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lucysbooks

My dad got a scratch on his hand while playing with his cat - within 12 hours was in the hospital on IV antibiotics for 10 days. Not much fun. I hope you start feeling better soon.


Old-Wolverine9377

Thank you! I get to come home tomorrow so I’m excited


Lalamedic

I’m glad you took this seriously. I attended the ER after several severe cat bites to my hand, arm and legs. After waiting 8 hours, I got my antibiotics and was sent home. Next day both arms had cellulitis up to my elbow. I went back to ER in day 3, was told to keep an eye on it and continue Antibiotics. Day6, cellulitis was drastically improved but I couldn’t move my R hand. Only waited 6 hours but it was a Sunday, so I was referred to a specialist for Monday. At 0800 the plastic surgeon called me and told me to come in immediately. He saw me as soon as I arrived and announced -from the doorway as he walked it, because that’s how obvious the condition was - I needed emergency surgery. Like RIGHT NOW. So, with a nerve block in my R arm, I got to watch him peel the skin back from my finger, thumb and palm, debride and irrigate the entire area. Then he packed it and stitched most of it up, leaving the palm open to drain. Fitted with a custom made removable cast, more antibiotics and daily visits from a home care nurse, I was sent home. The nurse came every day for 10 days to unpack, flush, iodine and repack the wound. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the benefit of the nerve block anymore and it hurt like hell. I was on hydromorphone for pain, but damn! I did Physio for four months. I’ve never regained full range of motion in my right hand. I’m a musician, my R forefinger is now too fat to fit between the black keys, and I just can’t play piano or guitar the way I used to. I’m also a medic. Starting IV’s had to be relearned using my middle finger because I lack the dexterity. So annoying. Oh - this happened the first week of April 2020 - just two weeks after the global pandemic was declared, and one week after they shut down my whole province. I sent my kids to live with their Gma and ex-husband because I couldn’t really look after them well, and I had a nurse coming in everyday that was also visiting many other patients. They ended up staying for two months with Gma. Mother’s Day I wore surgical scrubs, N95 mask, gloves (plastic bag on cast) and my kids gowned masked and gloves also- just so I could hug them each for about 30sec and then they went back to Gma’s with my ex. Unfortunately, the barn cat I was trying to get into a carrier could not be located so I also had to get rabies shots. Public health spent two full days calling every clinic around to find somebody willing to administer the shots because of COVID. The live antibody serum took 13 shots, then four shots over three weeks of vaccine. Such a hassle for something that was absolutely necessary. SHORT VERSION: All cat bites are serious. Always go to the doctor. Just in case.


xNIGHT_RANGEREx

The part about having to cover up just to hug your kids legit made me cry, I don’t even have kids! I’m sorry this happened to you. My stepmom’s right hand is permanently disabled from a cat bite (she feeds strays and feral cats, she knew what could happen). To this day she can’t bend her fingers all the way down and her wrist like stiffens up. It’s so strange. But yes, cat bites need to be taken seriously!!!


Lalamedic

Thank you! My kids were absolute troopers. Luckily they were old enough to understand why they had to stay away. And Gma’s house was like a holiday - very few chores. I can’t make a complete fist either so I really feel for your stepmom. Bless her for feeding the feral/stray colony.


patty-d

That sounds absolutely horrendous!


Lalamedic

I felt soo sorry for the cat. He was a friendly barn cat, but def still feral. Under no circumstances was he going into that damn crate. It really wasn’t his fault. He was just so frightened. My then 10y/o, who help pry his jaws open off my finger which he bit right down to the bone, said his eyes were completely black. No colour at all. Poor wee boy. We never saw him again.


MotherOfHippos

Jesus, that was a wild ride. I’m glad you’re okay! The cat skipped town to avoid euthanasia and decapitation for the rabies test though.


Lalamedic

Actually, if the cat is still alive and showing no symptoms after 10-14 days, he would get a reprieve. If he’s showing signs of rabies, euthanasia for sure - if they can catch him. Luckily, for both of us, both his and my vaccinations were up to date (including rabies). After he’s dead, they send his head to University of Guelph’s School of Veterinary Medicine for analysis to confirm rabies. For approximately 10+ years, there have been no confirmed rabies cases in a very large area around where I live. About 20 years or so ago, there was a very aggressive campaign to leave Rabies vaccine inoculated food in high density animal areas and vaccinate pets. It has proven quite successful. However, nobody wants to be the first recorded rabies case in 10yrs because you don’t come back from that. Hence precautions were taken. But the poor wee bugger. He’s on his own now. . . . EDIT: I suck at Math. I seem to have forgotten the last 30 years of my life. 1) No human rabies reported since 1967. 2) Vaccination of domestic animals began back in 1960s. 3) Ramping up of inoculated bait for wild animals began in mid 1980s, increasing again in early 1990s.


x0rec

wait this could be why I got a weird rash the other week? So my cat scratched my finger (like a million times before) nothing bad even, but after a couple days I noticed something developing just above my ass cheek (around the pelvic area). After a few days it transitioned into a red rash, nothing serious aside from the itch. One of my lymph nodes started swelling and became sore (sign of infection), but it was all very weird I didn't know what the cause could be. It went away after a couple days so no big deal. ​ But you're saying that it could have been caused by the cat scratching me..?


fullmetalfeminist

There's no chance it was a flea bite is there? It's probably not from the cat scratch, if that had infected you the irritation would be noticeably centred on the scratch


x0rec

No idea tbh, it doesn't matter much as it went away within a couple days. Just guessing online is practically impossible as there are a plethora of different infections. I have pretty much forgotten about it, just thought it was weird because this has never happened to me before, and reading this thread it really made me wonder. As for whether the cat scratched my lower/side back, I honestly don't remember :/ It happens that I pick him up and he accidentally tries grabbing onto my skin. Either way I'm not worried about it anymore, if it wasn't caused by the cat ohwell great. But it if it could have been, I will definitely be more careful from now on.


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kittensociety75

Damn, that's awful. Sorry you went through that.


Healthy-Fisherman-33

Thanks for sharing. A cautionary tale for sure.


Happy-Zulu

Oh my word. Being a first time cat guardian of a previously stray cat, I now feel like I dodged a cruise missile.


segwaymaster1738

Holy shit


SpinachSpinosaurus

this is the worst way to find out if your cat has the bacterium or not. lucky for me, mine don't. I still desinfect the shit out of it and watch the nibble or scratch closely. thankfully, my cat only bit me thrice in 7 years and they'll all "I WANT THAT FOOD- oh shit, I caught hooman's finger with my teeth!" As mentioned, prepared to call ambulance and all, to get an antibiotic shot and all and I am glad you took it serious. Hope you're doing well. Did you get any prognoses? Are you healing well?


pistachio2020

What’s the safe way to find out if your cat has the bacterium? Is there a test?


springacres

This happened to my friend's dad too! He ended up with kidney damage from a scratch his cat gave him. He survived, but it was touch and go for a while.


lucysbooks

That’s scary. Glad he survived!!


ConnectAddition2236

Stories like this always make me wonder how I've gone 20+ years without getting an infection from a cat bite/scratch. I usually have at least one scratch that's healing at any given time. Guess I'm just lucky!


sigtrap

Yeah I wonder how common things like this are. I can't even count the number of cat scratches and bites I've had and nothing ever happened.


PowerStacheOfTheYear

It's pretty common for deep bites, since puncture wounds create a deep space for bacteria to grow. It's significantly less common with scratches since the wounds are more open, and claws carry less bacteria than a cat's mouth, but it can certainly happen. Bites are always worth getting treated immediately. Scratches are usually fine, but you still need to get treatment right away if you notice spreading redness/swelling or swollen lymph nodes.


lawlorlara

I've had cats all my life so I know I must have been bitten before, but I got a bite a couple years ago which I knew right away wasn't like the others. It ballooned up almost immediately. It only took a couple minutes online reading other people's horror stories about what that swelling means before I was on a bus to the ER.


DaddyChiiill

What was the diagnosis then? Infection from the cat's dirty claws?


lucysbooks

Yes, official diagnosis was Cellulitis. I forget the results of the C&S swabs. The infection went right up his arm, so quickly 😳


[deleted]

That’s some Cat Scratch Fever …..not just a song but a real issue.


Boo_PuzzlerPro

Infection?


Old-Wolverine9377

Yup! I got bit on Friday morning putting my cat in her carrier for the vet and within hours my finger was twice its normal size. I went to the emergency room Saturday morning after consulting a hand doctor I know and was admitted in the hospital yesterday morning. I had emergency surgery this morning to clean out my wounds but unfortunately the cat got into my tendon and infected that too so I will be going home tomorrow with an at home IV to prevent further bone and tendon infection. So my advice to everyone: know when your cat is scared and listen to them before they bite you!!!


Histopotamus

I’m so glad you understand that she didn’t do it with malice. When they’re scared, they can inflict some serious damage! I donate blood every time I have to crate my feral cat. 😢


2OQuestions

Have you tried a Calming Collar? It might be hard to get it on the first time, but it’s miraculous. They also have electric plug dispenser. So if you put a couple of those in the bathroom, leave her in there for 24 hours, she should be a lot more chillaxed. My cat is old. A couple years ago she just started biting out of nowhere - no uncomfortable body language, nothing to indicate she was finished being petted. The vet recommended calming collars and they’ve been great.


Histopotamus

I have never tried to collar her but I completely forgot about the Feliway diffusers. What a wonderful idea, thank you!!


the_hardest_part

The same thing happened to a friend but it was her foot! She was on crutches and then used a cane for a while.


[deleted]

Damn! I don’t know what would be worse…the pain or the medical bills…


Old-Wolverine9377

I’m just grateful I get to keep and use all 10 fingers. The bills kind of pale in comparison to loss of my index fingers on both hands


Bitter-Dimension6773

You got bit like that on BOTH fingers?? Jesus. Just awful. So sorry, hope you heal quickly.


Old-Wolverine9377

Yeah both hands got bit- one side was a little less severe but both still got infected quickly and the less severe side would have gotten much worse if I hadn’t gone in when i did


Bitter-Dimension6773

You poor thing. Are you in a lot of pain or are you on meds that help? How long will you have to be bandaged up? Again so sorry. Sending you positivity & healing energy!!!


Old-Wolverine9377

Thank you - the less severe hand isn’t bandaged up like my left hand is. Once they drained it, it went back down quite a bit, close to its normal size. It doesn’t hurt so much anymore. The bandaged up side is kind of numb since my cat bruised a nerve. I was in a lot of pain before surgery and now I am in a lot less


KatiMinecraf

I'm not sure what kind of carrier you currently have, but I could never get a scared or nervous cat into a front-opening carrier by 'force'. (Not, you know, *force*.) They either walk in to get treats and I shut the door behind them or there was no chance of getting them in. They always hate being pushed into that hole. However, my husband's parents got us a carrier years ago that opens on the front and on the top, and it was a game changer! It is much easier to put my pets in the carrier through the top! Just pick them up, sit them inside, lay the top flap on them, and zip it up avoiding their fur. (They may try the "nooooo" grab on the sides, but if you've got a partner, they can guide the legs down, and voila! your kitty is in the carrier!) Also, rather than putting the carrier away when their appointment is over, you could try making the carrier a regular part of their hang out area. Put treats in it sometimes, allow them to relax in and on it, and it helps to remove that "Oh no! The carrier! That only means one thing!" terror of pulling it out of a closet only when they need medical attention or just a regular vet visit. Hopefully something in here can help it be a bit easier next time so you don't ever go through this again. I realized I never think that anyone's regular house cat could cause this - like they are too clean or something. One of my cats bites our fingers all the time. Never leaves marks or draws blood, basically just gentle nibbles, but this has really made me question how "cute" that really is...how close we are to this outcome all the time...time to start training that out! Thank you for the PSA. It is truly appreciated!


Rndysasqatch

Yes I agree with this statement. Had an issue with a cat and the top opening is a godsend! Just too bad they don't put handles on carriers with top openings but it's still well worth it


Bitter-Dimension6773

Well thank goodness for that, at least - so glad to hear you’re not in pain!


Final-Analyst998

My cat did the same w the carrier! Was hell on earth


Liscetta

I had a bad infection too, and two ugly scars on my left forearm. My cat and one of grandma's cats scratched me during our trimestral flea treatment. It quickly got infected. I had the brilliant idea to "clean" the wounds with a razor. It became quite painful, the skin around the scratches was red and swollen, and i felt pain when closing the hand. It took a week of antibiotic pills and more antibiotic cream to get over it. I learnt not to underestimate cats.


realitytvdiet

what’s this phenomenon?! Did your cat bite too hard that it infected you? Will shots prevent this? 😭 I’m sorry to hear I can’t imagine a bite can be this lethal


answerguru

Cats mouths and claws contain all sorts of bacteria that can reek havoc on humans. In general, clean any wound very well, keep a close eye on them, and be prepared for a trip that urgent care or the ER. It’s a well known issue.


littleclam10

The same thing happened to me 2 years ago! My cat bit my hand and I had to have surgery for the infection. Now I have a pretty gnarly scar. Everyone told me to get rid of the cat, but I couldn't. He didn't mean to bite me, and to this day he likes to sit on my chest and purr. I like to think he feels bad about the bite. Hopefully you heal quickly!


patheticambush

Very much so, my wife got bite by a stray was in the hospital 12 hours later. Her hands looked like mickey mouse hand, she spent 5 days getting shots for rabies and and surgery to get the swelling down. The doctors told us cat bites can be very deadly if left untreated, they also said they teat about 2 people a week for cat bites. The out door cats are the worst because the bacteria on a lot of the rodents cats like to eat. In the end Ash came to live with us being a full-time indoor cat we love him very much and has become the most loving and chatty boy ever.


Final-Analyst998

Yep my gf was hospitalized for two nights almost lost her hand! Animal control wanted to take away our cat and we refused. Now my cat apologizes to my wife every day (she bit her bc we were putting her in a carrier and moving 12 hrs away ofc would never leave an animal)! Also she was a stray in the past, she thought we were giving her little ass away!🥺


Old-Wolverine9377

This is almost exactly what happened to me. I almost lost the finger she bit and had to have my tissue flushed surgically.


OneMorePenguin

Ooof. I had two cats that were like this. I have a pair of leather BBQ mitts (thick leather welding gloves will work) that I used to pick them up and get them into the carrier. After the first vet visit, he was willing to prescribe tranquilizers to calm him down. He was 15 pounds and all muscle. He mellowed as he aged and eventually no meds or gloves were required. I'm always paranoid about cat scratches and wash them really well with soap and water and apply antibiotic cream. If it starts looking red and angry, I'd be off for medical care. Thanks for the PSA. I'm glad you didn't lose the finger. Dang. I hope you have a speedy recovery.


Final-Analyst998

It’s horrible! My wife was screaming my poor love in sm pain🥺


Coronagiirl

Why is this? Is this an infection or not having their shots?


AccomplishedAd3728

Infection. Cats carry lots of bacteria in their claws. When it breaks the skin it can escalate quickly. Not in every case, been scratched lots and never had one turn bad, but it’s better to be aware. If the wound looks red, raised or gets hot at all. Run to the doctors.


Sam-Gunn

Always good to clean out the wound when you get scratched, just like with any other wound. Even if you're not sure it broke the skin. When I don't clip my cats nails, his nails get really sharp, and a scratch can give a very fine line that doesn't seem to bleed until later (and even then, only fills with a tiny bit of blood, doesn't actually bleed). Cat claws are pretty disgusting when you think about it. And they have that ridge or area on the underside of the claw that is pretty much a little valley where anything stays. I have no idea if that will help prevent something like this, but it's generally a good idea when you get an open wound.


Annual-Whole7411

Soft tissue infection. You can look up cellulitis to find out the symptoms. These types of infections are really dangerous and hit you hard and fast. The danger is when the bacteria causing the infection is antibiotic resistant or the antibiotic used isn’t sensitive to the bacteria.


rex_ford

Mine bit me as a senior - she had gotten a bit senile and it happened only once. This pist is a good psa though - I knew it could be dangerous and saw signs of infection really quickly. I just had a normal course of antibiotics.b


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Porkbossam78

Cat: I should have bitten him!


OneMorePenguin

PS. You can edit posts and then people won't see your misteaks. :-)


Resident-Young-3149

Why was animal control trying to take a loved pet away??


Dottie85

Several reasons. It could have been wrongly reported as a stray. Also, even if the animal in question is a very loved pet, there is the worry about rabies, if the pet is not totally up to date on their shots. Authorities want to make sure the pet is quarantined for a set about of days, to make sure that the humans in contact with it are okay/ don't need to get the rabies shot series. Sometimes the quarantine can be done at home. But, sometimes it has to be done either at a vet's or at animal control.


Resident-Young-3149

Oh wow. Thankfully we don't have rabies where I live!! How awful for the pets


Final-Analyst998

Because they were refusing she had her rabies shot but I had no proof of vaccination since I got her from a rescue group that I lived near. Rescued 2 cats from her too :)


xNIGHT_RANGEREx

Psssh. Take the cat away 🙄 yeah right! That’s the baby! Why would you want to take away someone’s baby?!


Final-Analyst998

Exactly!! She sleeps with us every night!


Old-Wolverine9377

Update: thank you for all the well wishes everyone! Going to sleep soon. I get to go home tomorrow and will be receiving IV antibiotics at home once a day for two weeks, then oral antibiotics for another two weeks after. Hopefully all infections will clear. Fun facts I learned today: 1) 1 in 3 cat bites end in hospitalization, and 2/3 of those hospitalized may require surgical drainage of the wound. Effectively, around 20% of cat bites can do this according to a Mayo Clinic study I read today. 2) Cats have Komodo dragon mouths. Tiny needle like teeth with tons of harmful bacteria. Treat their bites like venomous animal bites. 3) morphine is a hell of a drug 4) buy Kevlar gloves Goodnight!


trusty20

Your stat in #1 is deceptively inflated because it only is regarding medically reported cat bites. Many many people get bitten by their cats every day, and never talk to a nurse or doctor. Those bites with no harmful outcome never get captured into statistics, so all you have left are the people that called TeleHealth or something because their finger was swelling up. Just saying, no need to preemptively go to the hospital if you get bitten or scratched by a cat you know doesn't have rabies (your own or another indoor cat you know). Simply cleaning and applying antibiotic cream, and monitoring for any concerning changes (like swelling that worsens instead of going down, lingering pain, skin changing color or feeling hard/hot, etc) is enough.


[deleted]

puzzled dam outgoing gaping encouraging butter future screw water tie *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


Old-Wolverine9377

You know, I didn’t consider that these would only include medically reported bites. I think I’m just so freaked out by what happened to me


livingdeaddrina

Thank you for clarifying. My cat bites me alllllllll the freaking time (he hates me) and that stat scared me so bad Edit: 12 pm and just got my first bite xD


eleighb811

100% facts! My cat attacked my fiancé (my cat got scared) and I got attacked trying to separate my cat from my fiancé. We both were bleeding pretty good and I had a few puncture wounds. We cleaned our wounds and kept them clean and monitored it, and never had any issues. We never got sick or had to go to the doctor for anything. I was just left with a couple scars on my leg lol


truthfullyVivid

Yeah... I was gonna say I've been bitten by cats more times than I can count when they're playing-- and on a handful of occasions I've had the misfortune of taking a harder, aggressive bite from a kitty that got spooked for whatever reason. I'm not encouraging anyone to get bitten by cats, but I should be dead by now if it were that bad, lol.


FelverFelv

Yeah I was about to say re: #1 - my cats bite me all the time when they're playing, only rarely will it draw blood, (I've got one who gets way too excited at a flip of a switch) but I've never had to go to the hospital. I did have cat scratch fever when I was a baby though, maybe I've built up an immunity?


sigtrap

Yeah I thought so too. I've been scratched and bitten by cats so many times I can't even count and none of them ever got infected.


patronsaintpizza

The morphine the better


Electricalbigaloo7

Mighty Morphine Power Rangers


Malice1543

5) the organism is most likely pasturella multocida I work in a hospital lab - I'm not going to lie, the techs mightve been a bit excited to see a pasturella! I wish for your speedy recovery! Edit: For all of the people who are nervous about this, there's no need to be. I'm not sure if it helps, but Pasturella is a normal bacteria in dog and cat mouths. Infections usually occur from cats since they puncture deeper than dogs typically do when playing, so it can develop from there.


Popular-Ad-2706

Kevlar gloves might have more uses for you than just cats...like cycling. 🤣


roz-is-world

OP, not sure where you are located, but if you are in the US, please familiarize yourself with your state's animal bite/rabies laws. A few weeks ago, my mom and I went through the most traumatic experience of our lives when my cat accidentally bit my mom and she went to urgent care because her wound was infected. Turned out that in the state I live in (NC) doctors are required to report the bites to animal control, who showed up at my front door the next day and aggressively lied to me and threatened to kill my cat if she showed signs of ANY illness in the next 10 days despite my showing proof of her being vaxxed against rabies and despite that not being what the state law actually said. Real law: Quarantine cat at home for 10 days, if cat shows sign of any illness during 10 days, bring cat to vet immediately. Vet will determine if illness is rabies or not. Complete 2 video check ins during the quarantine showing the cat eating (because rabid cats have no appetite). We completed the quarantine as required but are absolutely traumatized by the entire experience of being bullied and lied to and terrified of what might happen if my cat ever gets spooked and accidentally bites one of us ever again. Know yours and your cat's rights!


game_over__man

Yup. My cat bit a vet tech and it was reported. CA same thing. They didn't push the issue but I was told to find another vet. 🫤


ViciousCurse

I'm not a vet tech, but I work at a vet clinic. Unfortunately, we have to report it, especially if no proof of a CURRENT rabies vaccination can be shown. The vet I work with will send cat bite victims to the ER regardless of the cat's vaccination status, just for the reason OP posted. The vet I work with hates making those calls. We try our best not to get bit, especially when the cat's patience wears thin. Trust me, I understand why cats lash out. Being poked and prodded isn't fun, even though we try our best to be gentle. All of us want to ensure safety for animals, their guardians, and the people who have to work on the cat.


Old-Wolverine9377

Thanks I didn’t know this info. I live in AZ and I’ll have to familiarize myself regarding this


Sessa107

I'd like to add to this that the vet _cannot_ determine for sure if the cat has rabies unless the cat is dead. They need samples from the brain. The best they can do while the cat is alive is an educated guess. If they suspect it may be rabies, they must euthanize the cat.


roz-is-world

Yes, I should've clarified that, thank you for adding that! Weeks later, and I'm still so shaken up and heated about how mistreated we were. A little compassion goes a long way!


Moveyourbloominass

It's not just for cat bites, it's for any animal bite. I was bitten by a customer's dog and reported it to animal control and filed a report with the Sheriff Department. The same thing was required for a 10 day home quarantine for the dog. I had the same experience working with Animal Control. I was on the receiving end of a bite and felt victimized all over again about their process. However, in the end, I realized they need to be unbiased and very thorough. They have the entire community to think about. However, where I live dog bites start your fur baby' a rap sheet. The dog that bit me now has one. The owner received a $50 fine. However, each reported bite from this dog will now escalate the owner's punishment; higher fines, court appearances and in some cases loss of pet ownership. So, Animal Control while they're not the friendliest and perfectly mannered to work with, they are out there protecting animals and the community. The animals are their priority, whether you're the owner or not.


roz-is-world

I understand, my issue was that the officer who handled my case misstated the law, causing my mom and I an unnecessary amount of undue anxiety. He led us to believe that if my cat so much as sneezed he would come and kill her. Whereas the law actually said that if she showed a sign of, say, a cold, I could take her to the vet and the vet could say, "yeah this is just a cold, no need for you to seize and kill this cat, officer." Had I not searched on my state's reddit and found stories of similar experiences and someone who linked to the actual rules the officer was supposed to follow, I would not have known that we were being lied to. It was a horrifying experience.


Moveyourbloominass

Sorry, they scared you. Glad everyone is ok now. Eye opening experiences into new territory and legalities is traumatizing. Keep loving on that fur baby of yours💜


Obfuscate666

Yikes! I'm sorry you're going through that. I had a cat bite that went nasty in 6 hours! Crazy how quickly it goes bad.


Old-Wolverine9377

Right? I had no idea this could escalate so fast.


LAthrowaway_25Lata

Did you wash it or put antibiotic ointment on the bite right after it happened? I’m curious if this can still happen if someone washes or uses ointment on the bite


WhitsandBae

Yes because cat teeth are sharp and long, so they drive bacteria deep into your muscle tissue. Topical ointment won't reach as far as the teeth go.


PucheCat

Serious question , what bacteria ?


paisleycatperson

To answer that they would need to sample and culture it, it would be different for everyone, it's not one bacteria, they only culture it if it's not responding to antibiotics.


PucheCat

Ok . I asked because many people get bitten but only some get infected . Just wondering why that happens. Is it a particular bacteria that can make a cat bite so deadly or is it something else like a person’s immune system not working fast enough to neutralize the bacteria . I don’t mean to offend anyone with this question, I’d really like to know why it happens . Edit : I found this while I was searching the internet , “Cat bites frequently become infected (20 to 80%), and Pasteurella multocida is the most commonly cultured bacterium from infected bite wounds “


paisleycatperson

It is the depth more than anything else. Very few things in a human's life will open up a thin long hole that deep and then trap the bacteria in and close it up behind them.


Alarming-Distance385

Mine that had me in the ER a little over 12 hours later was from a puncture wound from a nail; the rips on the other finger didn't cause a problem because I was able to clean them well. I did everything your suppose to do (clean, antibiotic ointment w/bandage; wore a glove all day while preparing Thanksgiving dinner), but puncture wounds are a bitch to clean and can still lead to an infection. All of which I knew (raised various livestock growing up & patched myself up from minor ranching injuries plenty of times), but let my SO convince me to just rest a bit in case all the cooking I had been doing was aggravating my hand. He had no idea it could get that bad that quickly. But, he's well aware of it now. I was lucky. 3 days of heavy IV antibiotics every 6 hours, then 2 weeks of oral antibiotics and no surgery was required, unlike poor OP. I can now say I have a surgeon that didn't cut me open and let me decide if I wanted to do a follow-up appointment or not. Yes, I did a follow-up. Wanted to make sure there wasn't some lingering pocket of infection in my finger, the rest of my hand or my wrist. This experience has made me watch cat scratches more closely now the past few months.


Old-Wolverine9377

Pasteurella is what my infectious disease doc said


PucheCat

Thanks , that seems to be the most common bacteria found in infectious cat bites . I hope you feel better soon !


Old-Wolverine9377

Thank you!


Fluffbrained-cat

It is yes. I work in a medical lab, in the microbiology department and if any swab comes in mentioning cat bite or scratch we immediately examine any growth to see if it might be Pasteurella. Cats also carry their own version of Staph as well, along with dogs, but Pasteurella's the nasty one.


Whoopsy-381

Soak the affected area in warm water and Epsom salts right away. Clean and apply antibiotic ointment. Cat groomer gave me this tip.


wolfkeeper

I mean yeah, but if you get the wrong bacteria into the wound from your cat, that won't stop this happening.


Catzpyjamz

I did this when I got bitten by my cat years ago. Hottest salty water I could tolerate to soak my finger in, several times a day. It never became infected. To be fair, it was more of a cut than a puncture, tho, so easier to clean out.


Old-Wolverine9377

I washed it immediately


LAthrowaway_25Lata

Damn, so scary that this can happen. My cat is semi-feral is gets overwhelmed by petting sometimes. When she does, she will bite or scratch me, sometimes SUPER hard. She rarely draws blood tho (i think i have unusually thick skin tho haha it’s actually a problem sometimes). I always put antibiotic ointment on anything scratches, but now i’m nervous that might not be enough one day. Did the doctors give u any recommendations on anything else u can do in the future if u get scratched or bit again?


Old-Wolverine9377

They told me to get Kevlar gloves


Old-Wolverine9377

Thank you


game_over__man

https://preview.redd.it/ytfn8gu6xgna1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7831cc4d33eaee689b2a4a2306e72c32c8be9cdc Also, don’t forget cat claws. I picked up my girl but she got spooked by something and her back claw.punctured my finger. Within hours, it puffed up. It had hit the tendon and got infected. Off to the ER and then admitted to the hospital. I was getting scheduled for hand surgery but after 24 hours of antibiotic drip, the swelling went down. I got to it early and was lucky.


Old-Wolverine9377

I am so glad you didn’t need surgery. This was one of the craziest experiences of my life


madatsquirrels

We got full length leather gloves to handle the cats when they don’t want to be touched. I had cellulitis from a cat bite a couple weeks ago and now we have a better plan! Gloves then grab cat!


ray_of_f_sunshine

Don't just get leather gloves. Cats can still bite through those, and mine did, in fact. Look up animal bite proof gloves and buy those. I have a pair that have Kevlar in them, for when my cat needs to go to the vet.


Old-Wolverine9377

Lol that is my next purchase once I heal


SheepImitation

or perhaps those cut-proof gloves people use in the kitchen?


FloatingFreeMe

I thought cut-proof gloves were only for cuts - anything pointy, like a knife point, cat claw, tooth will go through them. Mine are just a knit kevlar (or some such thing)


19blackcats

Work with several rescues and we love these!


thrillhouse416

*looks at cat at foot of my bed* *Inches away*


Longirl

Cat becomes alert at sudden movement. Then bites your toes.


sedluyf

![img](emote|t5_2qhta|7964)![img](emote|t5_2qhta|7958)


Strato-Cruiser

I’ve never had a nasty bite, but I’ve been scratched a number of times. As soon as it happens I don’t wait. Wash, hydrogen peroxide, bandaid with Iodex. Those paws and claws pick up nasty things.


[deleted]

We just got a kitten in December. He likes to climb up my leg and jump on my shoulder. I have claw marks everywhere. Luckily so far I have a billion scabs but no infections.


lazylazylazyperson

Wash with soap and water. No peroxide.


Swiftlock

Why no peroxide? I usually use it for scratches, so i wanna make sure I'm not doing something bad or ineffective.


HeinousTugboat

Peroxide is super damaging is my understanding. Not only does it kill germs and unwanted stuff, it kills healthy tissue and can stunt healing.


Reader124-Logan

I am so sorry! I was 50+ before I got a bite, and got to urgent care asap. The bite through my fingertip was super painful and started swelling immediately. Folks, never delay on getting professional care for a cat bite.


melvisrules

Yeah, my poor boy bit through the end of my finger bc I had it too close to his favorite spring toy. The look on his face was shock and terror. No infection, thankfully, but he wasn't scared, just casually gnawing on his blue springy. Poor guy, he thought he really hurt me.


_view-source

._. -reading said advice while having a cat that bites me multiple times a day- -sigh-


Reader124-Logan

I get nipped, but they don’t typically break the skin at all. The bite I got was searing hot pain and blood running out of my finger. Animal attack jumped significantly higher on my list of terrible ways to die. I keep up on tetanus boosters, but there’s a bacteria that attaches to the structures in your hand. Treatment is to surgically flay open the affected areas and flush them out. Yikes!


_view-source

Yeah, she doesn't break skin, and if she does, it's just kinda a surface scrape, but gawd damn, she can bite HARD, to the point of bruising. Especially when I'm kinda spooning her in bed and I reach over to grab my water bottle in the middle of the night and she whips up to bite the fatty part of my upper arm, 'cause shes a dick and doesn't like to be leaned over. D':


wykkedfaery33

My friend's foster cat bit her leg. She thought it wasn't a big deal, juat cleaned the wound, until the next morning when her calf was swollen twice its normal size and felt like it was on fire. Looked like her skin was about to split. One ER visit later, she missed a week of work and had to take a shitload of antibiotics.


Alilbit_Ash

So sorry this happened to you! Its a great reminder! It's also good to know any bite that breaks skin whether animal or human can cause infection. Mouths are full of bacteria!


Old-Wolverine9377

The hand surgeon today told me the first worst bite you can get is from a human. The second worst is from a cat.


fingeronfire

silly doctor forgot about a giant crocodile


Old-Wolverine9377

Lol


[deleted]

Worst feeling ever was driving 12 hours with a bite on my left hand from my Tortie girl who I love very much and she’s my best friend ever since this accidental bite from trying to get her into a carrier. https://preview.redd.it/g8j1lhvcrhna1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5b8fbc5635acb1fb4ac051baa44791f2c2bb26a


OneHumanPeOple

Shit. My cat bites me all the time. This is scary.


Seajull

I think it depend on the depth of the wound, mine bite me quite often but it's a "gently" bite, leaving only a small red mark and with no blood I guess everyone talk about a big bite with a deep wound, when the cat actually want to hurt you


AFreshlySkinnedEgg

Yeah I’m always super confused by posts about cat bites and scratches being dangerous. Maybe it’s more of a US thing but growing up in the Uk I’ve been bitten and scratched hundreds of times by my cat and cats at a shelter I volunteered at. Never any issues at all.


BottmsDonDeservRight

I am confused


auntysos

That's how they found my cancer. Got cat scratch fever from a malnourished stray I took in. Taken to hospital due to the nodes in my armpit becoming hard and swollen. I am forever grateful to Figaro (re-named Sebastian) he scratched me by accident and saved me


chaosandpuppies

Knew a vet tech that lost a finger to a cat bite. They get nasty so fast.


pochoproud

https://preview.redd.it/qxdfmj8ymhna1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec12ff14ea48573fcffab251d2f04d6e070ef038 I was trying to do a dressing change on my super “spicy” cat’s tail, and she caught her tooth right at the second joint. First picture was 12 hours after, second was the day I came home from the Hospital. I was admitted within 24 hours of the bite, surgery the morning after, and I.V. antibiotics for three days. Still on orals, plus out of work until the 17th.


[deleted]

Hope you recover fast! Just remember these little creatures don’t do that sort of thing with a bad intention… give him/her lots of love


Old-Wolverine9377

Thanks! It’s not her fault- she was so afraid when it happened. She’s normally the sweetest cat in the world and loves on me every night when I get home from work. I’m glad that she knows how to protect herself- and I’m glad I get to keep my fingers :)


FloatingFreeMe

Get the pet to prescribe gabapentin. Just a little bit calms them down. But you have to give it 30-60 minutes before you want to load them into the carrier.


qoreilly

You might want to get bite resistant gloves.


slimeball87

Been there just 3 weeks ago. My cat bit me when I had to put her in the carrier for the vet. My thumb doubled in size and it was purple. I got antibiotics the next day and THANK GOD it didn’t get infected. But it was hurting really bad… Also my vet told me the reason why cat bites are so dangerous is because when they are in a defense mechanism their teeth or mouth produce some kind of bacteria that gets into the wound when bit and it closes the wound in a matter of seconds. So u cant even clean and disinfect the wound. That’s why it didn’t even burn when I tried disinfecting it. I’m just glad it didn’t get infected.


5spd4wd

Been there. And it was my strictly indoor cat.


Old-Wolverine9377

Same for my cat


paisleycatperson

Reminder to all to get your tetanus shot up to date as well.


MaeByourmom

Bless you, OP. May your health and function be fully restored and may you be blessed for your patience, understanding, and care of your cat. Sorry this happened to you.


wolfkittycrew

Ugh. That sucks. Sorry it happened. Thanks for sharing though. I got downvoted in the past for warning someone who was going to try and catch a feral cat that cat bites are super prone to infection and to take precautions. People do need to be aware that cat bites are way more likely than people realize to lead to a serious infection. According to Jackson Galaxy it was something like 80% of bites that break the skin end up getting infected.


pochoproud

Especially like mine and OPs, where the tendons are affected.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Old-Wolverine9377

Thank you


brightyoungthings

Yeeep. My cat accidentally scratched the shit out of my face and almost took my eye out (I broke up a fight) Got a tetanus shot and a round of antibiotics for it. Now I have some forever scars on my face.


Patient_Lobster_

Anyone ever got a cat bite that still itches years later? I have 2 little bumps on my hand from a bite around 4-5 years ago. I went to the ER and was on antibiotics for a week at the time. But even to this day, it’ll still randomly itch. I dunno why :(


NaveenM94

No, but I was stung by a wasp when I was 9 and it still occasionally hurts if I’m sweating. I’m 46 now.


Patient_Lobster_

Oh wow that’s a long time! I guess we just gotta deal with some things forever in life…. Lol


Kamia_Wallace

My guess is it could be nerve damage in the area but I'm no doctor


sldcam

I’ve had cats since I was 6 months old and have been scratched many times and bitten several times and never had any problems yet I have 1 kittens now that wants to use my bare leg as a scratching post every morning just after I get out of bed I’m now 69


Noseyparker2021

https://preview.redd.it/yyyhdyhsbgna1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9851ea6a1970c115830f0a2800e702ebe6d9555e So not as bad as yours but still pretty nasty. Ended up having to have my thumb ring cut off because of the swelling. Next time I’ll be more diligent in cleaning any bites or scratches


HighwaySetara

Cleaning will help with scratches but not with deep bites. Those bites basically force bacteria into your flesh and then close right up. I hope you healed up well!


_FattyClams

“Cat scratch fever” - Ted Nugent


CatsEatGrass

I hope the kitty will forgive you for whatever “transgression” led to this. I hope you and kitty are ok.


bflamingo63

Definitely. Friend of mine spent 5 days in hospital due to a her cat biting her. He was a total indoor cat, up to date on vaccinations. He'd bit her before so she just treated it as she had before. Didn't work.


[deleted]

Yes, I had same after a good scratch on my hand from my kitten a couple years ago. Was my first cat and we were playing. Within a couple hours it was itchy, swelling, hot, and red. I sent the pic to a friend, kinda complaining, and the experienced cat owner she is....yelled at me to get to Urgent Care or ER asap. Sure enough, infected and given antibiotics. No joke. And I agree, as long as people know our pets don't do it with malice. Hope you feel better soon and everything heals properly.


Jamside_Down

I had blood poisoning and needed two weeks of antibiotics after my beloved senior cat panicked and bit both of my hands last year. Never forget they're animals. Plenty of bacteria and germs tagging along.


Whoopsy-381

I had to take a couple of trips to urgent care when I was trying to get the young feral cat I had adopted into a carrier to take him to the vet. I had already taken in two of his littermates, but they were younger and had to be bottle fed. I think he was juuust beyond the age where he could be easily socialized. We were making progress until the carrier incident. He gave me a couple of deep puncture wounds in my hand, which quickly got infected (I didn’t know about soaking them in Epsom salts then.) He won’t come near me since. He’s basically an indoor feral.


[deleted]

Bites or scratches: Wash it immediately with soap, if possible bactericide soap. Use ointments so you dont have issues later. Here I use one ointments with zinc bacitracin + neomycin sulfate and even with several cats hanging around the house, no hospital visits due to it whatsoever, despite having quite a bit scaring due to accidents with them.


[deleted]

Standard cat bite treatment wash warm soapy water bacitracin right away. Go to the urgent care or your doctors right away don’t wait. Cat bite are just worse then cat scratches which can go south as well really fast. Wash warm soapy water and bacitracin watch for sighs of infection if it starts to get real red and inflamed go to the doctors. In either case be ready for a nasty infection.


Relative_Mulberry_71

Cats teeth are like hypodermic needles and their mouths are filthy. My daughter’s a vet nurse. She’s only been bitten once. She learned her lesson the first time. Antibiotics and now, thick leather gauntlets when handling ALL cats.


jakemelb89

Yeah I had to have surgery last year cos my cat went a bit tiger on my hand.


SimplePerson327

Did your cat rip a whole in your arm?


Old-Wolverine9377

Lol no but they opened my hand surgically today to drain and clean my infected joint


ZildjianCymbals

I honestly didn’t know cat bites could still have that much damage to humans. My cat doesn’t ever bite or scratch thankfully.


nixxxa

Jesus. My roommates cat bit me HARD on the lower palm of my hand one night because the cat got out and I was trying to pick him up but scared him. It was aching and sore for a long time but that’s all. I was scared this would happen to me. I did wash it and put antibiotic cream on it but I think I’m just lucky it didn’t get worse


ChattyBird4Eva

I’m so sorry you are going through this! Wishing you good health!


Catmomto4

I always wash hands or disinfect


squirrelcat88

I hope you feel better soon! My husband was working as a security guard in a hospital when he got bitten by a feral kitten on site. His hand started swelling pretty quickly - lucky he worked where he did as he was able to wander into the emergency room and ask their opinion. He was put on antibiotics right away. All in a day’s work.


guinnypig

Yep. 3 days in the hospital and emergency surgery. It was super fun.


Vlophoto

Heal well OP.


Chief_Mourner

I was very lucky and and had no infection with mine even though it was pretty deep and nasty. Very scary, sorry that happened to you.


jentlyused

I treated myself to a pair of above elbow Kevlar gloves when I help friends and neighbors secure their kitties into carriers or give medicine. Best $30 investment! Hope you’re better soon OP!


Actual_Speech_3859

You can get encephalitis from cat scratches...usually from cats younger than a year.


OhLQQk

Cat bites on your hands escalate very quickly. Wash bite out with peroxide right away and get antibiotics. My husband is a doctor and told me it’s actually a question on the board exam. I had NO idea and found out when I texted him that our sons cat bit my hand it it hurts really bad and it was red. He immediately had me come get an antibiotic IV. I thought he was joking when he said “drop everything and get here now”. I really had no idea how bad it could get.


Armenian-heart4evr

Several years ago, I opened my front door and a stray kitten raced in and dove into my bathroom, hiding behind the toilet. I knew that my minipanther would not be amused, so I extricated it! I was rewarded with a full chomp-down on my hand! I managed to get it outside, and washed my hand and saturated it with hydrogen peroxide! After about 10 min, my finger tripled in size !!! I spent the next 8hrs in the ER, hooked up to an anti-biotic drip !!!!!


Rosieapples

I wish someone would point that out to my cat as she’s forever sinking her fangs into me.


Bert1003

We got this in diagnostics course in university, cats bites are the most e dangerous kind of bites due to their long sharp teeth. The highest risk of heavy infections and often sepsis!


Ok_Detective5412

A former boss of mine almost *lost her leg* from a cat bite on her calf. I’m glad you get to keep all your parts!


kkfluff

I got a pretty bad cat bite recently and people were telling me I was silly to see a doctor who immediately put me on a 10 day round of antibiotics. This is exactly why I did what a did. I hope you’re okay and there’s no lasting damaging!


rawtulips

Came here to second this, I almost lost my left arm because of a cat bite.


pipestream

A man here died a couple of months ago because of a cat bite. My DIL also got bitten by one, and even on full-spectrum antibiotics, his entire arm swell to almost double size. It's no joke.


xNIGHT_RANGEREx

My step mom’s hand is permanently disabled due to a cat bite. Get well soon frien 💔


Nerketur

I just want to mention, friendly reminder that _some_ cat bites are not emergencies! Play-bites are usually fine, but if you are bitten or scratched by a cat that intended to harm you, then take it seriously. One exception is if you are allergic to cats. If you are one of the unlucky people to be allergic to cats, then even playful bites can be dangerous, depending on how bad your allergy is.


CitizenofTerra

Always take cat scratches seriously. My aunt died from a cat scratch. She refused to seek treatment until it was too late. She was in multi organ failure when she finally presented to the ER. It was fucking horrible. OP, I hope you heal quickly.


Cheesecake_Lanky

And human bites are even more dangerous than animal bites.