Why Cat Bites Should Be Taken Seriously?

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If a cat bites me while purring or at other times, it can be quite dangerous. Deep cat bites can cause wounds, these open wounds can allow harmful bacteria to enter them. Animal bites are most often from cats or other pets. Cats can bite us because of certain contacts such as stroking the cat’s fur or playing with a cat.

Beware of Serious Infection Effects Due to Cat Bites

Cat teeth have sharp edges that can cause small but deep cuts. Small wounds heal faster over time, but you need to be careful because they can allow animal saliva to pass through and bacteria can enter the body. In addition, infection due to cat bites is difficult to prevent, and wounds like this are also difficult to clean because they are too small.

The impact of being bitten by a cat can make us experience certain reactions, especially on the skin, we can feel pain, and mild swelling and the skin becomes reddish. If bacteria that cause other infections enter the bite wound, we will get diseases such as the following:

  • Infection due to the bacterium Pasteurella multocida
  • Tetanus
  • Cat scratch fever
  • Osteomyelitis (bone infection).
  • Rabies

Scratch fever, tetanus, and salivary infections can occur just a few hours after the cat bites me while purring. But rabies infection can last for weeks, then the infection causes serious symptoms. You should be on the lookout for some of the following symptoms:

  • Reddened and swollen wound
  • Fluid coming out from the bite wound
  • The bitten part becomes difficult to move
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Numbness, especially the part of the body that was bitten
  • Fever to chills
  • Hard to breathe
  • Body becomes limp
  • Joint pain and muscle pain.

First Aid You Need To Know For Cat Bites

If a cat bite leaves a wound, you can treat it easily. You can do first aid at home the same as treating the skin affected by a cat’s scratches, but it will be easier if the wound is minor. Not only for treatment, but this first aid can also avoid infection due to cat bites.

You can follow these steps to treat the wound after you are bitten by a cat.

1.      Clean the wound first

Bite marks can leave small wounds, clean the puncture wound with clean running water. While cleaning, press on the bite wound to help the bacteria get out of the skin more easily, do this step slowly.

2.      Using antibiotic ointment

Prepare sterile bandages or towels so they can dry the bite wound. Prepare an antibiotic ointment, and apply ointment to the bitten area. This one method can effectively prevent infectious diseases due to cat bites including bleeding wounds as well.

When using antibiotic ointment, follow each usage instructions. The ointment packaging usually has clear instruction on how to use it.

3.      Leave it without plaster

Wounds from cat bites or other animals should be left open, why? Because it can avoid infection more effectively. Most cases that you need to know are that animal bite infections are more at risk when the wound is covered with a bandage or plaster.

But if the wound is more susceptible to bacteria, you should still use sterile plaster to protect the open wound.

When Should I Go To The Doctor About These Bites?

You should get help from a medical professional or doctor if you experience the following symptoms:

  • Experiencing serious pain in bones or the layers of skin
  • Bleeding from wounds is difficult to stop
  • Symptoms of infection include swelling, fever, pus, and wet wound
  • Wound from cat bites is wide and deep

Even though the cat bites me while purring, still have to be aware of the things above. That’s all for this article, I hope it’s useful for you.