Some kittens were born in our yard by a stray cat and I was trying to move one of them today and it bit me. It bit me hard enough to the point that it did draw blood. I just wasn't sure if this was somewhat risky, or if I have nothing to worry about. I washed the bite immediately..but like I said, these are stray wild kittens so I don't know what the risks are. Does anyone know?
2007-07-15 15:59:37 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
my daughter was bitten once by a stray cat... my husband and i immediately called animal control and they said to hold the cat till they could get there... once they did they said that they could test the cat for rabies and luckily the cat was clean... i was then told by a family member that if the cat ran off and was unable to be tested then our daughter would have had to be tested as the cat did draw blood... so i would recommend that you call your local emergency room to get the facts from them... good luck and best wishes.... better safe than sorry...
2007-07-15 16:09:52 · answer #1 · answered by angel m 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the future, if you get bitten, clean it off with alcohol or peroxide and put some antibiotic ointment on it - no matter how small it is, if it drew blood, it could get infected. Cats, and especially kittens, have small, sharp teeth and lots of bacteria in their mouths, so it is like getting an injection of bacteria.
If you are worried about rabies, that is very unlikely to happen from a cat bite, unless there are rabid bats flying around biting the kittens.
If you see any sign of infection - redness, swelling, heat or tenderness - go to your doctor or the emergency room right away. They will probably ask you whose cat bit you, so be sure you know what you want to tell them. If you say it is a wild cat, they may send someone out to trap it. It might be better to say it was your cat.
Please get someone (a cat rescue group) to help you trap the kittens and get them fixed so you don't end up with dozens more wild cats. Good luck!
2007-07-15 16:19:20 · answer #2 · answered by Siamesedharma 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should check it out to make sure it doesn't get infected. Wash off the bite with loads of soap and water and put a strong bandage. Keep it on for a couple of days or 1 week and after taking it off and it looks a little bit worse or all red and swollen, go to the doctor right away and tell him or her that you got bit by a WILD kitten. You, honestly, don't know where the kitten's mother has been, and neither of the kittens. To be safe, check it out every single day before you decide to get a doctor to check it out for you.
Hope everything works out...
Good luck with the kittens, as well !!!
2007-07-15 16:07:56 · answer #3 · answered by ✩♥EE-LAY-NA♥✩ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Watch the bite area for a few days. If it doesn't look infected or extremely puffy then you should be fine. Put some antibiotic cream on it and a bandaid as well. I've got bitten by strays before. Never had problems. If you want to move them next time put on a pair of thick gloves. That might help.
Good luck!
2007-07-15 16:02:36 · answer #4 · answered by Malia 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have an Ask-A-Nurse hotline, call them.
Even bites from pet cats can be risky. My mother was bitten by a cat we had, and the infection nearly cost her her arm. Just letting you know, even though I doubt it'll happen, the bite you got likely wasn't as bad as hers.
I'd get ahold of your family doctor, and make sure you're up-to-date on your tetanus shot, etc, at the very least.
2007-07-15 16:05:04 · answer #5 · answered by rustyredstar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do NOT wait and watch, go see a doctor now. If there is rabies in your area, you will need to be treated -- UNLESS you can bring the mom cat and kittens to a shelter where they will test for rabies. They should be brought to a shelter anyway...the street is NO PLACE for a cat to live!
DO NOT fool around if rabies is even a slight possibility. Call a vet to find out how worried you should be. DO NOT wait to see symptoms!! You must be treated BEFORE symptoms for rabies show -- if you do have symptoms, you are dead. There is NO CURE once the symptoms start.
Don't fool around, get treatment. Good luck.
2007-07-15 16:35:57 · answer #6 · answered by luvrats 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you should get it checked immediately. there is something in the saliva of a cat's mouth that is extremely dangerous to humans. my brother was bit by his own house cat recently when the cat was scared by another cat in the neighborhood. he though nothing of it and went on with his daily business. a few days later his arm was swollen and the infection was rising to his arm pit. the infection can get so bad people have had to amputate their arms just from a cat bite. the doctors said it was good that he checked early because he was almost to the point of losing his arm...and that would have been devestating to his dental career. get it checked by a doc!!
2007-07-15 16:12:36 · answer #7 · answered by vino75 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat bites can be nasty so check with your doctor about what is best to do. At least you will have peace of mind since feral cats do sometimes have rabies. It's not likely but it is possible. Also, your doctor may want to put you on some oral antibiotics as well as topical.
2007-07-15 16:07:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can catch and transmit rabies (http://www.cfainc.org/articles/rabies.html). Rabies is a virus, and the wound wouldn't swell and exude puss from it as it would with a bacterial infection. There is also a condition known as 'cat scratch fever' (http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/catscratch.htm) that can be quite serious as well. Tetanus is also a risk from puncture wounds.
See a doctor for advice.
2007-07-15 16:09:54 · answer #9 · answered by lkl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep !you sure do have alot to be concern out of !
Cats have very poisonous mouths!
Altho i love them all and have my own .
need to watch out for any redness/swelling,tenderness and puss from the bite area!
Keep applying peroxide everyday !
actually my daughter just got bite from one of our own cats a couple of weeks ago,she went to pick her up and it spooked her .
even though our cats are vaccined and have had their updated rabies vac still you have to be careful with animal bites!
anyhow my grown daughter had to be taken to out local ER after about 1 day coz the bite got so infected altho she washed it and used neosporion and took good care of it ,it still got infected to the pt it where it starting to travel up her arm and was well on its way of getting into her blood stream!
which is VEY DANGEROUS and life Threaten!
please be cautious when ever approaching an animal esp wild ones!
Use a humane trap to trap the cat & kittens AFTER the are weaned and take them to a local shelter or adoption clinic!
God bless!
ps if you keep the cat & or kittens,
get them spayed or netutered when they are 4-5 months!
animal rescuer/welfare.advocated /owner /educator over 25+yrs
2007-07-15 16:18:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋