I Cut My Cat While Grooming – How Should I Treat the Wound?

If you accidentally cut your cat while grooming and the wound is not large, stitches may not be needed. It is best to shave a ring of fur around the wound to prevent bacterial infection, then disinfect with povidone-iodine. Do not use alcohol, as it will sting and agitate the cat.

After disinfecting, apply a pet-specific anti-inflammatory spray if available, or erythromycin ointment as an alternative. Keep an Elizabethan collar on the cat until the wound heals to stop licking or scratching, keep the area dry, and it should recover in about seven to ten days.