Comments on: How to Treat a Cat Bite

on 8/2/2006 I was bitten by a cat. I was left with five puncture wounds, one very deep and bleeding nonstop. I did not go to my doctor until the next afternoon. By this time the major bite was red, gapping and bleeding nonstop. I was given a strong antibiotic and told I had to elevate my hand for several days. I ended up being out of work for four days.

on 8/2/2006 A cat's mouth is filthy and hold tons of bacteria. If you get bitten by a cat, whether you know the animal or not, you should clean it immediately with warm, soapy water and pat it dry with a clean towel.

I was bitten, and I poured hydrogen peroxide all over the puncture wounds, applied Neosporin, and bandaged it up. For the most part, you should seek medical attention right after this happens for many people can become very sick from this. A friend of mine had to be hospitalized for 3 days, IV and all.

I didn't go to the doctor right away, I went 2 days later. I was started on antibiotics and the swelling and pain went away within hours, of course always finish the antibiotics completely, for infection will start to grow again if you fail to do so (not something to take lightly).

on 7/31/2006 My cat bit me a month ago, and I am still recuperating. It happened on a Saturday evening and I went to the ER the next day. Received treatment, including Alphagan antibiotic, tetanus, and X ray, but it didn't get better. I went to my own GP 4 days later, and he prescribed Keflex anti-biotic 4 times a day for 10 days. Living with one hand is not an easy thing to do. Since I am in my seventies, the healing has been very slow and now the swelling is almost gone, but I still have some near my wrist which hampers total movement of my hand. For some reason I keep massaging my hand. I think it is because it itches, but I also am very worried that I might have permanent damage. I have been scratched innumerable times, but this is the first real bite I have had. Actually, it was more like a terrible gnawing because I received several puncture wounds. The whole thing was caused by my trying to lift one of my cats off of a china cabinet, using the two handed method on the skin at the neck and the back. I have done this on my 18 lb cat when he was beating up another of my cats (he went entirely limp when I did this), so I thought this cat would react the same way. She didn't. She gnawed me so much that I couldn't even drop her, so I actually bit her on the back of the neck to make her let go. That worked, and now I can say I bit back.

I will avoid this method of lifting on her again. In fact ,I try not to even get my hands near her head. Of course, the next day she acted like nothing happened.

on 7/23/2006 I too was bitten by a cat and choose to ignore the bite. I went to bed that night with chills and a fever, I thought I was coming down with the flu. I woke up the next morning and my arm was twice the normal size with red streaks going up it. I finally went to the emergency room and was given IVs of antibiotics, a tetanus shot and the infection made my white cell count high. I had no idea a cat bite was so serious. The doctor told me had I waited any longer I would of been in deep trouble. I could have lost my arm.

Anyone that gets a cat bite should go right to the emergency room. I was told a cat bite is worse than a dog bite because a cat's mouth is filthy with bacteria.

on 7/21/2006 My foster cat from the Humane Society bit me on my right hand. Just 3 small punctures. Only one puncture bled. Within 12 hours the hand was swollen and red. Went to my Dr. and she gave me 2 very painful shots of antibiotics in the arm, also a tetanus booster. My advice would be to make sure that your wound bleeds a lot to flush out the bacteria. Had I known, I would have rubbed the puncture wounds until they bled profusely. I didn't think it was that big of a deal - now I know!

on 7/11/2006 I got bitten by my cat. She's usually a well tempered cat but scares easily. She jumped up on the computer desk and was startled to see me sitting there. She bit me then jumped and ran back to her room. Within minutes the area on my hand was swollen and had a reddened area around the puncture. I went online and stumbled onto this site. Good thing I started reading!

I took myself to the ER, even though my cat is up to date on shots and I've never had a problem. They told me that had I waited longer than the few hours I waited, it could have been worse (just as I had read here). I was given a tetanus shot in the arm and they scrubbed the area with a betadyne soaked sponge then bandaged the area and sent me home with antibiotics. Today it's sore and hurts to use the arm, but from what the ER said I definitely could have ended up with at the very least IV antibiotics had I waited.

on 7/7/2006 When I was bitten by a cat, I washed the area then went to the ER. They washed the area with Betadine and saline, gave me a Tetanus shot and a shot of an antibiotic. I was sent home with a prescription for an oral augmentum. The wounds are healing and the doctor told me I was smart in coming to the ER so promptly.

on 7/1/2006 I am on day 3 of antibiotic treatment (augmentin) for a cat bite. My cat is 7 years old and has bitten me aggressively before, but dummy me tried to play with her when she was agitated from looking outside at another cat. I had a little swelling the same day and didn't think anything about it, but the next morning it was very red and more swollen.

I went to Urgent Care, got a shot and a prescription and an order to return the next morning. The next morning things were much better, but they gave me a second shot as a precaution. The doctor who treated me disagreed with the 40% infection rate. He stated that in his experience, it was closer to 75- 80%! My cat is 100% indoors, never eats rodents or anything weird, is current on all of her shots, but she infected me.

Please, if any cat bites you, get to the doctor. Better to be safe than sorry. I have to thank everyone who posted before me, because I was waving on going to the doctor initially, but I read the tips at this site and decided it wasn't worth chancing it by not going!

on 6/30/2006 I was just released from the hospital for a cat bite. It took 6 days of hospitalization with IV antibiotics 4 times a day.

This cat bite almost cost me my hand and maybe my life. I'm a diabetic and we're slow to heal. If you are bitten by a cat go to the ER or your doctor immediately! Do not wait for more than 6 hours to start taking antibiotics. I was considering adopting another cat, but now I've changed my mind. I am becoming scared of them.

on 6/30/2006 I was bit by a neighbors cat and had 4 puncture wounds in my ankle. I cleaned it and thought I would be OK. Wrong! It did not matter how much I cleaned it, it got infected and it was nasty. I had to go to the hospital where I was immediately hooked up to an IV and had to have a tetanus shot.

I was prescribed an cefazolin sodium injection, an antibiotic, which is administered by IV. I could of either stayed in the hospital for a week, or get a home care nurse to come to my home every day to check my IV and change my medication bag. I chose the nurse and this is day 5. I am still hooked up to this pump, and will be for another day. Then I have to take 10 days of oral antibiotic. Thank goodness everything is paid my OHIP and I don't have to pay this service. Thank goodness I live in Ontario. The care I am getting is fantastic.

on 6/30/2006 If you are bitten, go to the ER or a doctor right away! I didn't and have had to have surgery on the bite 5 weeks after being bitten and seeing doctors all during that time. A 4 day hospital stay, IV's, etc, and 21 days more of antibiotics, one that normally you take for 5 days only and now physical therapy. Don't wait!

on 6/30/2006 My cat bit me pretty bad in the hand and within 12 hours my hand was infected well beyond my wrist. I opted for a very painful shot instead of going to the hospital for an IV. I had to get other shots and take antibiotics. Do not ever take a cat bite lightly. Skin grazes should be OK, but always keep an eye on them.

on 3/16/2006 First let me start by saying;
1) Go to a doctor if you are bit by a cat and
2) I didn't because I don't have insurance.

Yeah, I know, it could have cost me a lot more had anything gone wrong, but if you have ever lived without insurance, you know that's the risk you take all the time.

I got bit by my kitty. I had a treat in my hand to give to her and she bit me when grabbing it. Since she wasn't being mean or aggressive, just hungry, the wound wasn't deep. Just one tooth punctured the tip of my finger. I immediately bled the wound (squeezed as much blood as I could by milking my finger in the hopes of getting poison out). As my veterinarian said, a cat bite is like a snake bite, often worse. Then after using a lot of soap and scrubbing, I used hydrogen peroxide followed by rubbing alcohol and then Neosporin. I reapplied the above three about 15 minutes later and then kept Neosporin on it. It has been over a week and the finger is healed, no trouble. I just wanted to post this because I saw few success cases and wanted to post one because it does happen.

Keep in mind the following
- My cat is an indoor only cat, no dead rotting things in her mouth (still plenty of bacteria I'm sure)
- My cat is current on all her shots
- I am current on all my shots (tetanus, etc)
- I reacted immediately and scrubbed until it hurt, and was very cautious on the reapplication of medicine. All of it was on hand and immediately applied.
- I am in good health and have a healthy immune system, and I am an adult.

I am not saying this is the best course of action, just that not all cat bites end in the plague, which so many boards lead you to believe.

on 1/30/2006 I have had pasteurella four times from cat bites - requiring intravenous antibiotics. An old farmer witnessing a bite a couple of years ago, told me to soak it in ammonia. While every bite previous required emergency treatment, I have used the ammonia on three bites and have not required medical treatment. Keep it on hand if you own cats.

on 12/16/2005 I was bit badly around the thumb joint 4 days ago. I should have gone to the emergency room right away. I waited 4 hours and ended up with throbbing pain, a fever, a bad infection, and eventually an IV, antibiotics and a partial cast. Don't wait! If you are bitten go to the doctor right away!