DISCLAIMER: Home remedies are not an alternative to professional medical advice. If your pet has a serious issue, please consult your vet immediately. We love our pets and want to protect them. Sometimes, even under our watchful eyes, they can still find ways to get hurt. If your cat is wounded, assess the injury and decide if it needs medical attention. Some cuts and scrapes are minor, but other wounds can be life-threatening. Always consult with your veterinarian if your cat is wounded, even if it’s just over a phone call. If your cat is bleeding heavily or you can see any exposed muscle or bone, this is an emergency, and you need to take the cat to the vet immediately. For minor injuries, there are things that you can try at home to help ease your cat’s pain and make them more comfortable.
The 7 Home Remedies for Treating Cat Wounds
- Saline Solution Image Credit: cocoparisienne, Pixabay If your cat’s eye is red, swollen, leaking, and closed, there could be several reasons for this, from infection to a foreign object in the eye. Cats’ eyes can easily become irritated and appear to be painful. To help your cat, you can rinse the affected eye with saline solution to try to dislodge any debris that could be the culprit. Saline solution can also be used to treat minor open wounds. You want to use this solution as a rinse to clean the wound and remove dirt, as well as keep the skin around the wound hydrated. This is the first line of defense against infection. Pros
Easy to use
Inexpensive
Won’t sting or burn
Cons
May not have it in your home when necessary
Could be difficult to hold your cat still while rinsing the wound
- Raw Manuka Honey Image Credit: Pixabay Raw Manuka honey rubbed on a cat wound has antibacterial properties and can help promote healing. This type of honey is used in medicine worldwide. The Manuka flower holds these antibacterial powers. The honey can ease inflammation and soothe the skin around the wound. There are a few things to remember, though. Regular grocery store honey will not have the same effect and should be avoided. It’s overprocessed and lacks the medicinal benefits that you’d need for your cat’s wound. Pros
Popular food item you may already own
May ward off infection until you can seek medical treatment
Cons
Sticky, messy, and hard to spread
May be hard to locate
- Chamomile Tea Image Credit: Pixabay Humans tend to use this to settle an upset stomach, but chamomile can be given to cats too—on their skin, that is. The chamomile plant is a natural disinfectant and can calm skin irritations. If your cat presents with a rash or hot spot, you can soothe them with chamomile tea. For best results, steep a strong pitcher of the tea, and set it in the fridge to cool. Then, fill a spray bottle with it, and use it to spray on your cat’s inflamed and irritated spots. Pros
Instantly soothes irritated and sore skin
Inexpensive
Cons
Takes time to make and let cool
Must be remade every 4 days
- White Vinegar Image Credit: NatureFriend, Pixabay This is to be used in conjunction with cooled chamomile tea, to make an easy at-home ear cleaner. Just a dash of white vinegar in a spray bottle of tea will help soothe crusty ears and remove dirt like a professional ear cleaning solution. The chamomile will soothe the irritation and the vinegar will clean and disinfect. Pros
Easy to make
Likely have it on hand
Inexpensive
Cons
The vinegar smell may linger
Related Read: Apple Cider Vinegar for Cats: Uses, Remedies, & Benefits
- Epsom Salt Image Credit: Rupert Kittinger-Sereinig, Pixabay While humans can soak in a bath of dissolved Epsom salt and receive the soothing benefits, pets can too! We know that it’s not as easy to get your cat to relax in the bathtub. But if your feline friend starts showing signs of a pulled muscle or sprain, there’s good news. You can dissolve Epsom salt in warm water and soak a washcloth or dish towel in it. Then, apply the cloth to the affected area for up to 5 minutes, five times a day. Pros
Simple and quick
Does not involve a bathtub
Cons
Cat may not sit still for 5 minutes
Cat may not agree with this method because it involves water
- Arnica Image Credit: Pixabay Arnica is a bright yellow sunflower used in homeopathic remedies for bruises, arthritis, and muscle pain relief. This comes in an ointment form, but it’s best to not have your cats ingest it by licking it off. Arnica is available in pellet form for cats, but always check with your vet first for the proper dosage amount. These pellets should only be given to your cat after they are mixed with water first. Pros
A natural pain reliever
Cons
May be difficult to find
Pellets have to be prepared with water first
- Oatmeal Image Credit: Pixabay Itchy skin can be irritating for cats, and they can scratch themselves bloody with their claws. If you notice that your cat is itching excessively, you can use oatmeal to soothe their skin. Baby cereal works best because it’s finely ground. This can be stirred into warm water to make a healing soak for your cat. Will they let you put them in the water? Perhaps not, but they may be so relieved when you try, they’ll make an exception. Pros
Easy to use
Inexpensive
Cons
Cons:
May make the water thick and hard to drain
Cats may not agree to this method
You may also want to read:
How to Protect Your Cat’s Paws from Hot Pavement (5 Tips) How to Trim Your Cat’s Nails at Home (With Video) Hot Spots on Cats: What They Are, and How to Treat Them
Conclusion Treating your cat at home can be scary. While the advice here is meant for temporary relief, it should not take the place of professional medical care. Always consult your veterinarian if your cat is injured. We want the best for our feline companions and hate to see them in pain, so trying to make them feel better is only natural. We hope that our list of remedies comes in handy should you ever need it and that you can provide relief for your kitty before they can see the doctor. Looking for more advice for your sick cat? Try:
8 Home Remedies to Stop Your Cat from Licking Too Much How to Keep Your Cat from Jumping After Surgery 7 Home Remedies for Cats With Colds (Vet Answer)
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
DISCLAIMER: Home remedies are not an alternative to professional medical advice. If your pet has a serious issue, please consult your vet immediately.
We love our pets and want to protect them. Sometimes, even under our watchful eyes, they can still find ways to get hurt. If your cat is wounded, assess the injury and decide if it needs medical attention. Some cuts and scrapes are minor, but other wounds can be life-threatening. Always consult with your veterinarian if your cat is wounded, even if it’s just over a phone call. If your cat is bleeding heavily or you can see any exposed muscle or bone, this is an emergency, and you need to take the cat to the vet immediately.
For minor injuries, there are things that you can try at home to help ease your cat’s pain and make them more comfortable.
The 7 Home Remedies for Treating Cat Wounds
1. Saline Solution
If your cat’s eye is red, swollen, leaking, and closed, there could be several reasons for this, from infection to a foreign object in the eye. Cats’ eyes can easily become irritated and appear to be painful. To help your cat, you can rinse the affected eye with saline solution to try to dislodge any debris that could be the culprit.
Saline solution can also be used to treat minor open wounds. You want to use this solution as a rinse to clean the wound and remove dirt, as well as keep the skin around the wound hydrated. This is the first line of defense against infection.
Pros
Easy to use
Inexpensive
Won’t sting or burn
Cons
May not have it in your home when necessary
Could be difficult to hold your cat still while rinsing the wound
2. Raw Manuka Honey
Raw Manuka honey rubbed on a cat wound has antibacterial properties and can help promote healing. This type of honey is used in medicine worldwide. The Manuka flower holds these antibacterial powers. The honey can ease inflammation and soothe the skin around the wound. There are a few things to remember, though. Regular grocery store honey will not have the same effect and should be avoided. It’s overprocessed and lacks the medicinal benefits that you’d need for your cat’s wound.
Easy to use
Inexpensive
Won’t sting or burn
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Won’t sting or burn
May not have it in your home when necessary
Could be difficult to hold your cat still while rinsing the wound
- May not have it in your home when necessary
- Could be difficult to hold your cat still while rinsing the wound
Pros
Popular food item you may already own
May ward off infection until you can seek medical treatment
Cons
Sticky, messy, and hard to spread
May be hard to locate
3. Chamomile Tea
Humans tend to use this to settle an upset stomach, but chamomile can be given to cats too—on their skin, that is. The chamomile plant is a natural disinfectant and can calm skin irritations. If your cat presents with a rash or hot spot, you can soothe them with chamomile tea. For best results, steep a strong pitcher of the tea, and set it in the fridge to cool. Then, fill a spray bottle with it, and use it to spray on your cat’s inflamed and irritated spots.
Popular food item you may already own
May ward off infection until you can seek medical treatment
- Popular food item you may already own
- May ward off infection until you can seek medical treatment
Sticky, messy, and hard to spread
May be hard to locate
- Sticky, messy, and hard to spread
- May be hard to locate
Pros
Instantly soothes irritated and sore skin
Inexpensive
Cons
Takes time to make and let cool
Must be remade every 4 days
4. White Vinegar
This is to be used in conjunction with cooled chamomile tea, to make an easy at-home ear cleaner. Just a dash of white vinegar in a spray bottle of tea will help soothe crusty ears and remove dirt like a professional ear cleaning solution. The chamomile will soothe the irritation and the vinegar will clean and disinfect.
Instantly soothes irritated and sore skin
Inexpensive
- Instantly soothes irritated and sore skin
- Inexpensive
Takes time to make and let cool
Must be remade every 4 days
- Takes time to make and let cool
- Must be remade every 4 days
Pros
Easy to make
Likely have it on hand
Inexpensive
Cons
The vinegar smell may linger
Related Read: Apple Cider Vinegar for Cats: Uses, Remedies, & Benefits
Easy to make
Likely have it on hand
Inexpensive
- Easy to make
- Likely have it on hand
- Inexpensive
The vinegar smell may linger
- The vinegar smell may linger
5. Epsom Salt
While humans can soak in a bath of dissolved Epsom salt and receive the soothing benefits, pets can too! We know that it’s not as easy to get your cat to relax in the bathtub. But if your feline friend starts showing signs of a pulled muscle or sprain, there’s good news. You can dissolve Epsom salt in warm water and soak a washcloth or dish towel in it. Then, apply the cloth to the affected area for up to 5 minutes, five times a day.
Pros
Simple and quick
Does not involve a bathtub
Cons
Cat may not sit still for 5 minutes
Cat may not agree with this method because it involves water
6. Arnica
Arnica is a bright yellow sunflower used in homeopathic remedies for bruises, arthritis, and muscle pain relief. This comes in an ointment form, but it’s best to not have your cats ingest it by licking it off. Arnica is available in pellet form for cats, but always check with your vet first for the proper dosage amount. These pellets should only be given to your cat after they are mixed with water first.
Simple and quick
Does not involve a bathtub
- Simple and quick
- Does not involve a bathtub
Cat may not sit still for 5 minutes
Cat may not agree with this method because it involves water
- Cat may not sit still for 5 minutes
- Cat may not agree with this method because it involves water
Pros
A natural pain reliever
Cons
May be difficult to find
Pellets have to be prepared with water first
7. Oatmeal
Itchy skin can be irritating for cats, and they can scratch themselves bloody with their claws. If you notice that your cat is itching excessively, you can use oatmeal to soothe their skin. Baby cereal works best because it’s finely ground. This can be stirred into warm water to make a healing soak for your cat. Will they let you put them in the water? Perhaps not, but they may be so relieved when you try, they’ll make an exception.
A natural pain reliever
- A natural pain reliever
May be difficult to find
Pellets have to be prepared with water first
- May be difficult to find
- Pellets have to be prepared with water first
Pros
Easy to use
Inexpensive
Cons
Cons:
May make the water thick and hard to drain
Cats may not agree to this method
You may also want to read:
Easy to use
Inexpensive
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
Cons:
May make the water thick and hard to drain
Cats may not agree to this method
Cons:
May make the water thick and hard to drain
Cats may not agree to this method
How to Protect Your Cat’s Paws from Hot Pavement (5 Tips)
How to Trim Your Cat’s Nails at Home (With Video)
Hot Spots on Cats: What They Are, and How to Treat Them
Conclusion
Treating your cat at home can be scary. While the advice here is meant for temporary relief, it should not take the place of professional medical care. Always consult your veterinarian if your cat is injured.
We want the best for our feline companions and hate to see them in pain, so trying to make them feel better is only natural. We hope that our list of remedies comes in handy should you ever need it and that you can provide relief for your kitty before they can see the doctor.
Looking for more advice for your sick cat? Try:
- 8 Home Remedies to Stop Your Cat from Licking Too Much
- How to Keep Your Cat from Jumping After Surgery
- 7 Home Remedies for Cats With Colds (Vet Answer)
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
