Cat Bites - Dangers and Disease

Myth: You can't get a disease from a bite from your own cat.

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Fact: Anyone can get an infection from any cat bite.

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Cats carry a germ called Pasteurella multocida in their mouths, a bacterium that can cause severe infections in humans. Both humans and animals have a mouthful of germs, but normally the body's own immune system keeps them in their place. The skin is one of the most important natural barriers. When this is disrupted by a bite, especially a puncture wound, bacteria are introduced into the deeper tissues, where they are nourished by a constant supply of blood. Cat teeth are often sharp and needle-like, and may penetrate to underlying tendons and ligaments, where infection can endanger the use of the effected limb.

Any cat bite should be cleaned immediately with soapy water and rinsed for several minutes. Even with thorough cleansing, infection is likely. However, taking antibiotics before signs of infection develop does not seem to decrease the likelihood of a wound becoming infected.

Infections from cat bites spread quickly, especially when the bite wound is on the hand. Within hours redness, swelling, pain, and warmth may develop at the site of the wound. A red streak may extend upwards as inflammation spreads along the lymphatic channels and veins that lead away from the wound. If these symptoms occur, call your doctor right away. He may decide to offer you an antibiotic over the phone, or more likely will want to see you. Either way, you will need an antibiotic. Penicillin or amoxicillin left over from a sore throat or ear infection is not likely to be effective. If you decide to wait a few days and see how things develop, you're likely to end up in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics.

Cats carry other diseases as well. Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae. Infection with this organism produces a crusted, red bump or pustule at the site of the cat scratch or bite within 3 to 10 days of exposure. Swollen glands develop within the next 2 weeks. Bites on the arm or hand produce swollen glands in the armpits, whereas those on the lower extremities cause lymph nodes in the groin to swell. Along with the swollen glands comes fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and headache. In general, no antibiotics are needed for this infection, which takes 2 to 5 months to resolve.

Contracting rabies from an unvaccinated cat is a possibility. In the US, the highest incidence of cat rabies is clustered in the lower New England states. If your own cat bites you but has been vaccinated, the risk is practically nonexistent. If a ferrel cat bites you, you should contact your doctor or health department right away to see if you are a candidate for rabies immunization. If you wait until you have symptoms, you'll be dead soon. Don't skimp on immunizing your pet - spending now could save you ,000 or more in the long run.

Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, M.D.

Cat Bites - Dangers and Disease

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Cynthia J. Koelker MD is a family physician of over twenty years, and holds degrees from MIT, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and the University of Akron. She is the author of "101 Ways to Save Money on Healthcare."

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