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This article was co-written by Chris M. Matsko, MD. Dr. Matsko is a retired physician with offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was awarded the University of Pittsburgh Cornell’s Distinguished Leadership Award. He received his PhD from Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. He holds a Research Diploma from AMWA in 2016 and a Medical Content Writing & Editorial Certificate from the University of Chicago in 2017.
This article has been viewed 272,455 times.
Most cat owners have been bitten by a cat. However, even if your cat is fully vaccinated, bite care and regular monitoring are extremely important so that you can immediately detect if the bite becomes inflamed. Cats have long canines, so their bite will be deep and can cause infection. [1] X Research Source
Steps
Cleaning minor bites at home
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Assess the severity of the bite. Sometimes cats just leave a tooth mark that doesn’t tear the skin, but sometimes the bite will leave a cavity due to the fangs. [2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Check the bite and see if there are any broken skin.
- Children can get scared and cry even if the bite is not deep.
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Wash the bite lightly. If your cat’s teeth do not tear the skin or create an open wound but are relatively deep, you can clean the bite at home. [3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source[4] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to Source
- Wash the bite with soap and clean water. Place the bite under running water for a few minutes to wash away the dirt and bacteria inside.
- Gently squeeze the bite to help blood flow. This also helps clear dirt and bacteria inside the wound.
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Sterilize the wound to prevent bacteria or pathogens from forming. Apply the disinfectant on a clean cotton ball and then gently apply it to the bite site. This will create a feeling of pain but not for long. The following chemicals are highly antiseptic: [5] X Trusted Source Centers for Disease Contrp and Prevention Go to source
- Cleaning alcohol
- Iodine cleaning solution
- Hydrogen peroxide
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Avoid infection for minor bites by applying over-the-counter antibiotic creams. Take a pea-sized amount of antibiotic cream and apply it to the entire affected area. [6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- 3-in-1 antibiotic cream is widely available and also very effective. Read and follow the instructions printed on the packaging.
- Talk to your doctor before giving this medicine to an infant or pregnant woman.
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Protect the wound with a bandage. This will prevent dirt and bacteria, helping the wound to heal faster. Protect the damaged skin with a clean bandage.
- Since cat bites are usually small, you can cover them up with band-aids available at the drugstore.
- It is recommended to dry the bite first so that the bandage lasts longer.
Treating a serious bite in the hospital
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See your doctor if the bite is too severe and you are unable to properly care for yourself. These are the following bites: [7] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source
- On the face
- Wound that creates a deep hole due to being bitten by a cat’s fangs
- Bleeding profusely and without stopping
- Tissue is torn and needs to be treated.
- Bites in joints, ligaments or tendons
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Talk to your doctor about how to care for your wound. Depending on the severity of your injury and your medical condition, your doctor will: [8] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source
- Sew the wound so it stops bleeding
- Remove dead tissue so that the wound does not become infected
- X-rays to assess joint damage
- Recommend reconstructive surgery if you have severe damage or scarring.
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Take antibiotics if your doctor tells you to. This will reduce the risk of infection. Antibiotics are often prescribed for severe bites, especially for people with weakened immune systems due to diabetes, HIV or chemotherapy. Your doctor will prescribe the following: [9] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source
- Cephalexin
- Doxycycline
- Co-Amoxiclav
- Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride
- Metronidazpe
Identify the risk of infectious disease
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Determine the immune status of the cat. Unvaccinated cats can become infected and transmit the disease to people bitten by cats, which is very dangerous. [10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- If it’s someone’s pet cat, ask the owner about the cat’s vaccinations. If it’s your cat, check the records to see when the cat was last vaccinated.
- Go to the hospital immediately if it is a feral cat or you cannot determine the cat’s vaccination status. Even if your cat looks healthy and you can determine her vaccination status, you should still see a doctor. Cats can still have the disease but not yet show symptoms.
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Get vaccinated if needed. People bitten by cats can get many diseases. Your doctor will recommend vaccinations against the following diseases: [11] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source
- Rabies disease. Some animals with rabies may look sick with foaming at the mouth, but the disease can still be contagious before symptoms become apparent. If you are infected with rabies, your doctor will give you a vaccine to prevent it. [12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
- Tetanus. Tetanus is caused by bacteria found in dirt and animal feces. This means that if the wound is dirty or deep and you haven’t had a tetanus shot in 5 years, your doctor will give you a shot to make sure you don’t get infected. [13] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source
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Monitor the wound for signs of infection. Go to the hospital right away if you have any of the following signs of infection: [14] X Trusted Source National Health Service (UK) Go to source
- Red
- Swelling
- Increasing pain
- Pus or water coming out of the wound
- Lymphedema
- Fever
- Feeling cold and shivering
To not be bitten by a cat
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Learn to recognize when your cat feels threatened. Cats will bite when they feel the need to protect themselves. If you have a cat, teach your child to understand cat body language. When scared cats will:
- Hissing
- Growl
- Ear buds
- Fluffy, i.e., the entire coat stands up, making the cat look bigger than usual
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Play with the cat gently. Examples of cats becoming aggressive include:
- When cornered
- When the cat is pulled by the tail
- If the cat is caught trying to run away
- If the cat is startled or hurt
- While playing. Instead of letting your cat struggle with your arms or legs, pull on a rope and let the cat chase you.
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Avoid contact with feral cats. Feral cats are usually in cities or towns, but they are not used to human contact. Do not stroke or hug them.
- Do not feed feral cats where there are children.
- Cats that are not used to being in contact with people will have unpredictable reactions.
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This article was co-written by Chris M. Matsko, MD. Dr. Matsko is a retired physician with offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was awarded the University of Pittsburgh Cornell’s Distinguished Leadership Award. He received his PhD from Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. He holds a Research Diploma from AMWA in 2016 and a Medical Content Writing & Editorial Certificate from the University of Chicago in 2017.
This article has been viewed 272,455 times.
Most cat owners have been bitten by a cat. However, even if your cat is fully vaccinated, bite care and regular monitoring are extremely important so that you can detect immediately if the bite becomes inflamed. Cats have long canines, so their bite will be deep and can cause infection. [1] X Research Source
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