2021 Success Story Zaytta cat

This is Zaytta, a sweet little kitty that adopted her parents. Zaytta kept coming by her parents house, and it was clear to them that she was hungry and scraggly looking. Unfortunately, her parents had lost their job due to COVID-19, and then her mom needed shoulder surgery, causing her to lose hours at work; however, they just couldn't let this little baby go hungry. They brought her in, started taking care of her, and Zaytta became a loved part of the family.

Her parents were just starting to get caught up from being laid off, when Zaytta started to limp. Terrified that their baby girl had broken her leg and they wouldn’t be able to afford the costs of surgery for her, they applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help. 

At the vet they learned that Zaytta did not have a broken leg, but a bad abscess on her foot.

What is an abscess? 
According to VCA Animal Hospital, an abscess is a “pocket of pus” located somewhere in the body; in Zaytta’s case it was her foot. 

What are the signs of an abscess? 
Most times, an abscess appears as a painful swelling that can be firm or compressible like a blister; that is, as long as it is not located inside a body cavity or deep within tissue. Often, the fur at the site is missing or matted. A fever can often accompany an abscess, and your cat may not be in their normal playful mood. Also, sometimes an abscess can rupture; for an external abscess, the discharge is rather bad smelling (again, it’s puss).

If it is under the skin, there could be a lot of redness around the area. But, if an abscess ruptures internally, it could cause an internal infection or bacteria in the bloodstream. 

How does my cat get an abscess? 
The most common cause is a bite from another animal that introduces bacteria into the wound, which then becomes infected and an abscess forms. Other ways are from injuries from objects like sticks and grass seeds, or having had a previous infection in the site. However, damage to a tooth may result in a tooth root abscess as well. 

Zaytta was lucky that her new parents caught her abscess quickly and took her to the vet. At the clinic, they cleaned out the abscess and gave her some antibiotics to help kill the infection. She’s on her way to being 100% back to her normal, healthy self. 

A cat abscess is a painful and potentially serious health issue. Fur Kids Foundation recommends that if you see an abscess on your cat, take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment. 

About Fur Kids Foundation
Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories.