A multicentre, controlled, randomised field trial was performed in France to evaluate the efficacy of Cephalexin administered per os at a dosage of 15 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days in the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous infections in the cat. A total of 114 cats were included in the study. Fifty-seven cats were treated with Cephalexin-based tablets (Rilexine®, Virbac) at the recommended dosage; 56 cats were treated with Marbofloxacin-based tablets (Marbocyl® P, Vetoquinol) at the recommended dosage of 2 mg/kg body weight SID. Both treatments were administered for 5 days. Cats were clinically observed on 3 days: D0, D5 and D0 (5 days after end of treatment). On D0, a cutaneous swab was taken from each enrolled animal for bacteriological analysis. Efficacy of the products was assessed by the percent clinical recovery (total disappearance of local signs: suppuration, oedema, pain, redness/heat) on D10 and percent relapses. On D0, there was no significant difference between groups for demographic characteristics, clinical signs or for bacteriological results. Approximately 68.1% of enrolled cats presented with an abscess; 21.2% presented with an infected wound; 10.6% presented with both a wound and abscess. Pasteurella multocida represented 42.9% of the isolated pathogens. Gram-negative bacteria represented 67.2% of the total isolates and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp) represented 32.8%. Out of the 113 cats treated on D0, 78 (69.0%) no longer had local clinical signs after treatment 41 (71.9%) in the Cephalexin-treated group and 37 (66.1%) in the Marbofloxacin-treated group (p=0.5007)). Only one cat from the Cephalexin-treated group relapsed. (p=1.0000). Based on these results, Cephalexin administered orally at a dosage of 15 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days is at least as effective as Marbofloxacin administered at the recommended dosage of 2 mg/kg once daily for 5 days in the treatment of cutaneous wounds and abscesses in cats.