These infections are usually caused by a cat bite, and they require treatment.

By Tom Ewing

Your feisty but lovable old cat Scrapper is out of sorts. For the past few days, he’s been lolling about the house, uncharacteristically lethargic, off his food, and seemingly depressed. While stroking his back to comfort him, you notice a small but distinct lump just to the side of his tail. You touch it gently — but Scrapper nevertheless lets out a howl, followed by a hiss. Obviously, the lump is very painful to him. It’s likely that you’ve discovered an abscess — a clear sign that Scrapper is harboring an infection (and also a foul mood). …

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