Cat Bites . . . Can they be 'deadly?'?

Question

Hi! I just began fostering a mama cat and her kittens for a cat rescue organization. She is sweet and lovable and very affectionate, BUT my dog scared her, then one my own cats came too close to her . . . well, she went PSYCHO and bit my hand right through to the bone. I think she's vaccinated, however, I'm not sure. I soaked my hand in rubbing alcohol and some peroxide. It stopped bleeding but it feels really sore. I'm watching for swelling, but otherwise, I think I'll live. My question- can cat bites cause infection, and if they do, what steps should I take to make sure it doesn't get infected? BTW, I realize the cat's just protecting her babies and is likely terrified of all the changes happening to her, so I don't blame her. I just want to make sure my hand doesn't fall off! lol She is in a quiet room now, away from all the commotion and I think she'll settle down in a few days.

Answer 1

Go to a DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY! Straight to the ER, Cats are amongst the worst thing to get bit by I once had a doctor tell me the 3 worst are cats, gila monsters, and humans.

The chance for infection is tremendous, my gf got bit by a cat about 5 years ago in 3 days she was in the ER, they almost admitted her for a bite right across the knuckle. Anyone who tells you different has no clue what they are talking about.

It doesn't matter if the cat has been vaccinated, cats have natural bacteria in their mouths, vaccinations do nothing to stop this.

Answer 2

Because she has had her vaccinations, I don't think that the bite would be too serious, But since you said it got right to the bone there could be a serious infection, even if you do try and keep it clean. If possible you could try and get someone to look after the cat and her babies for a while (1/2 - 1 day) so that you can go to the hospital, they will check there is no infection and give you medication to ease the pain and bandage the hand up.
xx
Good Luck with the mama & her kittens!! ---ooh yeah, and your hand!!
xx

http://www.ehow.com/how_2360_treat-cat-bite.html

Search on here and it will tell you how to treat it so that there is a less chance of it becoming infected.

Answer 3

Cat bites can be deadly, but it's rare in this day and age.

It has nothing to do with whether the cat is vaccinated or not. Generally humans can't catch diseases from cats. However, cat claws and teeth carry certain bacteria on them that can cause a very nasty infection that is deadly if it spreads to the blood stream.

Minor bites should always be treated with cleaning and antiseptic. However, this sounds like a serious bite and I recommend you visit a doctor for antibiotics - standard procedure for a bad cat bite.

Watch for swelling, and if it starts I would actually go to an ER. The swelling is a sign of infection, and it spreads extremely quickly. I've known two people at work whose cat bites have become infected - one lady had to go to hospital and have a drip and surgery on her hand - two weeks later it's still swollen!

I'm not saying this will happen to you, just want to make you aware of what could potentially happen, and make sure you act quickly if your hand starts to swell.

Chalice

Answer 4

If it swells and gets really hot or aches bad, go to the doctor or a clinic. They give a specific shot for this which will stop anything infecting your hand. Don't wait if youv'e got these symptoms, the longer you wait the worse it is to clear up.

We all get a bite now and then, when the cat's confused or scared, but they do have a lot of bacteria in their mouth and sometimes the peroxide isn't enough.

All you need to do is tell them you got a cat bite and it's hurting, they'll know what shot to give you. You only need one.

Answer 5

GO TO THE DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY!! I've had three cat bites. The first time I was bitten was on the finger and it went to the bone. I waited about 12 hours to go to the doctor and it was a huge mistake. I was so sick. The doctor said if I had waited much longer, I might have needed hospitalization. 90% of all cat bites get infected. It is not worth it to wait and see. You do not want to be sick from a cat bite. And on your hand it can cause permanent damage if it hit a nerve or muscle just right.

Truly awesome that you recognize mama was just protecting her babies. Get meds so you will feel healthy enough to continue to take care of them. If you wait and get sick, it will take you a long time to recover. I've done it both ways and trust me when I say you do not want to wait.

Answer 6

THIS IS VERY SERIOUS YOU NEED TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR OR GO TO THE HOSPITAL.
Cat Scratch Disease (CSD), sometimes called Cat Scratch Fever

Symptoms: Seven to 12 days after being bitten or scratched by a cat, the person usually notices a swelling and then a small abscess or blister at the site of the injury. About one to three weeks after this, the person may develop swollen lymph nodes in the area closest to the injury. The swelling may persist for a few weeks to several months. A person with CSD may also experience flu-like symptoms: fever, headache, fatigue, muscle soreness and poor appetite. Most people recover in just a few weeks. In about 5-15% of cases, other more serious conditions may develop, including heart, eye, brain, intestinal, and skin problems. People with immunocompromised conditions (such as organ transplant patients, those undergoing immunosuppressive treatments for cancer, and people with HIV/AIDS) are more likely than others to have complications from CSD.

Answer 7

Yes, from infection. It's very dangerous if they bite your hand because it's close to your heart. 4 years ago a cat bit my leg and left four puncture wounds, it ended up getting infected and you could see a red line that only got bigger everyday, after going to the doctor I had to take some really big pills for a few weeks. If I hadn't done that, I would've had to go to the hospital, and it was possible I could've died if I left it untreated. A cat's mouth is very dirty, worse than any dog or human mouth. I'd get it checked out if I were you.

Answer 8

I agree - she was scared and being protective of her kittens.

A cat bite that breaks skin can definitely be deadly. If the cat hasn't been vaccinated for rabies, you could end up with rabies.

A bite can definitely get infected. I had a relative who was severely scratched by one of her cats and ended up with blood poisoning just from the severe scratch.

My advice would be to see your doctor and tell him what happened and that you are not sure if the cat's been vaccinated. If you've had a recent tetanus shot, that may help a bit with some types of infection.

Good luck & best wishes!

Answer 9

Yes, it can be deadly. No kidding.

Here are some things to watch for:
1. A red rash spreading from the bite.
2. Nausea/vomiting
3. Dizziness/disorientation
4. Fever/chills

If you have these signs, go to the hospital. IMMEDIATELY.

My mom was scratched deeply by her cat, and it was bad enough that she almost died from it. The doctors said (and my eldest brother was a witness to this) that if my mom had waited, she would not have lived. So it's a good thing I pushed her out the door.

Just make sure you watch it closely.

Answer 10

Any bite from any animal can be deadly if you let it get infected. In fact, any time your skin is punctured you run the risk of infection. The biggest worry would be that the infection spread to your bloodstream as from there it spread to your entire body. As long as your cat doesn't have some crazy disease like rabies you should be fine with some simple polysporin or any other anti-bacterial cream.

Answer 11

Cat bites are highly susceptible to infection. On their teeth they carry anaerobic bacteria, which thrive in an environment that lacks oxygen. When they bite they inject their teeth into your skin, fat and muscle, distributing this bacteria quickly and efficiently. The entry points from the teeth tend to be small and seal over nicely, creating the perfect breeding ground for infection from the bacteria.
The other concern here is that you don't seem to know if she was or was not vaccinated. You need to see your doctor and follow their recommendations. This can be very serious and it is better to be safe than sorry.