Safe ointment for cat to help heal minor skin irritation?

September 6, 2015 6:38 PM

My cat has a few small, uninfected scratches on bridge of its nose. I have washed gently with warm water and a cloth, but am wondering if anyone can recommend something simple I can apply to promote healing? Could be an over the counter ointment made for the purpose or something I have at home like olive oil, jojoba oil, or aloe, but I don't really want anything medicated. YANMvet but, cat parents, what have you used?
posted by dahliachewswell to Pets & Animals (14 answers total)

Not a vet, but I do know that Neosporin is safe in small amounts.
posted by mermaidcafe at 6:51 PM on September 6, 2015

I would not use Neosporin on an area that a cat may lick. Polymyxin B, one of the ingredients in Neosporin ointment, can be dangerous for cats. Better to leave it alone to heal.
posted by artistic verisimilitude at 6:59 PM on September 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

Noses are pretty vascular. The scratches ouguta heal up just fine without ointment.

My dog has a dog variety neosporin type ointment for body sores, but when he got his nose scratched up real bad a while back, his vet said not to use the ointment on his nose but to just keep it clean.

So I agree with the above posters: no ointment on the face.
posted by phunniemee at 7:26 PM on September 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

There may be some benefit to using Neosporin... but..check out this article first... the key is to apply it, keep the cat from licking it for a few minutes, and then wipe it off.. hope the Kat heals well..
posted by HuronBob at 7:27 PM on September 6, 2015

Your cat will clean the area with its saliva, via a paw. If that paw tastes bad to the cat from antibiotic ointment, then the cat might not clean the wound. It is better for the cat to do it once you have wiped up with water.
posted by Oyéah at 7:37 PM on September 6, 2015

Cats are very sensitive to most essential oils, and the mix of antibiotics in all OTC creams is formulated for humans, not cats.

Leave it alone. Cats are basically made of being able to heal scratches.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 8:28 PM on September 6, 2015

Nothing. Just as I would use nothing to heal my own scratches. Cats and humans are both decent at healing minor injuries.

Keep an eye on it for infection and otherwise leave it be.
posted by Nyx at 9:14 PM on September 6, 2015 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: To be clear, I would never use neosporin or something created for humans on my cat and as I said am mostly interested in non medicated options, ie not antibiotics. I find that my own skin heals better when moisturized and was curious if there was something safe for cats in this vein. I am sure you all are correct that my cat doesn't really need anything, though. Thanks for your tips!
posted by dahliachewswell at 10:13 PM on September 6, 2015

I would suggest Bag Balm.
posted by okay-quiet-time at 10:36 PM on September 6, 2015

Cat saliva contains mitogens, proteins that promote wound healing. Also anti-bacterial compounds. So unless it's infected, your cat has everything they need already. Don't mess with it, you will only make things worse.
posted by shelleycat at 12:41 AM on September 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

A bit of coconut oil would be safe and anti-bacterial, and the cat would enjoy licking it off because most cats like the flavour. It would be gone within half an hour, but if you feel better having put something on it, why not?

I do not put anything on my cats' minor scratches. They heal just fine.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:28 AM on September 7, 2015

When my kitty had a dry crusty scrape on her nose, my vet told me to put calendula gel on it, and it worked. Check the ingredients to make sure it's only calendula, but that will do it.
posted by mibo at 2:58 AM on September 7, 2015

I had used manuka honey on my cat's and dog's scratches. It has (some) antibacterial properties and it is entirely natural. If you do choose to use it, buy the highest number (concentration?!) you can afford. You can use the rest for yourself if you have a flu in the next four-five months.
posted by Parsnip at 10:27 AM on September 7, 2015

seconding the coconut oil - i remember when my cat had a little nick from something and i dabbed a tiny bit of coconut oil on it to help keep it moisturized and because i fuss over her. that was also the day i found out how much my cat loved the taste of coconut oil, but you know. one of us felt better, anyway.
posted by carlypennylane at 3:23 PM on September 7, 2015