid $4.00 or $5.00 for this little can but it really works.

    At Wal-Mart they keep it behind the counter and same at wal-greens. It cannot hurt and it just might work we have used it on a lot of things animal wise and human wise. Good luck.

    Rita Jean

    I absolutely agree with this - we have used drawing salve on ourselves when spider bites, etc. have gotten infected, and have used it on may of our cats - wounds that were not responding to antibiotics, etc. have healed well with this. It's icthyamer (sp?) ointment, and if you can't find it ask the pharmacist where it is. Be sure to keep it covered, so it doesn't scab over.


  • Had a look for Prid in our chemist, no luck, but if you have used it on a cut Rita Jean it sounds like it may be ok.
    Shayes mum thanks for your suggestions, his wound is in a realy awkward place on his cheek and i cant think of a way to cover it.,
    Basenjimamma hope your poor bunny was ok. I dont think anything has laid eggs in Jerrys face as i can see right into the hole.
    Honestly i would freak out if this was the case. We do have horse flies here but i dont think these lay eggs in hosts? However we do have what are called Blow flies and these do. I know everything has to live but isn't it disgusting.
    Will keep you all posted and thank you again for your help.


  • We have had Jerrys results from his swab back today. There is no rare bacteria that could be treated with antibiotics and so he is booked in next Tuesday to have the wound cut out. We are hoping it is a damaged whisker root and not a growth or anything.

  • Houston

    Good news, I will keep my fingers crossed things are not weird in there…


  • Hopefully you will get to the bottom of it then, got everything crossed here for him.


  • Jerry is at the Vets, he has had his op and is coming round well. We can pick him up at 1.30. Have bought him some cat milk as a treat.
    Further update later.

  • Houston

    I am so glad to hear that his Op went well. I hope he recovers swiftly and will be back to his normal self before you know it.


  • Jerry is back from the vets, nasty wound gone and nicely stitched. He is doing well and has eaten and drunk. I treated him to some posh cat food in a little posh tray but he was having none of it and tucked into good old Felix as usual. His brother Tom however polished it off.
    We now have to try and keep him in for5 the next few days which isn't going to go well.
    Here is a pic of Jerry (looking up) and his brother Tom.
    attachment_p_80500_0_p1010577.jpg


  • Glad all turned out well for you. I wondered if there was a Tom in Jerry's life!! Thanks for the update and pic.

  • Houston

    I am glad that he is home and that he is eating..I love the fact that you have a Tom and a Jerry..cute.


  • I just found this thread - am glad that all seems to be well now. For future reference, it might be an idea to keep some dry antiseptic powder spray - it makes wounds heal up in days. I always keep a can of it in the house, and a can in the bag i take to shows. Because its dry the dogs (and presumably cats) dont tend to like licking it. You can buy it in Boots.


  • Thanks Scott, will get some.
    I am taking Jerry to the vets tomorrow for his final post op check up,
    he's looking good now. Just hope he doesn't wee in his container again. Last Friday i had to tip the container with Cat sliding to the front and tip out what i could. Then i tried to poke tissues through to soak it up but everytime he snatched the tissue away, it was quite comical realy 🙂

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