You could try irrigating it with peroxide and then applying some triple
antibiotic cream. Keep a close watch on it. If it's a puncture wound it
could abscess and then he definitely needs to see a vet. I wouldn't worry
about the licking as that will help keep the wound open so it can heal from
the inside out. If you see swelling and inflamation and/or any change in
behavior (not eating, lethargic etc) have him seen by the vet right away.

W
wrote in message
om...
Our male indoor/outdoor, neutered cat came in yesterday evening with a
raw spot near his right armpit. He licks it quite a bit. No blood,
some plasma, looks like there are puncture marks from a plant, cactus?
(we're in Tucson AZ) These don't look like bite marks. It seems he is
making the puncture site holes (??) bigger as he keeps licking the
area. He's in good spirits, eating with a regular appetite.
Anyone have a way to cover the injured area with a polstice? some kind
of patching agent that is non-toxic so it wouldn't hurt him if he
licked the site? Any luck with one of those plastic neck collars to
keep him from licking? I'm extremely skeptical about this collar
idea--I mean, come on! It's a cat, not a dog!
This doesn't look very traumatic, but we'll take him in to a vet if he
makes things worse.
Any ideas or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

-*-Bill