How Serious Can A Cat Bite Be?

Pets can make our lives much happier. We must be very careful, though, when it comes to being hurt by a pet. Playful scratches and bites are common, but some of these bites can become serious and cause complications.

Animal Bites

The American Pet Association reports that there are about 150M dogs and cats living in the United States, with cats outnumbering dogs. Animal bites are therefore very common in the US, with about two to five million people being affected each year, accounting for one percent of emergency room visits. It is estimated that bout 10-20 people die yearly from animal bites.

Children are the most likely victims, and dogs are the most likely attackers. In fact, up to 90% of all animal bites are caused by dogs, with cats coming in second, followed by other animals such as rodents, ferrets, rabbits, and farm animals.

Why Cat Bites are Risky

Cats have very sharp, long and pointed teeth that can bury themselves deep into the flesh, causing puncture wounds. Cats usually bite when provoked, especially the female felines. These bites can be much deeper than the victim thinks because the skin can seal off the small punctured site, thus preventing open drainage and leading to infection. While only one percent of dog bites lead to infection that requires hospitalization, up to 10% of cat bites send victims to the hospital for treatment.

When bitten, the skin and tissues can be infected by bacteria. When not treated immediately, the tendons, bones and joints may be affected, causing deep tissue infection such as cellulitis (soft tissue infection), tendosynovitis (infection of the tendon and joint spaces), osteomyelitis (bone infection) or septic arthritis (joint infection). The initial symptoms may include skin redness, intense pain and swelling, which may develop within 12 to 24 hours. Without proper treatment this can progress and pain may involve the whole arm, with red streaks on the skin extending to the arm. Lymph nodes in the armpits may become swollen. You may lose sensation in the fingers or hand, as well as ability to move the hand or arm. Fever, chills, sweating and loss of energy may also occur. These symptoms should send you to the emergency room or to your doctor's office. More serious complications include meningitis (affecting the brain coverings) and sepsis (widespread or disseminated infection).

See Also: Allergic To Cats And Dogs

A recent study published in the Journal of Hand Surgery showed that about a third of patients who sought emergency treatment for cat bites needed to stay in the hospital for further treatment of wound infections. Most of these cat bite victims were middle-aged women. Those who were bitten over the wrist or other joints were the most likely to be hospitalized since antibiotic treatments failed to prevent infection. The joints are good breeding sites for bacterial growth, and treatment usually involved flushing the wounds and removing infected tissues every other day, in addition to antibiotic treatment.

One patient reported washing her bitten wrist and applying antiseptic but was unable to move her wrist after a week, prompting her to seek further treatment. She ended up staying eight weeks in the hospital and spending about $150,000 for medical bills.

Cat Bite Infections

According to the results of a three-year study on patients who suffered from cat bites treated in one institution (Mayo Clinic), one-third of the patients needed hospitalization to undergo minor surgical treatment. Patients who had a history of smoking, who had weak immune system function or were bitten over a joint were most likely to be hospitalized for complications. Swelling and redness over the wound upon admission were also associated with higher likelihood of hospitalization.

Many animals, including cats and dogs harbor rabies virus, so anyone who is bitten by an animal should report the incidence to the animal control section of their local health department. If the animal is suspected to be infected with rabies the victim must seek medical attention to receive anti-rabies injections if needed, since rabies is a fatal illness.

Cats and other animals can also transmit tetanus infection, another life-threatening condition. You will receive vaccination called tetanus toxoid if you have not been recently vaccinated for tetanus. Tetanus immune globulin may also be given to provide additional protection against infection.

The most common infection associated with cat bites, however, is caused by bacteria called Pasteurella multocida, which is usually found in the upper respiratory system of cats and other animals. Aside from bites, these organisms may also be transmitted through scratching or licking by a cat. Other types of bacteria may coexist with the microbes and cause infection as well.

Another condition associated with cat bites is cat scratch disease, caused by bacteria called Bartonella henselae. This disease may spread through a scratch or bite from an infected cat. Unlike other types of infection, this is not usually serious and may be treated with antibiotics.

What to Do When Bitten by a Cat

If the wound is bleeding, press the area with a clean gauze or towel to stop the bleeding. One should seek immediate medical treatment if bleeding is not controlled after prolonged application of pressure. People who have a weak immune system or have serious conditions such as cancer, liver disease and HIV infection, as well victims with serious injuries such as broken bones or large wounds are likewise advised to seek immediate treatment. It is important for patients to be evaluated and given adequate treatment within eight hours after being bitten to reduce their risk for serious infection.

If bitten by an unfamiliar cat or other animal, you may need to receive anti-rabies shots as well as anti-tetanus shots.

See Also: Interesting Things about Dogs and Cats

Cat bite victims who do not go to their doctors must watch out for signs of infection such as swelling, worsening pain, fever, redness, warmth and wound discharge or pus. Do not wait for complications to develop – see a doctor immediately.

Treatments consist of wound cleaning, oral antibiotic therapy and wound suturing, if necessary. If your wound is infected, antibiotic injections may be given.

Doctors typically assess the severity and depth of the bite and may prescribe antibiotics, especially if there's a high risk of infection or if an infection is already present. Amoxicillin-clavulanate is often the first choice, but the type of antibiotic prescribed can vary based on the individual and any potential allergies. If the wound is particularly deep, a tetanus booster might be recommended, especially if your last vaccination was more than five years ago.

In some cases, especially if the wound is deep or there's concern about trapped bacteria, a doctor may choose not to close the wound with stitches but rather leave it open to heal to reduce the risk of infection. It's also essential to monitor for signs of cat-scratch disease, a bacterial infection caused by Bartonella henselae, which can be transmitted through cat bites or scratches. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes.

X-ray images may be requested to evaluate if any bone has been broken or if some tooth fragments have been left behind. Hospitalization may be necessary if infection is severe and if additional treatments (e.g, surgery) are recommended.