Am I in any danger? My cat bit be quite hard ( He was horny and about to hump be and I couldn't get him off. Lol. ) but I didn't bleed; it just left some indents, and now today they ar etwo red marks. When I touch them they hurt a little bit, but other than that, I feel okay. What do I do?
2006-10-02 08:25:09 · 13 answers · asked by Alex K. 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Yikes, go to a doctor. A cat's mouth is full of bacteria that can make you VERY sick. Go...now.
What is cat-scratch disease, and how do people get it?
Cat-scratch disease is an infection caused by bacteria (germs) carried in cat saliva. The bacteria can be passed from a cat to a human. Doctors and researchers think cats may get the bacteria from fleas, although this hasn't been proved.
You can get cat-scratch disease from a cat bite or cat scratch. You can get the infection after a cat scratches you if the cat's paws have the bacteria on them. (A cat can get the bacteria on its paws when it licks itself.) With a cat bite, the cat can pass the bacteria to you in its saliva. You can also get the bacteria in your eyes if you pet a cat that has the bacteria on its fur and then rub your eyes. Many people who get cat-scratch disease do not remember being scratched or bitten by a cat.
Cat-scratch disease is not a severe illness in people who are healthy. But it can be a problem in people with weak immune systems. People with weak immune systems include those who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer, those who have diabetes or those who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
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Should I call my doctor if I am bitten or scratched by a cat?
Call your family doctor if you notice any of the following problems:
* A cat scratch or bite that does not heal in the usual length of time.
* An area of redness around a cat scratch or bite that continues to get bigger for more than 2 days after the injury.
* Fever that lasts for several days after a cat scratch or bite.
* Painful and swollen lymph nodes for more than 2 or 3 weeks.
* Bone or joint pain, abdominal pain (without fever, vomiting or diarrhea) or an unusual degree of tiredness for more than 2 or 3 weeks.
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What are the signs of cat-scratch disease?
A sore may develop where a cat has bitten or scratched you. The sore might not happen right away. It may take 3 to 10 days for the sore to appear after the bite or scratch.
The sore may take a long time to heal. An infection of the lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) also develops, most often in the glands that are near the place where you got the cat scratch or cat bite. For example, if the infection is from a cat scratch on your arm, the glands in your armpit may become tender and swollen. The lymph nodes may swell to an inch or more in size.
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What tests are needed to diagnose cat-scratch disease?
If you remember that you were bitten or scratched by a cat, your doctor will probably be able to diagnose the illness based on the fact that you were bitten or scratched and then got painful, swollen lymph nodes. When the diagnosis is not clear, a blood test may help your doctor make the diagnosis.
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How is cat-scratch disease treated?
In most people, cat-scratch disease clears up without treatment. However, antibiotics (medicines that kill bacteria) may be needed when infected lymph nodes stay painful and swollen for more than 2 or 3 months. Antibiotics may also help if you have a fever for a long time or if the infection is in your bones, liver or another organ.
If a lymph node is very large or painful, your doctor may drain it to help relieve the pain. The lymph node is drained by putting a needle through normal skin off to the side of the node and moving the needle to the swollen node. The needle is then inserted into the node and the fluid in the node is drained out.
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Can cat-scratch disease be prevented?
Avoiding cats is the simplest way to prevent the disease, but it is not usually necessary to get rid of your cat. Try to avoid any situation where you might be bitten or scratched by a cat. Do not tease or provoke a cat. Most scratches and bites come from cats that are provoked. Washing your hands carefully after handling your cat is another way to prevent the infection. Getting rid of fleas on your cat will also keep you and your family members from catching the infection.
Cats only seem to be able to transmit this infection for a few weeks. Young cats seem to be more likely to carry the bacteria than older cats. Households with kittens have higher rates of infection. If the kittens have fleas, the infection rate is even higher.
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Should cats be treated?
Cats require no treatment. The bacteria doesn't cause cats to get sick. They merely carry the bacteria that causes cat-scratch disease in people.
2006-10-02 08:29:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Definately get to a doctor. Cat bites become infected 85% of the time, dogs only 15% and human bites about 92% of the time. Your doc will most likely put you on a combination of antibiotics. One that will kill aerobic bacteria and one that will kill the anaerobic bacteria. Such as Levaquin and Clindamycin. DON"T LET IT GO THOUGH!!!
I'm a licensed veterinary nurse and have seen these things get ugly fast. Including one time when I was bit. I let it go and ended up in the hospital for 4 days on IV antibiotics. Ugg! Soaking the area in warm water with betadine added to it in the mean time. You can get betadine at any drug store.
And while cat scratch is possible, more than likely you're looking a case of sepsis ( general systemic bloodborne infection).
I would go to the emergency room now, before it gets any worse!
Heather R, CVT
2006-10-02 08:38:43 · answer #2 · answered by HEATHER R 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't freak out just yet. You may just have an allergy to cats. Regardless of the bite or not, the cat may be causing you to have a reaction. Take some Claritin and see if it helps. If the bite mark gets worse or starts to look infected, then go see a doc. You may want to ask them to do a simple blood test to see if you're allergic to cats.
2006-10-02 12:15:05 · answer #3 · answered by nessag 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to get to a doctor right away! Cats have alot of bacteria behind their fangs and their bites can become infected very easily.
Don't mess around with this!! Clean it out the best you can and go to your doctor.
2006-10-02 10:59:18 · answer #4 · answered by November 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to go to the doctor and get some antibiotics and a tetanus shot. (The tetanus shot is needed if you haven't had one in the past 10 years) Depending where you got bit at is a big factor in all of this. Is it swollen where your cat bit you?
2006-10-02 08:35:29 · answer #5 · answered by kittysoma27 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cat bites can be more dangerous than a dog bite. Cats carry dangerous bacteria in their mouths. You need to go see a doctor right away.
2016-03-18 03:48:45 · answer #6 · answered by Heather 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry this is probably going to sound really mean but SUCK IT UP and if it gets worse over the next few days then go to a doctor
2006-10-02 10:25:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it didn't break the skin, and you didn't stick your finger that was bit in your nose, mouth, or eye, I think you may be overreacting. If the bite just left an indent but didn't break the skin, there was no way for any germs to get in.
2006-10-02 08:41:48 · answer #8 · answered by Rachel 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
did the skin break? You said no blood...so either there was no skin broken or the cat punctured you. If it is a puncture...these can get infected easily. If no skin was broken (no puncture) and just indents.. you have nothing to worry about.
2006-10-02 09:14:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call a doctor and ask for advice. If the cat has had rabies and distemper shots, and didn't break the skin, you should be okay. But find out for sure.
2006-10-02 08:33:18 · answer #10 · answered by Cat Lover 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋