My 5-month-old cat recently had a small place on the base of his tail that was bleeding slightly. He had leaves and dirt in his fur, so I am assuming he was in a fight or that he had a hard time getting out of a tree or something, now almost two weeks later, it has become a large swelling and his behavior has changed somewhat. He's not as energetic and he's a little grouchy. Could this be an infection? Chris, via the Internet Dear Chris: What you describe is very consistent with an abscess. An abscess is an infection that occurs when bacteria infiltrates soft tissue. The body mounts an immune response with white blood cells. This eventually leads to the formation of a large pocket of purulent (pus-like) exudate retained within the soft tissue (i.e. the swelling you describe) under the skin. Cats are very prone to abscessation due to their skin's ability to heal quickly, and their propensity for fighting or having nocturnal romps. Cats possess a marvelous network of cells and vasculature that lay the foundation for granulation and scar tissue. Sometimes, these very factors work against the feline as the flesh wound heals before the infection has cleared the body. Once the skin has sealed, it traps the bacteria within the subcutaneous tissue layer and an abscess is born. The good news is that, this is a very treatable condition. Your veterinarian will be able to lance (break open and drain) the abscess. Draining the abscess and placing your cat on systemic antibiotics will ensure proper healing from the subcutaneous to the superficial layers. Dr. M.C. Lane |