About five days ago, my cat came in from outside with a small bloody wound on the side of his head. I did my best to clean it up, and I've been trying to keep him inside until it heals so it won't get infected (though to no avail, as my mom always throws the cat outside when he gets too noisy or after he uses the littlebox)

A couple days later, I noticed the wound was nearly twice as large as before. And now today, he has a gaping bloody wound that runs from the top of his head all the way down to his chin, covering nearly half his face. He doesn't seem to be in pain or anything, but I just don't know what to do. I'm worried it'll get infected or that it might be having some unseen negative effect on him even though he doesn't seem to be suffering.

I'm assuming he's scratching and clawing at it and causing it to open even further. What can I do to get him to leave the wound alone? Or at the least, keep him inside? My mom won't keep him inside if I tell her to. She hates the smell of cat poop and tosses him and the litterbox outside whenever he uses it.

It sounds like your cat needs medical attention, he probably needs stitches may have an infection and so need anti-biotics and the best thing to stop scratching is a plastic neck collar.

You really need to go to a vet otherwise it will get worse and worse

I can't take him to a vet. I'm not old enough to drive and my mom says she won't spend money on an animal like that

Good news is he sounds like a happy cat, that's always a plus. Bad news is, an open wound that is closed up seems to always get an abscess. Why you say I have been cleaning it. Remember in chemistry class, you had to grow bacteria,. it too 2 things darkness, and heat. We closed up the wound we thought was clean (darkness), and a cats temp is normally 102 (heat). Perfect conditions for bacteria growth we refer to as an abscess. I bet if you open that mess up , its really pretty an smells great with a slimy mess to come out. JK don't open it up, its NASTY, besides this is a great job for all those people that are pet lovers trying to become a vet, let them do it.
All this will require is a trip to the Vet, clip an clean the wound an some oral antibiotics. Good Luck!!

EEKKKKK she won't get better with out the antibiotics. Looks like it is going to be you to empty it an clean it. Lil hint wrap him in a towel before you do though.

Will your mom take your cat to the vet? I noticed that you said the wound was open, that is a good thing, the bacteria should not grow as fast but if his head starts to swell or he runs a fever I would insist that my mom take him to the vet maybe u could use a over the counter triple antibiotic onitment with pain medicine in it( sorry I can't think of the brand name of it) to rub on the wound. I'm not 100 percent sure that this will help,maybe if you called a vet maybe they would give you some free advice,if you can't take him to the vet... also keep him in the basement or your bedroom... and maybe even outside in a cage ( esp. if your mom insist on throwing him out) if you must to keep him from getting in fights, until this wound heals. I have a vet tech that lives on my street, but I think she has went away for the holiday. Any way if she comes back I will try and get some suggestions from her... good luck, I hope some of my suggestions will help you

Kittygirl I just read your reply to kinks... maybe you will have to call a cat rescue group if worse comes to worse, this is a group that helps animals... not the aspca... these are non-profit groups usually run by volunteers... look in your phone book if necessary, they may help you if you explain your situation to them, also I am assuming that he is not neutered, he will get into fights over his territory and other female cats. So see if maybe you can get help in neutering him. That should cut down on the fighting. Let me know how things work out, I will definitely pray for you and your cat

Thank you for the suggestions so far. I'll see what I can do about finding some antibiotic medication or something.

He is neutered, as a matter of fact. He's just extremely, overly friendly. He tends to invade other animal's personal space far more often than the other animal feels comfortable with. He'll walk over to another cat and start licking it and sniffing it and everything, and he won't leave it alone, and the other cat will get so sick of it they'll start attacking my cat. Stuff like that.

He acts that way with people, too (even complete strangers) He'll just walk up to them and rub against their leg and meow and act like he wants to be petted and all that. It's usually really cute, but not when it gets him hurt like this :(

Your welcome.. let me know how everything turns out.

Well, I was unable to get any antibiotic medications. Since I can't drive, I obviously couldn't go get it myself. And my parents won't go and do it.

I guess they think a bit differently than I do. To them, he's just a "pet" while to me, he's a part of the family. So spending any money that isn't going to food or litter isn't worth it, to them. Something like that.

I couldn't find any animal groups like you mentioned, and even if I could, I wouldn't know how to get them there anyway.

The wound has begun festering or clotting or something. It looks a lot different. It's not a scab, but it's no longer wet-looking. I'm worried about him because I don't know what to do, and he's finally starting to act like he's in pain. He walks around and rubs the injured side of his head against stuff constantly while meowing really loud.

I have written and erased this at least 3 times trying with all my might to refrain what I really think about, the 6 days of needless suffering due to pure neglect this cat has no say so or choice. Frankly its discusting, you have yet to provide even first aid, to your cat with an obvious abcess that biologicly due to the weather conditions ( its summer time ) and location, on his head, that is litteraly impossible to heal with out some type of biological infectious inhibitors. I have already described 5 days ago, basic first aid required. If it wasn't on top of his head , at least the cat could clean himself up since you aren't.

You seem old enough to me according to your grammor and typing ability, to dial 411 correct? Once that feat is tackeled the person answering wants to hear you say, May I have the number to Animal Care and Control please, by chance she says your city doesn't have Animal Care and Control, don't hang up, Ask her for the non emergency police department number. Ask her for the citys service responcible for injured animals. I know now all smaller towns employee ACC or specific local government responsible for the care of injured, but by law in the states, they must have at least a Vets office that's subcontracted to provide after hours humane care, hit by car cats, injured or dead wildlife.
I have traveledto many places all over the world, and no matter where I was, most cat were never formally trained about crosswalks,so some form of city humane care must always availablle.

Now you don't have an excuse, to provide essential health care,
So stop playing games here . Call yellow cab if you have to.

Doc will being a parent of a13, 15 and 17 year old I can say that they have excellent grammar and typing skills, however I don't think the average teenager would know who to call . You are being much to rough on her, this may cause her to refrain from asking for help in the future... Not everyone has 411 I live in a fairly large city(28,000) and we do not have it. The Spca would come pick him up if you lied and told them he was a stray. If you said my cat they would say 65 dollars please( she doesn't have this money... I would guess).. form her post I would also guess she lives pretty far from a store, and taxi cabs are not free. Please do not be so harsh on this little girl... maybe suggest a product to clean it out or website that she can go to, that show's exactly how to hold a cat with claws so that she doesn't get mangled. Oral antibiotics, she may have some in the house( maybe a perscription she never finished )if she new the correct dosage then maybe she could give her poor cat some... anything to try and help him out so he doesn't die . Desperate situations call for desperate actions. Please try to be kinder and more undersyanding esp to our younger and elderly members. :) peace

Technically, she could call the SPCA and tell them the situation, and make it clear that the cat is not getting the treatment it obviously needs. The SPCA won't charge her to take the cat, because she's not the owner in the eyes of the law, the parents are. Now, the parents may either decide to pay the money, or they may lie and say that the cat's not theirs. Either way, the cat would wind up being surrendered. And I have to say that it might be best for the cat in this situation if it was. This is a cat with a relatively minor (although messy) injury. What happens when it gets seriously ill, or gets mauled by a dog or hit by a car? If the owners are unable to provide appropriate treatment, then they really should give the cat a chance of being adopted by a family that can.

True froggy but in my area the spca is so loaded that they usually put them down. And sometimes death is better for the animal that is suffering... I agree that if the parents aren't willing to do right by the cat they shpould never have let her have it:)peace

There is no excuse in my little mind that the cat has to suffer. EVERY town since 1988 has to set aside a humane source of treatment in ER situations. I am fimular with this law quite well, I vollenteer my service free 2 months a year when I travel to Key West, They do not have means to fund all the help they need with GOV moneys. Every town has 911, or a non emergency police number. They can instruct her to such services.

I don't think I was mean at all considering the animal has a abcess on the skull, for over a week. This draws great concerns not only for the pet, but the family. I won't get into the comunical human illness that such injury can lead to by contact. THIS IS SERIOUS. Why would I not show great concern for the cat and house having such understanding of such great needless suffering? Not to mention the great concerns the Parents of that house have with animal cruelty. I just can't find any excuse why

FYI the future referance, oral liquid antibiotics have a shelf life of 27 days.
Clavamox,Amoxi,Clindi, etc.

I'm talking tablets

That would have had potentially been effective 5 days ago Bushg, I am sad to say due to the time involved it has turned into a surgical procedure. Sedating the cat, removing dead tissue, adding a drain, sewing it up along with a host of other meds. I am not trying to bully you or anything honestly. I am sad for the cat that could have been cared for over a simple phone call or responcable adult in the home.

Resources have been set into place by law. When wildlife or domestic animals have been placed in distress. Most rural HBC's (hit by car) first responders are the police. IE deer racoons, and so forth. They know who to contact for proper pick up and care as needed.
Police responding to rutine calls often need such resources in many other situations, if they have to mace a dog, and funny but true, wildlife breakins via setting off alarms on homes and retail bizz. Even the smallest towns have set aside means to aide in similar situations...

I understand and the parents tick me off so bad... my old(neutered) tom 11 back in his hey days, has had to have the medical treatment that you describe at least 3 times... not cheap. And looks like mr t. I just feel sorry for the little girl , I think she really loves her cat.

Thank you all for the help so far, but I don't think I'll be coming back here.

It seems some people here are quite rude and very condesending. It's completely uncalled for, especially when you don't know the full extent of the family's situation. I came here originally because I was worried for my cat. After doing research on all the places online I could find, this seemed the most promising.

I really do appriciate all the advice I've been given, but it's not my fault that I'm unable to do anything. I have no money, no job, no driver's licence and no way of finding out numbers to these places. And even then, I'm unable to call these places without my parent's permission. I live with them, and abide by their rules.

I have been keeping my cat with me constantly, and cleaning out his wound the best I'm able. I'm doing everything in my power to help him along. It's not my fault that I can't follow through on some of the advice you give me, and I don't deserve to be talked to in the way I have.

I really don't think I deserve to feel even worse than I do already, but you've pretty much accomplished that. I can't help the way my parents think. They're not horrible people, they just don't believe a pet is "a part of the family". My parents aren't the only people n the world who think that way.

Again, I'm doing everything I can, and if I'm able, I'll follow through with the advice you've given me. Lord knows I've tried several things already. I've even offered to walk to the store in order to get some medication and antibiotic for my cat, but they wouldn't give me the money. I'm only 14 years old. You need to cut me some slack. I'm doing the best I can :(

If stating facts, medical advice, answers to known results, who to call, and pointing out the lack of humane medical treatment from a parent in the home then Yes I am 100% guilty. Most 14 year old I have observed seem to opperate a phone so well it appears to be addicting. So I see no reason the cat is in the situation its in now. Im not ashamed of or remotely sorry for pointing out how to help,what is required to maintain a quality of health standerd rightly due to animals that are owned. Its not impossible to get the cat treated. That seems to be stuck in your head. Put forth effort in the cat you love and results will appear. Pick up the phone I know you can.

Doc will she can not go against her parents.. she is only 14 and we do not know what her punishment would be. So please help her in another way

I will offer to pay for the treatment,, But she has to make effort in some of this.
Becides her parents in all legality clearly in default at best with animal cruelty/by cause of neglect.

I tried to email her I'm just afraid they will let it die. Thanks.

I just hope it was someone trying to get us all worked up and not really a situation at all.

Well I read and reread the last post and I'm thinking... maybe or just some cheap adult looking for a cheap way out... they got a few tears form me

My childhood cat always came home with wounds from either fighting with other cats or from blue jays pecking holes in his head, and I always cleaned the wounds with peroxide and a topical antibiotic cream (Neosporin is a name brand, but generics are much less expensive), and both products being readily available in most any house's medicine cabinet. Before cleaning, I would pick the scab and squeeze any puss out first, and then start the cleaning process. It may be too late for that, but it is worth a try for a last ditch effort. Your cat's demeanor sounds very much like my cat, and he would let me clean him up without too much trouble.
As far as a phone call, I agree with DocWill there really is no excuse, if indeed this is a true situation. Pick up a phone book and start calling around for help. If you explained your situation, most non-profit, no kill shelters would arrange to pick up the cat at your house. I know the place I volunteer for would.