Cat bite - Please help??

Question

Hi...I was just bitten by a cat (long story, but not her fault)...she was in boarding and highly stressed.
I am allergic to every antibiotic I have ever tried and I am away from my home country (Australia) in Canada where I have no health insurance. It happened about 2 hours ago and doesn't look infected yet, but of course I am worried.
I saw a doc here who was rude and useless and said they all get infected 24 hours later and I have to take antiobitics....when I told her I was allergic, she didn't really care and acted like there was nothing she could do then. I'm tempted to get back on a plane to Australia this evening so I can get proper treatment if I need it, but not sure what to do. I'm up to date on tetanus and the cat is healthy. The area feels bruised, and there are 2 holes that are a bit swollen, the others not so bad. If I go back to Australia, that's not good as I have to leave all my cats behind here in boarding til I can get back. Please help.

Answer 1

Make sure that you wash it out well, and watch for infection. Often times they do give you an antibiotic because cat's mouths are so filthy, but as long as you keep it clean and watch for infection you should be fine. If you see any signs of infection you probably should go to another doctor when you get home or while you are still in Canada.

Answer 2

As mentioned peroxide might help on the skin but wont help much on the punture wound which is the part that could get infected... If you were out in the wilderness I would suggest that you can also soak your hand in kerosene (yeah it sounds nasty and its dangerous as hell if you are near any kind of open flame but it does work) which was is an effective method against puncture wounds that can be used on hands or feet. And no it doesn't even burn but it will kill most every bacteria that your likely to have been exposed to.

Now that was the hard core survivalist method.

You might also try the following... pour 70% aalcohol solution directly into the punctures and work it in a little if the punctures aren't too deep (though odds are your already scabbed over so it may not be worth doing). You could see a doctor and have them prescribe a different type of antibiotic. I'm assuming your allergic to the the penicillin and sulfur types which are most common. However you could request azithromycin as its often tolerated by people that are sensitive to more common penicillin and sulfur based antibiotics.

I wouldn't recommend you trying to fly back to Australia. It is a very long flight and if your going to get a nasty infection it will show up within the first 24 hours where you would likely be over the ocean somewhere.

Answer 3

Sometimes you can have a cat bite...and all will be well.

Its been two days now, so you should know whether or not it's infected. I've had 3 cat bites (worked in a Veterinary clinic) 2 were just fine with good cleaning, and an antibiotic ointment.

One however was not.....I too am allergic to most oral antibiotics and this posed a "HUGE" problem. If your finger is really hurting by now, ( and you'll know what I mean...it HURTS) go to the hospital sweetie.

This is nothing to fool around with. On the bright side.....if it's only sore....all is probably ok. So I'm hoping its just sore.

I've never answered anything here before, but this one caught my eye. Write me back if you want.

Answer 4

I had the same thing happen to me. The bite didn't exactly get infected, but it was a close call.

What you need to do is wash the area with soap and water- Now. Then pour alcohol over it to sterilize it. That will sting. After that is dry, pour peroxide over that and let that dry.

If you're not sensitive, put Neosporin on the bite, then cover it with a bandaid. You will probably still see swelling, but unless the cat was sick that should be all.

Good luck!

Answer 5

1. You should pray.

2. Peroxide like the last user said.

3. Try seeing another doc?

Answer 6

Peroxide is useless. What treatment would they give you in Australia that you can't get in Canada? Stay put. If you are lucky you'll get by

Answer 7

Dont worry, I don't think you'll get sick. There's a lot more dangerous things out there just by touching door handles and other public things you should be worry about.
Just keep the wound clean, rubbing achol etc, you'll be fine

Answer 8

I would say wash it and rinse with some peroxide.

Gotta love healthcare in Canada...thats why its free!

Answer 9

You can boil them out with Peroxide and put an antiobiotic ointment on them.

Answer 10

Put some tea tree oil on it.