My son(14) was bitten by a cat. I am currently on unemployment and had to let my insurance go for financial reasons. I haven't been living in this location long enough to have a family doctor and there doesn't seem to be any walk-ins anywhere close. But that doesn't mean I am not concerned, it just means that if it's not an emergency, I'd really rather not make a bill I can't pay. Your advice PLEASE.
2006-07-24 05:53:30 · 13 answers · asked by vvxxzzvv 2 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
First...Clean, photograph, aplly antibiotic, and dress the wound. Give him some ice cream and kisses, tell him you're glad it wasn't a lion, and smile. Go to WebMD or some medical website, you'll find out about all the nasty things that cat bites can do and look for any warning signs. Check the woulnd before bed...mor kisses, reaplly antibacterial ointment and redress with ne bandage. Check again in the morning. As always red lines moving up the arm toward the heart, time to call an ambulence, don't risk driving. You should find the owner of the cat, if you don't know them already. Keep track of the woulnd and hoy your boy is doing, also if you notice anything about the cat that seems odd, have the owner's kid, just kidding , call Animal Control to come get the cat. Most likely though he'll be fine, maybe need some antibiotics, but check with an online medical source to get more clarity. Good luck.
2006-07-24 15:50:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your son is probably fine. Kids get bitten by cats all the time.
Now, if it was a stray cat or seemed overly aggressive, I would want to get him checked out. You can certainly get rabies from a cat bite. You can also get an infection.
If you are worried about money, take him to the urgent care center, rather than the ER - cheaper. I don't know what the wound looks like, or what the cat looks like, but in general, I wouldn't worry about it. However, it depends on whether he is showing any medical symptoms or if the wound looks bad or if the cat looked unhealthy.
2006-07-24 05:58:10 · answer #2 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but only IF a cat has rabies.
How bad was the bite? Why did the cat bite your son? Was the cat acting overly aggressive or did your son egg the cat on?
If you cleaned the bite very well with lots of hot water and used antispetic your son should be fine.
I have been biten by cats and a dog but had no infection of problem.
Just watch the bite.
How long ago was your son bitten?
2006-07-24 06:02:17 · answer #3 · answered by KathyL 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possible for a dog, or cat, to give a human rabies. That's why if an animal bite is reported, the authorities have to find out if the critter is up on its shots. And if there is doubt, or the animal is not, it most likely will be put down.
Good luck with your son!
2006-07-24 06:17:27 · answer #4 · answered by Tigger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabies in this country are very very rare anymore. Who's cat was it? If it was someones pet you probley have a very low risk. If it was a stray cat, then the risk goes up. Did the bite break the skin? The human testing for rabies is kinda hard to do. The best way to test for rabies if to test the animal. Most places will capture the animal and watch it for signs of rabies. And/or they will have to euthenize the animal or order to test it's brain tissue for the rabies. I would say the risk is low, problem is, is that if the animal did have rabies, in which case you son contracted it, once your son starts to show signs it would almost be to late for your son. Your best approach I say would be to contact animal control asap and let them know hyour situation. They can then attempt to capture the animal. Like I said, rabies is very rare in this country anymore, I think his risk is very low, but when it comes to our children we can not be to careful. Most rabies cases are seen in wild undomestic animals such as skunk, fox, racoons ect. Contact animal control.
2006-07-24 06:08:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure you've heard of cat scratch fever? it a real thing cats have a little poison in there claws. they also have that same poison in there eye teeth. if the cat actually drew blood on your son it may be an emergency. go to the emergency room. they can,t turn you away. and it's not like anything bad will happen if you take your time paying the bill.
2006-07-24 06:01:07 · answer #6 · answered by christine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, cats can give rabies. This is why all cat owners are supposed to give their cats shots. Is this a feral (wild) cat? Or the next-door neighbor's cat? Can you ask the cat owner if the cat had his shots?
2006-07-24 05:55:47 · answer #7 · answered by Funchy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is very unlikely that the cat gave your son rabies, however, if the cat is acting strangly you should carefully have the cat checked for rabies to be sure.
If the cat doesn't have rabies he is safe.
2006-07-24 05:57:48 · answer #8 · answered by Chapparo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and you should have the cat tested for rabies.
2006-07-24 05:57:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes especially strays can give you rabies if you got scratched or bit and fleas are a nasty prob too. if you think this has happened go to the dr
2006-07-24 05:56:30 · answer #10 · answered by oceanlady580 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋