by Jeff
(Wisconsin)

My mom said the cat had a bump on her back leg, next to her anus and a few days later, I noticed her limping and sleeping more often, so I looked. The bump had broken open and now there is a gash one and a half inches wide.

My cat has been lying around more than usual, and I noticed that she urinated and it was all on her back legs.

My cat still acts her normal self, just limps a bit with that leg. She wasn't attacked in the past few days. We have a dog but they never bother each other in over 2 years.

The cat still walks around, drinks, eats, and sleeps, although I don’t know how well she is going to the bathroom. I have been working too much to notice. There is a big brown object or something that looks like pus coming out of it.

My parents won’t take her to the vet and there is no convincing them. They don’t have the money for a veterinary visit. I sadly don’t either, as I am in debt :(

I don’t know what to do. I don’t want her to die from this. The cat is around 10 years old. Do you know what this is, or if she will be alright?


Dear Jeff,

It sounds as though your cat needs to be seen or examined by a veterinarian. Your cat’s anal sacs may have ruptured or she may have been injured in a fight with another animal or your dog and developed an abscess that has since ruptured, or any number of other possible causes for your cat’s injury. If there is pus coming from the wound or if it has an odor or your cat is acting lethargic, she could be developing an infection as well and need prompt veterinary care.

If finances are a concern, you may want to look into a program such as Care Credit, which is not a credit card but provides a line of credit to pay off at low or no interest over a period of years or months for both veterinary and human medical expenses. You may also want to call veterinarians in your area to see if any are willing or able to provide a payment plan that suits your situation.

Ultimately, your cat may be in pain, and it sounds as though she may have an infection in her wound. Your cat needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Kindest regards,
Dr. Neely