by Jenny
(Bradford)

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to read this, as I'm rather worried about my kitten.

My kitten is about 10-12 weeks old (not 100% sure as we got him from a rescue). He has an odd 'sticky' patch of fur on his side - it feels like his fur has gone hard and all stuck together. Whenever I touch it, my kitten cries and it has just started smelling a bit odd.

I am really worried... Do you think I should take him to the vet? Or is there a chance he has walked into something sticky? We have tried washing him but when he dried that 1 patch of fur went hard and sticky again... What is this? And how can we help him?

If you could get back to me it would be much appreciated by both me and my little one!

Thank you,
Jennifer



Dear Jennifer,

Without seeing your cat in person or being able to examine this “sticky” hardened patch of your kitten’s fur, I cannot say for certain what this is.

It is certainly possible that your kitten has gotten something sticky on his fur, and if it did not resolve after washing him with soap and water, then it is most likely something that is not water soluble which can be dangerous for your kitten if licked and can be bad for his skin as well.

The fact that this patch of fur is giving off an odor and seems to be causing your kitten pain concerns me that it could be a wound or abscess that is draining fluid and is infected. If there is pus draining from a wound, it could certainly make your kitten’s fur stick together and harden as it dries. Burns will also result in a very hardened area.

Without significantly more information or seeing your cat in person, I would have to recommend taking your cat to a vet. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and any time there is a strange odor coming from a cat or the cat is crying out as if in pain, it is worth investigating with the veterinarian.

All the best,
Dr. Neely