Cat bites can be mild or serious, but even mild bites can cause infection. Animal saliva (including human saliva) in full of bacteria. When this bacteria is introduced to a wound, as it always is during a bite, serious infections can occur. All cat bites that are strong enough to break the skin or cause bleeding, whether the victim is a human or another cat, should be treated as serious.
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Features
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Cat bites are puncture wounds and pose a high risk of infection due to bacterial contamination. In people, the wound will be noticeable right away, but in cats it may be hidden by the fur until it becomes inflamed and infected. Cat bite wounds generally resemble one or two puncture marks (both fangs don't always penetrate the skin). Skin near the wound is usually inflamed.
Types
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According to the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, pasteurellosis, strep, staph and capnocytophaga are bacteria in animal saliva that may cause bite wound infection.
Rabies is also one possible infection that can come from cat bites, if the cat has not been vaccinated for rabies and may have the disease.
Symptoms
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If a cat bite is becoming infected, the bite may swell, become red and ooze pus. The bite area will be hot and painful, and the infection may spread to surrounding tissues. In the case of capnocytophaga, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine warns that blood poisoning may develop.
Abscesses
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Deep abscesses frequently form in cats with cat bite wounds. These are caused when the skin near the surface of the bite partially closes over the wound, trapping harmful germs inside. Cats may go temporarily lame if the wounds are near the back legs, as they commonly are. A veterinarian may need to drain the abscess, and cats with these infected wounds must be placed on antibiotics.
Prevention/Solution
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If you get bitten hard enough that the fangs break the skin, wash the wound immediately with clean water and soap. Allow it to bleed out if you can--don't stanch the blood unless it is severely bleeding. The blood may actually help wash the bacteria from the wound.
Apply a triple antibiotic cream or ointment and watch the wound closely. If you aren't sure of the cat's vaccination history, catch the cat if possible and take her to a vet for analysis. Rabies is also a possibility, and a very serious one.
Warning
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Rabies is not as common in domestic cats as it is in some other animals, such as raccoons. However, if you are bitten by a stray or another cat and do not know if they've been vaccinated for rabies or not, you should treat this as possible rabies exposure. Your doctor will help determine if you need preventative rabies treatment. You may also need a tetanus shot if you are due for a booster.
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