Anonymous confessions from Surrey’s pets… with a little help from our vets.
Names changed to protect the guilty.
Confessions of a Stoic Street Fighter
…the altercation was beneath me. The recovery, however, was rather impressive.
I am a cat of considerable refinement. My humans call me Roger, which I tolerate.
I do not fight. Fighting is common. I was simply patrolling my domain – a generous stretch of Cobham that I have never formally surveyed but which is, nonetheless, mine. I passed Beech House Vets Cobham Branch on Tilt Road, and I recall it distinctly, as I thought I saw a rather pretty, little feline in the window – before foolishly realising it was just a cat sticker on the glass. A momentary lapse in my usual cool. Still, I remember thinking the place looked perfectly pleasant, in the way one notes a good restaurant without any intention of dining there…. little did I know.
My momentary lapse in concentration lead to a lesser cat approach with stealth, too close for comfort. I resolved the matter swiftly, efficiently, and with minimal fuss, and returned indoors for a nap.
I did not think of it again.
Five days later, I noticed a certain heaviness to my left cheek. Nothing dramatic. Simply… present. I decided not to mention it. One does not make a scene.
By the evening, the repercussions of my altercation were beginning to take shape. I ate half my dinner out of principle and retired early.
My humans, who notice remarkably little, eventually noticed this.
“He’s gone quiet,” said one.
“He’s not eaten his biscuits,” said the other, in the tone humans reserve for genuine emergencies.
I was carried – undignified, but I permitted it – to Beech House Vets.
The vet had a look at my cheek. Warm. Swollen. Tender, though I would never confirm this out loud.
“Looks like an abscess,” she said. “Probably a bite wound from a few days ago that’s turned nasty.”
My humans looked faintly ill at the word “abscess.” I did not know why. I felt marvellous, all things considered.
They explained the abscess had come to a head and simply needed the overlying scab removed to let it drain properly – no need to put me under, which I appreciated, as I had plans for later that afternoon.
I’m told that when the vet lifted the scab, matters became rather… eventful. Apparently, there was quite a lot of it. Apparently, my owners had to leave the room.
I remained perfectly composed throughout. I did not so much as flinch. I simply sat there, radiating quiet dignity, while the vet cleaned everything up and my humans reconsidered their life choices by the door.
I left with a small, shaved patch, a clean wound, and some medication for my troubles. Within a day I was eating normally, glaring out of windows normally, and treating the whole affair as though it had never happened.
My humans, meanwhile, still bring it up. It seems, the amount of “gunk” involved has become something of a family legend. I find this vulgar, but I understand humans need their little dramas.
The other cat, I hear, has also been seen limping.
I remain, as ever, entirely unbothered.
⸻
Vet’s Notes
Cat bite abscesses are extremely common, especially in cats who spend time outdoors. A cat’s sharp canine teeth or claws leave a small, deep puncture wound that often seals over within a day, trapping bacteria underneath. Because these bacteria thrive without oxygen, it typically takes three to five days for a proper abscess to develop — which is why owners are often puzzled when their cat suddenly seems unwell with no obvious injury.
The classic signs are a swollen, warm, painful area (commonly the face, legs or tail base), lethargy, going off food, and sometimes a mild fever. Cats are often stoic and will hide discomfort well, so subtle changes in behaviour are usually the first clue.
Treatment often doesn’t need a general anaesthetic. Many cat bite abscesses have already formed a scab over the original puncture wound by the time they’re brought in,and simply removing that scab allows the built-up pus to drain freely. This can usually be done in a standard consultation, sometimes with a little local anaesthetic cream or gentle restraint, followed by flushing the wound and a course of antibiotics. Sedation or anaesthetic is generally only needed for larger, deeper, or particularly painful abscesses.
At Beech House Vets, our independent team treats pets across Surrey, from Hersham, Cobham, Thames Ditton, Shepperton. Whether it’s a Labrador who’s swallowed a ball or a cat who’s lost a border dispute, our aim is the same – compassionate, high-quality care to get your pet back to their usual, unbothered self.
