The Dangers of Cat Bites in People

Cats are great pets to have around the house. Most are very friendly and enjoy the company of people. However, you can have the nicest cat at home and when you take him/her to your veterinarian or try and get him/her into the carrier, the complete opposite happens. Most veterinary technicians, like myself, know this for a fact and have experienced it first hand. This is a general article for technicians and cat owners as well on what should be done with a cat bite and why they can be so dangerous.

Technicians must be cautious when working on any cat (or dog). It does not matter if they are the nicest cat at the clinic either because once you start drawing blood from a leg, placing an IV catheter, etc., he/she can turn on you in a split second. Most technicians are able to avoid cat bites using proper restraint methods and identifying body language of the cat. Those that are bitten, risk getting a severe infection. Cats, along with other animals harbor bacteria in their mouth. Cats moreso because they usually catch rodents, etc. in their mouth. When the cat bites a person's hand, the bacteria in the mouth and around the teeth become embedded in the wound. Infection usually occurs within 24 hours. If you are not seen by an emergency room right away, you may end up in the hospital on IV antibiotics or you may suffer severe nerve damage in the area of the bite.

If you are bitten, you should immediately scrub the bite wound with a sterile surgical scrub brush with betadine or chlorhexidine solution. Once you have cleaned the bite, go to the emergency room immediately. If you are an owner and get bitten, you should thoroughly wash the area and use peroxide right away (or betadine if you have it). You should then immediately go to the emergency room. Cat bites can be very dangerous and should never be left untreated, nor should any type of animal bite be left untreated. If you are bitten by a wild animal, it will need to be euthanised and tested for Rabies. Dogs will be placed into quarantine after they have bitten someone to be monitored for symptoms of the Rabies virus. As a technician, remember to take the proper restraining techniques for any animal, especially cats and be able to recognize when the cat is giving off warning signs.