My cat bit me. And it hurts. Should I worry about this?

Question

My cat bit me in my hand when we were trying to get him in a carrer. It's a pretty deep bite. It's right along the bone that goes to your inxex finger. There's one that slipped off the bone and bit BY it and one right on it (The depest one is on) then there's another one on my palm on the bone also. But that's not the issue, the issue is now it REALLY hurts and my hand feels all tight when I move it. It hurts ALL the time and it doesn't feel like it's getting all the blood flow like it did before the bite. Is there something I can do? Is it bad? It hurts and I can't use it for almost anything. I can hardly type with it. It feels really tight and hard to move.
Is this something to worry about? I don't think my cat is sick because he's mine and just had a vet viset not to long ago. Like two months. Should I see my doctore about this? And why is it so tight to move? I'm really worried that he may have hurt the bone or something. He just bit me like tho hours ago so it's not been long.

I tried ice like you said, and it hurts even worse now. And I can't move it hardly at all now. I really don't want to go to the doctors because we're getting rid of him and we have four cats. And law says we can only have two. It's a little swolen now and really hurts. Now it's even MORE stiff and I can't move it at all almost. It's only in my index finger where they bit me. Oh, it hurts!

Answer 1

Cat and dog bites are very painful. I would recommend washing the area with antibacterial soap and then using rubbing alcohol or peroxide on it and bandaging it betadine is also good. It is a surgical soap that you can buy at your local pharmacy. Take some over the counter pain reliever. If will be red for a couple of days, but if it does not get better or gets worse you should probably go see your doctor for some antibiotics. Just so you know, your doctor has to (by law) report all animal bites to the humane society and they may want to keep your cat for observation to make sure it doesn't have rabies. This happened to me when my roommate's dog bit me (almost took off the end of my thumb). The best of luck to you.

Answer 2

Seven years later: Now YA allows us to add answers! I'm on here b/c my cat bit me, and I from what I've learned, that guy should have gone to the hospital/doctor immediately, and it's interesting, the answer he chose as "best" is one that says he could wait a few days and then go to the doctor "if"… The people who say to get medical help immediately are the correct ones, because cats can carry disease causing bacteria in their mouths and even their fur, and not just rabies, either. Not only can the bite itself become infected, but a person could get a systemic infection, such AS rabies, but also there is "Cat Scratch Fever," (which is also from cat bites) and is caused by the bacterium "Bartonella henselae" which can cause swelling of the nearby lymph glands and also fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite or vomiting. A small papule (a little raised lump) develops at the site of injury within 10 days. In rare cases can cause "bacillary angiomatosis" and "Parinaud's oculolandular syndrome." Impressed yet? Here's what I found elsewhere. This condition can cause severe inflammation of multiple organs including the brain, spleen, liver, lungs, and bone marrow. Untreated, the disease can be fatal in people with compromised immune systems such as those with HIV/AIDS or people receiving chemotherapy. I don't know about the "snake-like venom, cats get when they are alarmed" reported by "kyle.keyes" seven years ago.
I'm never speaking to my daughter's cat again!! Now, to call my doctor.

Answer 3

The biggest concern is whether or not the cat is up to date on his rabies shot. If he's not, get to the ER immediately.
Keep a close eye on the wound for the next few hours. If the area around it starts getting red or more swollen, you're going to need to be checked for infection. Cat bites are notorious for becoming infected. For right now, ice your hand for about 20 minutes, then see how it feels, repeat after about 1/2 an hour. The swelling is probably what's making it feel so tight and painful. Take some ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) to help with the pain and swelling. For now, put some antibiotic ointment on it. You might want to try the one that has added pain reliever.
All of this is assuming the wounds are not large enough to need stitches - if you're not sure, go to the ER. Wounds need to be stitched within the first few hours if at all possible. If the swelling is that bad, and the pain is that bad, you probably should NOT wait to see a doc. Personally, I'd rather spend a few hours in the ER than develop a bad infection because I waited.

Answer 4

I agree, you should go see the doctor asap.

What you are describing is probably pain from swelling. Animal bites can be serious, because they have a high risk of infection. Animal saliva contains a number of types of unfriendly bacteria. Cats are immune to these bacteria, but humans are not.

Before you get to the doctor, you can take two or three ibuprofen, and soak your hand in ice water to keep down the swelling. It also might help to thoroughly clean the wound with some iodine solution.

On a side note cats usually only bite when they feel they have no other choice. If you are handling your cat roughly enough that he is biting, it is going to be that much harder to get him in the carrier next time, because he may have been traumatized. Try teaching him not to freak out when it's time to go into the carrier. Put the carrier near one of his favorite areas. Entice him inside with a treat or some canned cat food. Put a comfy pad or blanket inside, one that he has already used so it smells like him. These are just a few ideas

Answer 5

You should keep it clean, dry and let some air get to it. It doesn't matter if your cat is up to date on shots, lives indoors, or outdoors, ALL cats have a specific bacteria in their mouth which causes swelling and infection. So yes, when your niece got bitten, and it got infected, they weren't lying to you, he technically did give her a 'disease' .. Not the type that stay with you and you can pass on, just the type that causes an infection of the immediate area of the bite. No, it wasn't an allergic reaction to the meds. I wouldn't worry too much. The only way your bite could get infected was if it had broken skin. So when your niece got bitten, because it was a deep bite it caused the infection. If it is just a scratch to the skins surface, the bacteria most likely won't affect you.

Answer 6

I've read a cat's bite is worse than a dog's bite. Our cat bit our daughter a couple years ago and it got really infected and swollen. We took her to the pediatrician and she was prescribed an antibiotic. Anyway, wash the hand really good with an anti-bacterial soap, and apply peroxide or neosporin. It sounds like your bite may be more of an injury than an infection. I would just watch it for a day or two and if it gets worse or doesn't improve, see a doctor.

Answer 7

Yes, get it checked by a doctor. The other poster was right: cat bites are horrible. They can get very badly infected. My mom got bit on the hand once. My dad convinced her to go to the ER after a day or two when it became swollen. The doctors there said if she had waited any longer, she might have lost part of her hand. Sorry to scare you, but do have it looked at.

Answer 8

You best get to the ER before your hand becomes totally infected. Your hand is tight because it is swollen from the bite which seems quite serious from what you describe. I can't believe you let this situation go on for so long. Good luck, because you are certainly going to need a lot of it with that hand if something isn't done about it ASAP.

Answer 9

You need to see a doctor as soon as possible.Cat bites can be very serious and require antibiotic treatment.Left untreated can result in serious damage.If it hurts very badly go to emergency room. My son got bitten by a cat within five hours i had to rush him to the hospital ,you wouldnt believe the size of his finger. It swelled pu like a ballon. Good luck I hope you feel better soon


Please dont wait any longer go to doctors. Left untreated cat bites are dangerous and can require surgery leaving you wit unrepairable damage. Move two of your cats and only tell them you have two. But please dont wait any longer cat bites can be more dangerous than a dog or ather animals due to their needle sharp teeth wich carry the bacteria deep into your tissue . it doesnt matter ilf the bite was just on your finger , it will travel through your body. ER now dont waste any more time!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

My hubby was bitten by of our cats about 3 years ago.
The ER doc said that cat bites are notoriously nasty and almost always get infected. Cats' mouths just naturally have alot of bacteria.
The tightness in your hand is probably some swelling from an infection.
Get to the doc ASAP.