Answer: A wound recently inflicted (especially of the irregular type known as lacerated wounds) may be dirty. An older wound may be infected with bacteria and discharging pus. Both will require cleaning before being dressed or re-dressed.
Cleaning will be made easier, especially in a long-haired cat, if the hair around the wound is first clipped. Before clipping, the wound must be covered or plugged with a piece of moistened, clean cotton wool the stop any hair straying in.
Then clean the wound using a pad of clean gauze, cotton wool or lint, or even, in an emergency, paper towels. Soak the pad first in the tepid water; cleaning will be made easier if it contains a small amount of the detergent antiseptic such as cetrimide. This is used primarily because of its detergent effect, not for its limited antibacterial action. Other non-detergent antiseptics should not be used because most of them poor at killing bacteria and some may cause skin reactions or delay healing. Certainly, do not use any household disinfectants. An alternative is to rub the wet pad on the tablet of toilet soap, though not carbolic or coal tar soaps because of their toxicity for cats. Washing is much the most effective way of removing bacteria.
Lightly wring out the pad and with it gently dab and wipe away the dirt and/or pus. If you are too vigorous in cleaning you may damage the exposed blood vessels and cause bleeding; if this happens, immediately stop further cleaning. The continual oozing of blood can be controlled by holding in place for a few minutes a pad soaked in cold water. Dab the wound dry with clean pieces of gauze, lint or paper towels.
To keep the wound clean and prevent it from being interfered with, apply a pad gauze or lint, securing it in place either with a crepe bandage or adhesive tape. If adhesive tape is used, cut a piece long enough to overlap itself when in place.
