Cat Bites

Though pet owners love to spend time with their pet, there are times when the pet behaves strangely. For instance, pets may even attack or bite their owner if they feel threatened. Biting is a form of defensive mechanism. Biting is one of the most common behavioral problem in cats. Prior to biting, cats may squint or may appear tense. If one is ever bitten by a cat, one must take steps to prevent the wound from getting infected. Though the punctured wounds on the affected area might not seem to be very harmful at that time, there is a huge possibility that cat bites may become infected due to a lack of care.

Puncture Wounds

When the cat's sharp and pointed teeth penetrate the skin, bacteria present in the cat's mouth get deposited on the wounded area. Unlike a dog bite where there may be bleeding due to tearing of skin, a cat's sharp teeth usually cause punctured wounds. Since there isn't much bleeding, you might take the incident casually. However, such puncture wounds are not harmless. Such wounds are even more dangerous and you can even get an infection.

If the bite causes one to bleed, this would allow some of the infected saliva to move out of the wounded area, however, bacteria may get a chance to multiply in case of punctured wounds. Once the affected area get infected, it could lead to serious health problems. A person who is bitten by a cat may be at a risk of developing pasteurellosis or streptococcal or staphylococcal infections. If you experience symptoms such as fever, swelling, redness or pus in the affected area, do consult a doctor soon. An infected bite in a joint could even lead to bone infections, therefore, you must take all precautions and visit a doctor soon.

How to Treat Such Wounds

If you were bitten by a cat, you must take the following steps to prevent the wound from getting infected. If there is a little bleeding, it might help the bacteria to get flushed out from the affected area, but you will have to control the bleeding to clean up the wound. Place a gauze pad over the wound and apply a little pressure to control the bleeding. Now clean the wound with an anti-bacterial soap and warm water. Make sure that no remnants of the soap remain inside the wound.

Betadine solution can also be used to sterilize the wound. You can also apply an antibiotic ointment and cover it with a clean bandage. So, these were some steps which need to be followed immediately when one gets bitten by a cat. This will reduce the chances of an infection. It would be best to seek medical help. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics and other drugs to alleviate the symptoms. Cat scratches could also be a cause of concern. It is very important that you seek medical attention to lower the risk of infections.

These were simple steps that must be followed if one gets bitten by a cat. Stay away from a cat if it seems to be acting in a strange manner. If it's too late, seek medical help to treat the cat bite and prevent it from getting infected.