Cat has an abscess... snake?

[14tokihorn]

If a cat has been bitten by a snake, am I right-on - the cat would show some (type) of symptoms pretty soon, right?

My adopted cat, who is happy outside, has come up with the biggest abscess I've seen... just behind the shoulder, next to the ribcage. (2 days ago).
2 things here - there aren't any attack-cats around this neighborhood. And there are 2 skin punctures at the abscess, spaced such that it reminds me of fang(?) marks.

I managed to start draining the puss as I left this morning and I'll get after it tonight.

Its just strange. Because of the small wounds, and the way their spaced, I think he got bit, but by what? this is Aus-central, there are the proverbial 'coons, possums. I can't imagine the cat scraping with them, unless he somehow got cornered... he seems pretty 'street smart ' in that, he always spends the day by climbing over the neighbors chain-link fence and hangs out under their outbuilding (those things that they build for storage and such - has a open-type foundation under the flooring). And, he's not aggressive (came to me neutered) - he isn't the initiator in cat-altercations. Plus I've known that, more times than not, cats use their claws in (cat) fights...if teeth are involved, then it's a serious knock down, drag out.

any ideas who bit him? If worse comes to worse, he'll get to the Vet.

P.S. He isn't acting sick.

 

[accuratehorn]

Hard to say, but cats do tend to fight, and mine bite when they fight. There's always feral cats, and neighbor's cats, and each other to fight with. I'd put a capful of hydrogen peroxide on it a couple of times, then take it to the vet if it worsens.
I've had dogs get bitten by rattlesnakes, and there are worse symptoms-really swells up and they are in quite a bit of pain. But who knows, it could be a nonpoisonous snake or some other captured critter the cat was attempting to torture.

 

[Ignatius]

What accurate said, peroxide to clean it out and some Neosporin or something like that wouldn't hurt...keep an eye on him/her, cats are usually pretty good about letting you know when they don't feel good...

 

[AustinTejasFan]

If the skin/flesh around the "bite" marks is black or showing other signs of necrosis, you may need to take him to vet.

 

[Dionysus]

I can haz abses?

 

[Smurfette]

/
(snicker)


I love my animals, but not enough to squeeze puss out of them.

 

[BigWill]

seek advice at the local feed store.

 

[12thStudStan]

Outside of a Vet exam the best way to determine if the cat was snake bitten is to introduce the cat to a large snake, preferably not-poisonous, in a small enclosed area and watch his reaction. Look for unusual and/or defensive behavior by the cat such as extreme vertical leaping or banshee like screaming as these may be reference indicators that the cat has experienced a recent snake bite.

 

[l00p]

In reply to:

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[zzzz]

I thought this was going to be about The Ticket,

 

[Uninformed]

Likely not a mamba... If it appears there is an infection, you can put on a topical antibiotic. A systemic antibiotic may be necessary, however.

 

[accuratehorn]

Ten posts before a mamba reference? Disappointing.

 

[Brak]

After college I had a Siamese cat that spent a lot of time outside and he used to get into fights fairly regularly. Another cat's claws or teeth can cause a "snake bite" looking wound and they would sometimes get infected and I would have to take him to the vet to get cleaned up.

He was a strong cat and there was no way I would try to clean those wounds myself. He associated a car ride as a trip to the vet so those weren't pleasant either.

 

[Bevo71]

Just take him to the vet!