I am not a cat person so I don't know if there are any risks of infection/disease from a cat bite.(My daughter was bit by a cat the other day.)
2007-01-23 05:06:39 · 13 answers · asked by becca 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
the most usual thing you can get from a cat bite of scratch is an infected wound .
Very Rarely ( in infected countries )
Rabies can be caught that way
Any animal bite
must be very thoroughly cleaned and disinfected .
and the victim should be seen by a doctor for
anti Tetanus injection ( routine )
and anti biotic treatment if necessary.
I hope the kitty, is OK too ,
they do not usually bite, unless provoked or frightened
:(
>^,,^<
2007-01-23 05:32:40 · answer #1 · answered by sweet-cookie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's unlikely the cat has rabies, but you will want to make sure that the cat was vaccinated. If it was a stray cat, then you're in trouble. . . the cat still likely doesn't have rabies, but with no way of knowing your daughter might need shots. I'm assuming you wouldn't let your child close enough to a stray cat. . .
Cat bites can be very deep and susceptible to infection. Ideally you would take her to the doctor; if not, the bite area should be kept clean and you should be applying anti-bacterial spray or cream, such as Neosporin.
2007-01-23 13:14:44 · answer #2 · answered by kimpenn09 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get a very severe infection. Cat bites frequently cause a bacterial infection. Your daughter should see her doctor, does she have any redness or swelling at the site? If you don't take her in at least call her pediatrician.
The reason cat scratch fever is call that is beacuse it is from a CAT SCRATCH not a bite wound.
I wouldn't worry about things like rabies in most parts of the US,, but I do hope the cat was vaccinated.
2007-01-23 14:44:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the bite was penetrating staph from your daughter's skin can be forced deep into her body and cause a serious infection. You would have been aware of that reaction within a half hour and if it was "the other day" it should not be a matter of concern.
Check with your pediatrician. Your daughter is probably OK on tetanus shot. If not, that should be given and whatever else the pediatrician thinks is advisable.
A rabid cat or other animal will attack and bite. If your daughter was just handling the cat (and she should be warned not to handle a cat she does not know or one who does not know her) and it nipped her there would be no concern about rabies.
2007-01-23 13:16:39 · answer #4 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Even if the cat is vaccinated against rabies, it can be a carrier for Cat-Scratch Disease, or otherwise known as cat-scratch fever.
This article has everything you need to know about the signs of this. It usually take 7-12 days for it to appear. Don't mess around though. A women that use to volunteer with me at an animal shelter got this and she ended up being hospitalized.
http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=21&action=detail&ref=821
2007-01-23 15:18:47 · answer #5 · answered by KL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Possible rabies, if the cat has not been vaccinated or was around another rabid animal, although that would be rare. However, as funny as it may sound, she can develop cat scratch fever....signs include sweeling and warmth from the infection site, swollen glands and just an overall feeling of not feeling well. If you notice these signs, take your daughter to the doctor and they can prescribe medicine. Otherwise, just keep it clean and let it dry to heal properly.
Good Luck
2007-01-23 14:23:45 · answer #6 · answered by Ashlie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you do not know the cat I would take your daughter to a walk in clinic or at least call the doctor. Clean the wound and make sure it does not get red or fevered. If the wound gets inflamed and looks bad, go to the doctor right away... better safe than sorry.
There is something called Cat Scratch Fever. This site will tell you all you need to know about it. http://familydoctor.org/024.xml
Good luck. Hope your daughter is OK.
2007-01-23 13:18:37 · answer #7 · answered by Somanyquestions,solittletime 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure of a bite but I know you can get what they call cat scratch fever. I thought it was just a saying but it is possible. My grandfather got in the middle of a cat fight and was put in the hospital.....he had a fever and big red streaks going up his arm.
2007-01-23 14:11:50 · answer #8 · answered by hey :o) 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES cat bites are treated very seriously by doctors, your daughter should be on antibiotics and you should be soaking the wound in antibacterial soap at least twice a day. They are serious because they are puncture wounds and cat saliva does contain nasty microbes. This is of course if your daughter's skin was punctured.
2007-01-23 16:32:35 · answer #9 · answered by parvizquarterhorse 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hope not, my cat bites me all the time ( like as I type this..lol)
2007-01-23 13:20:42 · answer #10 · answered by dohm84 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋