Cat bites and other fight wounds are so common in cats because cats are territorial by nature. Cat bite or scratch wounds can occur in especially sensitive areas of the body. Infectious Diseases, Zoonosis & Human Health, Pet Services. Do not touch it … Discover natural remedies, which spiders are venomous, when to seek prompt medical treatment, and…. Infected people may suffer from fever and flu-like symptoms and, rarely, may die if proper medical treatment is not sought. Symptoms include not only pain, but also numbness and paresthesia. Cat bites are more frequent in adult women and result in puncture wounds. Though these injuries are typically not life-threatening…. The classic situation is you may come across a wound on your cat that is the result of a bite from another animal, such as other cats or dogs in the household. If the cat bite results in a minor scratch and not a puncture, wash the wound with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment and bandage. In fact, a 2013 research review showed that Pasteurella is the most common organism isolated from both cat and dog bites. Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment and cover the bite with a clean bandage. Cats naturally have a lot of bacteria in their mouths. These punctures rapidly seal over, trapping bacteria from the cat's mouth under the skin of the bite victim, where they can easily multiply. When one cat bites or scratches another they are introducing bacteria into the wound area, almost like injecting bacteria into the other cat. We’re committed to keeping clients and staff safe during COVID-19 with NEW admittance and check-out processes. Considering its small teeth, cats cause bite wounds that are small and deep. These bites heal over quickly, which causes the bacteria to get trapped under the skin. Most cat bites occur when cat owners are bitten by their pets. Most cat bite wounds are small punctures that drive pathogenic bacteria deep into the skin. But even if your cat has all her shots, it is important to take care of the wound and monitor it closely so you will notice immediately if it starts to get infected. The warm and dark inner layers of your skin are optimal for the growth of the bacteria. 2 Researchers are learning how long people will be immune from COVID-19 after they're fully vaccinated. This can lead to infections and abscesses. Cat’s mouth is a harbor for multiple bacteria, so that cat bites almost always transfer these bacteria from their mouth to the victim’s wound site. Cat bites have a higher risk of infection than dog bites. Cat bites carry other risks besides infections. And your cat loves you (in its own fashion). It is advisable to see a physician as soon as possible in order to have the injury properly treated. Instead, call the animal control office in your area. Cat bites to the hand are so dangerous, 1 in 3 patients with such wounds had to be hospitalized, a Mayo Clinic study covering three years showed. Dog bites occur more frequently in men and children and often cause crushing or tearing trauma. Why Do Cat Bite Injuries Need to Be Treated With Antibiotics? When a cat bites another cat, their teeth transmits bacteria to the wound. Bites from cats develop infections more frequently than bites from dogs. When a cat bites, it may not seem like a big deal — it can be cute when they’re playing — but some cat bites can pose significant health risks. If a cat bite breaks your skin, you should seek medical attention if: A cat bite carries a high risk of infection and can be dangerous. about about our Covid-19 safety procedures. An infection from a cat bite can lead to more serious complications if not treated right away. You may need to begin rabies treatment if the cat that’s bitten you shows any rabies symptoms. In cats, over 90% of infected wounds result from cat bites sustained during a fight with another cat. In many jurisdictions, your physician will be required to file a report to the local department of health. You should see a physician as soon as possible. Bite wounds are especially predisposed to abscess formation due to the bacterial populations associated with dentition. According to a 2018 research review, infection occurs in about 50 percent of cat bites in children. Some wounds may need to be sutured (stitched) while others will be left open to heal. Cats’ teeth are sharp and pointy. The CDC says that the incubation period for rabies (time between exposure and the appearance of symptoms) can be weeks to months. Last medically reviewed on March 22, 2021. If you can’t capture the cat, you might need to start rabies vaccination as a precaution. Cat bite wounds are almost always sustained when cats face off or when they run, which typically happens after a deliberate confrontation. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol to clean a cat bite wound as it damages the tissues and delays healing. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, all cat bites should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible due to the high risk of infection. Click here to learn more about about our Covid-19 safety procedures. Cat bites account for 5% to 10% of animal bite wounds. Tendons can rupture and may require surgery. Don’t try to capture the cat yourself. It’s recommended that you have a tetanus booster after a cat bite if it’s been more than 5 years since you’ve had the vaccine. Irrigating the wound will be effective if the cat bite results in a puncture wound instead of gapped wound. You love your cat. "Do not clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide, witch hazel, or alcohol." Part 1 Cat bite wounds Moderate or severe bite wounds (especially if edema or crush injury) Puncture wounds, especially if penetration of bone, tendon sheath, or joint Deep or surgically closed facial bite wounds Hand and foot bite wounds Genital area bite wounds Immunocompromised or asplenic Wounds with signs of infection The wound may be bandaged to protect it from further contamination, or to prevent your cat from excessively licking it. Affiliate of Mars Inc. 2021 |© Copyright VCA Hospitals all rights reserved. You may clean the wound with a mild salt solution, made by mixing 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of table salt in 2 cups (500 ml) of water. Immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of developing a severe infection from these bacteria. Though cats are soft and cuddly, they may bite or scratch when they’re spooked. Avoid scrubbing the wounds vigorously, or using strong disinfectants or other chemicals, since this may harm tissue and delay wound healing. But some people who develop a Capnocytophaga infection have not been bitten. We're here for you and your pet in 43 states. When a cat bites you they basically inject this aggressive pathogen (and others) deep into your tissue. Control bleeding by applying direct pressure to the wound using an absorbent dressing or bandage. Learn about all the possible culprits and how to…, A lionfish sting isn’t typically life threatening to healthy individuals, but it can be painful. As a result, fight wounds are common in cats. Most domestic cats are already vaccinated against rabies. Next, wash the wound with mild soap and water. A doctor or nurse will wash the wound thoroughly, trim away any dead tissue, and apply antibiotic ointment. A doctor will decide if the wound needs stitches or surgery to heal properly. A doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics to fight off the infection. It can be transmitted by bites and scratches from an infected animal, often a dog. In rare cases, these infections can be fatal. Cats have long fangs, so their bites can be deep and prone to infection. These include: An infection from a cat bite may set in within a few hours, but it can take 10 days or more for some infections, like cat-scratch disease, to start showing symptoms. Tetanus is a serious infection caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. One of the most common conditions our kitten companions will often incur is various types of bite wounds. Your doctor will report any bite to the local health department and your cat will have to undergo a quarantine – the length of which depends on their rabies vaccination status. The most common symptoms of infection from a cat bite include: More serious symptoms of a cat bite infection include: You should also seek medical treatment as soon as possible if you start to experience these more serious symptoms. Wash the wound with a large amount of water for 5 minutes. You can contract cat scratch fever from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria. How to Treat a Spider Bite at Home Naturally, Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC, How to Treat a Bite on the Inside of Your Lip, Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI, Bug Bites in a Line: How to Identify and Treat. I didn’t know she had a bite wound until several weeks later when yesterday it started to ooze. How long after a cat bite does infection set in? …infected cat; Saliva can transmit and contaminate bite wounds, skin abrasions, or mucous membranes. The puncture hole can quickly seal over and trap bacteria from the cat’s mouth under your skin. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Cat bites can be dangerous both to other animals and to humans. Ringworm can be challenging to detect in cats, since the lesions of ringworm may be very mild or even undetectable. They persistently rub against their owners (or objects such as furniture) constantly wanting attention and they become very vocal. Tendons and ligaments in the hand are especially delicate. Daily bandage changes, as demonstrated by your veterinarian, may be required if there is … An infected cat bite wound will be red, swollen, and painful, and the infection can spread through the surrounding tissues, causing a condition called cellulitis, or through the blood to other areas of the body, causing a condition called septicemia (often called blood poisoning). Animal bites on your hand and fingers are common, especially from pets like dogs and cats. Cat bites are puncture wounds that can cause bacterial infections with Pasteurella multocida that can spread within the tissues or into the blood stream. This includes bites into a joint space (which can cause septic arthritis or an infected joint), deep wounds over the chest and into the chest cavity (which can cause a pyothorax, a life-threatening infection of the chest cavity), or a cat scratch to the eye. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. When cats fight, they use their teeth, which can lead to bite wounds. The microbiology of infected human cat bite wounds is similar to that of wounds inflicted by dogs in that both are polymicrobial in nature (23, 96, 206). They fight with other cats to protect their territory or to acquire more territory. An infected cat bite wound will be red, swollen, and painful, and the infection can spread through the surrounding tissues, causing a condition called cellulitis, or through the blood to other areas of the body, causing a condition called septicemia (often called blood poisoning). a bump or blister where the bite wound is located, inability to use your hand (if your hand’s been bitten), you start having any serious symptoms of an infection, such as fever, chills, pus or fluid oozing from the wound, or swollen lymph nodes, the cat that’s bitten you appears aggressive or acts strangely, the cat that’s bitten you is unvaccinated against rabies or you’re unsure if the cat is vaccinated against rabies. To care for your wound at home, follow these steps: If the following symptoms occur, seek medical attention: If you have a pet cat, make sure to take them to regular veterinary visits to stay updated on vaccines. How Long Does Immunity from COVID-19 Vaccination Last? The common name of ringworm is somewhat misleading, in that it is not an infection caused by a worm, and the infected areas are not always ring-shaped. This plunges the bacteria right into a warm, dark, low oxygen environment which is optimal for the development of infection. There are two aspects to consider in antibiotics for a cat bite: treatment of a cat wound, and treatment for the cat itself. Depending on the location and depth of the wound, the bacteria can spread in the surrounding tissues causing a condition called cellulitis. Animal bites that don’t break your skin, as well as scratches that just graze the surface of your skin, have a minimal risk of infection. In their mouths, all cats carry a large number of bacteria that are capable of causing tissue infections in bite wounds. According to Poison Control, CSD is usually not serious, but people with weakened immune systems are at risk of developing a more serious infection. Though house cats are often vaccinated against the most serious diseases, like rabies, stray cats aren’t usually vaccinated and can carry several diseases. Consequently, puncture wounds and their resulting abscesses are typically found on the face, shoulders and forelimbs or on the tail, rump and backside. You can use a mild soap to clean the wound. Yes. The most common organism found in infected cat bite wounds is Pasteurella multocida. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and cover with a sterile bandage. There are tons of dangerous bacteria flourishing inside a cat’s mouth. Cats’ teeth are naturally sharp and are meant to tear easily into flesh. Domestic animals, like dogs and cats, are responsible for the majority of animal bites. From there, an aggressive cellulitis (skin … All rights reserved. Cat bites generally produce small, deep puncture wounds that are difficult to clean. 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