A cat bite happened quickly. If the cat only nips slightly and the teeth don’t cut into the flesh, it’s not dramatic. But with a real bite it can be dangerous.
Cats bite more often. When playing with your own or other cats, there are usually no bleeding wounds, as long as there is no aggression involved. When playing, cats often just nip a little and don’t bite hard enough for their teeth to actually penetrate the skin. Such small “tweaks” can have many reasons and are not a health problem. However, if there is a real bite with a bleeding wound, you should always have the whole thing checked out by a doctor. Cat bites are often just two small puncture marks and look harmless. Nevertheless, they can be dangerous.
Why cat bites can be dangerous
Cats have long, pointed teeth that can penetrate deep into the skin when bitten. They leave a deep wound channel in the tissue, which can sometimes even reach into the bone, writes the AOK.
Even harmless-looking wounds can be dangerous in such a case because bacteria can get through the wound channel deep into the skin and the underlying tissue.
When it comes to cat bites, the animal’s saliva also contains a lot of bacteria. These can get into the wound when you bite, where they can multiply and lead to infections. For this reason, the risk of infection from cat bites is particularly high, with around 10 to 20 percent of infected bites. If the bite site is on the hand, foot, face or genitals, the risk is particularly high. People with weakened immune systems or small children and the elderly are also considered susceptible.
First aid after a cat bite
Acting quickly after a cat bite is important to minimize the risk of infection. The AOK health insurance company recommends the following first aid measures:
- Wait until any bleeding subsides.
- Rinse the wound with clean, lukewarm water.
- Clean the bite with a suitable wound disinfectant.
- Cover the wound with a sterile pad or bandage.
- Keep the affected part of the body as still as possible.
After initial care, it is also important to check your vaccination status. In particular, check to see if your tetanus vaccination is up to date or may need to be refreshed.
Particularly important: You should always have a cat bite examined by a doctor. And as quickly as possible. If there is no doctor’s office open nearby, a pharmacy newspaper recommends going to the nearest emergency room with your vaccination certificate. Doctors can assess the risk of infection and, if necessary, take countermeasures in good time so that worse consequences can be avoided.
Signs of infection after a cat bite
An infection after a cat bite is usually only noticed when it has already spread. According to AOK, the first symptoms usually appear after around 12 to 24 hours. But it can also take several days.
An infection can manifest itself through the following symptoms:
- Redness of the wound
- Swelling of the affected area
- increasing, throbbing pain around the injection site
- purulent discharge
- general malaise
- Fever
If you experience these or similar symptoms, you should get checked out by a doctor as quickly as possible. If the infection is advanced, surgery may be necessary to remove affected tissue.
Cat bite: possible consequences
If a cat bite injury is left untreated, a possible infection can develop and spread unchecked. In the worst case, it can reach the tendons, joints or bones. Serious consequences can include blood poisoning (sepsis) or even meningitis. The heart can also be affected. According to AOK, such extreme cases are rare, but still possible.
Fortunately, such consequences can largely be avoided if you act quickly after the bite and seek medical treatment as quickly as possible.
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- Cat in bed: Unhygienic or healthy?
- 7 reasons why your cat scratches you when you pet it
- Helping stray cats: This is what you can do
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