Success Story: Mask

First rule of fight club: You do not talk about fight club!

And Mask, this 3-year-old kitty, is staying quiet about his scrappy cat fighting. But the gash in his tail did a lot of talking for him.  

Cats who spend some time outside are known to get into fights with other cats from time to time, usually defending their territory. This gash was enough to worry his mom, who is out of work due to health reasons. But, it's a good thing she took him to the vet and reached out to Fur Kids Foundation because his gash ended up being an abscess.

Cat fights can be quite serious. Cat’s claws and teeth are made for fighting, and they can make very deep stab wounds into other cats that can seal quickly on the surface, but infection can fester underneath. Bacteria that is trapped under the skin can cause tissue to breakdown, resulting in abscesses that require medicine to treat. Trapped bacteria underneath the skin may also do permanent damage to the kidneys and other internal organs if not found and left untreated.

The most common sign of an abscess is an area on the animal that looks like an open sore with missing or matted fur. The area may be oozing some yucky, smelly goop, too. However, this could take a while to show up. If you feel an swollen area on your cat, or they are acting sluggish, in pain, or are running a fever, you should contact your vet as soon as you can.

Mask was prescribed some medicine to help his wound heal and was given strict orders to refrain from getting into anymore kitty scuffles. We’re happy to report that he’s on the mend.

​If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.