The various facts are unfortunately full of cases of human bites by dogs with often disastrous consequences.
Do you know, however, that cat bites are just as dangerous?
Despite its small size, the cat can, indeed, be extremely aggressive and violent, and bite.
The injuries it causes can be a source of serious complications and even require hospitalization!
To enlighten you and know how to react, we explain everything you need to know about the bite of the cat .
Cat bites: A few figures
Cat bites, like scratches, are not to be taken lightly, especially since the feline’s saliva contains thousands of bacteria that are very harmful to humans.
The Pasteurella multocida germ , in particular, is often present in the saliva of dogs and cats and can be a vector of disease.
An American scientific article written by Nikola Babovic, Cenk Cayci and Brian Carlsen and published in the Journal of Hand Surgery in February 2014 presents a study on hand infections by cat bites .
Very edifying findings emerge, since 30% of people (57 people) who were victims of a cat bite at home had to be hospitalized for about 3 days. 67% of them (38 people) had to undergo surgery and 8 of them several operations!
Statistically, while children are the first victims of dog bites with localized injuries to the head and neck, women are the first victims of cat bites. They are frequently located on the hands and arms.
Attention ! Wounds may seem innocuous when they are often deep.
Observation of the lesion does not provide any real information on the damage caused to the tendons, muscles, joints and nerves.
How to react to a cat bite?
Cat bites are both a physical and psychological trauma .
The suddenness and violence of a cat attack makes the situation shocking for any human being. The first instinct is therefore to keep your cool and come to your senses to think and act quickly.
If you have just been bitten, regardless of the nature of the injury and the pain that accompanies it, it must be cleaned quickly .
The objective is to avoid or limit the risks that the bacteria, present in the cat’s saliva, penetrate into the tissues and the blood.
The first step is therefore to clean the lesion with soapy water . If you notice the presence of foreign bodies in the wound, it is necessary to remove them as soon as possible to avoid causing superinfection.
Then you need to gently rinse the lesion and dry it. Then quickly apply an antiseptic solution and apply a sterile dressing. It is advisable to take paracetamol to relieve pain.
Monitoring of the lesion is essential the following days and vigilance as to the possible appearance of fever which could indicate an infection. Also check that your tetanus vaccines are up to date.
If there is heavy bleeding, elevate the limb to slow the flow and compress the wound with a clean cloth. If the bleeding continues, contact the emergency room as soon as possible.
When should you see a doctor?
Location
If the lesion is on the hands, feet or near a joint, it is necessary to schedule a medical consultation. The lesions, if they are deep, can actually affect the tendons and sensitive areas.
Foreign bodies
If you are unable to remove one or more foreign bodies present in the lesion, your doctor may use specific instruments to try to dislodge them.
Deep wound
If the lesion is deep, the risk of infection is increased because the animal’s sharp teeth and bacteria have passed through several layers of tissue. A medical consultation is therefore necessary.
Immunocompromised victim
If the person who has been bitten suffers from a pathology that generates immunosuppression such as HIV or cancer, or if they are diabetic or on corticosteroid treatment, their vulnerability to the risk of infection is massive. A medical consultation is then necessary.
Obsolete vaccination
Even adults, it is necessary to maintain optimal vaccine protection . If your vaccines are no longer up to date, particularly those against tetanus, you must make an appointment quickly.
Rabies risk
If you have been bitten by a stray cat or a feline whose vaccination status you do not know, you should always bear in mind the risk of contagion by rabies . This viral infectious disease is very serious and very contagious. It still exists and requires maintaining preventive vaccines for our animals.
The risk of rabies contamination is greatest in high-risk areas such as Asia, Africa and South America.
In France, in the event of a bite by a cat or a dog, the rabies risk protocol must be strictly applied :
- If the animal is known and its rabies vaccines are verified, it must still be placed under the supervision of a health veterinarian for 15 days. Its owner must present it three times to this professional: within 24 hours of the attack, within 7 days and 15 days after the bite. At each visit, the health veterinarian draws up a certificate justifying the absence of suspicion of rabies. If the cat shows suspicious signs, the rabies vaccine is carried out in the bitten person.
- If the feline is unknown , the risk is real. The bitten person must therefore be sent by the doctor to an anti-rabies center which will decide on a possible vaccination.
- If the animal is dead , the head is examined to assess whether it was a carrier of rabies. In the meantime, the rabies vaccination protocol is put in place for the person bitten and can be stopped when the results of the analyzes prove the absence of contamination of the cat.
wound infection
The infection of the lesion is manifested by various symptoms about 24 hours after the bite:
- Pains
- Redness
- Swelling
- Purulent discharge from the wound
- Possible fever
It is then necessary to plan a medical consultation that can lead to a referral to a surgeon.
Overall, whatever the reason for consultation following a bite by a cat, the doctor can set up an antibiotic treatment. He will check the vaccine protection against tetanus and can re-vaccinate if necessary.
When should you call for emergencies?
Location
It is no longer the doctor that must be consulted but the emergency department if the lesion is located in the face, neck or genitals. These very sensitive areas can quickly generate serious complications.
Type of wound
It is also necessary to go to the emergency room if the lesion is very heavy (ragged flesh or bone damage).
Hemorrhage
If the wound is bleeding profusely despite your attempts to stop the flow, this is cause for an emergency. It is vital to be able to stop the bleeding.
Sensitivity and mobility
If the bitten person loses feeling in the affected limb or area or if the injury makes movement difficult, go to the emergency room immediately.
Generally, facial wounds are sutured while other wounds are treated as open wounds.
What information should be transmitted to the care services?
Whether the injury caused by a biting cat is taken care of by your doctor or an emergency service, it is important to be able to quickly transmit to your interlocutors clear information which will promote the speed and efficiency of the steps to be taken. .
So you need:
- Identify the biting feline: is it the neighbours’ cat or a stray cat?
- Note the time of the attack: for a surgeon, this is important information that will indicate the time elapsed since the attack.
- Specify the circumstances of the bite: where did the attack take place? In which circumstances ? Did the cat exhibit any particular behavior?
- If the feline is known, ask the owner for his vaccination record to verify the rabies vaccination.
F.A.Q.
How do you know if a cat bite is serious?
Different signs and characteristics should alert you to its seriousness. Thus, it is necessary to consult your doctor if the lesion is in a sensitive area such as the joints or if the wound is deep.
The presence of foreign bodies that are difficult to extract, signs of infection (redness, pain, swelling) or obsolete tetanus vaccination coverage should also lead you to consult your doctor.
Finally, if you are immunocompromised and/or if the risk of rabies cannot be ruled out, a medical consultation is essential.
Be careful, you must seek emergency services if the lesion is on the face, neck or genitals or if the lesion is particularly serious. If the bleeding persists or the lesion causes a loss of sensitivity and/or mobility, it is also vital to consult the emergency room.
How do you know if a bite is infected?
If the wound becomes infected, you will find that it becomes painful, red and swollen. Fever may also occur and you may experience dizziness or lightheadedness.
How to properly treat a cat bite?
Quickly, it is necessary to clean the wound with soapy water by removing any foreign bodies.
Then, rinse and dry the wound before applying an antiseptic solution and a sterile dressing.
Which antibiotic to take in case of a cat bite?
Only your doctor can decide which medicine to administer depending on the situation and your state of health.
If he decides on antibiotic treatment, he can choose the combination of amoxicillin and clavunic acid to prevent the risk of infection.
Avoid self-medication and make an appointment with your doctor if needed.
When to consult after a bite?
You must seek emergency services depending on the situation (see above) and as soon as possible if you notice persistent symptoms in the days following the bite (swelling, redness of the wound, pain, fever).
How to relieve a bite?
A cold water compress applied to the lesion can temporarily relieve the pain. Taking analgesics is recommended to soothe unless contraindicated.
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