Cat Bite Symptoms

According to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, 80 percent of cat bites will become infected without proper treatment. Learn to identify a cat bite and correctly attend to it immediately.

  1. Skin Wounds

    • The initial cat bite can be minor or cause severe bleeding. Cats have strong jaws and sharp teeth which can cause a puncture wound, scrape or scratch.

    Infection

    • Bacteria in the cat's saliva enter the bite wound and can cause painful or severe infection. Bites to the hand can be worse because there is less blood and less of an ability for the immune system to fight infection in the hand.

    Swelling

    • Tenderness, redness or swelling could result. Usually these symptoms are minor and only last a few days. If symptoms persist or severe swelling occurs, contact a healthcare professional.

    Cat-Scratch Fever

    • Bacteria in a cat's saliva can cause fever, swelling of lymph nodes and pain or tenderness at the site. Contact your doctor if prolonged fever, swelling or muscle ache occur.

    Fighting Infection

    • Carefully clean a cat bite with antibacterial soap and water. Cover the bite with antibiotic ointment and a Band-Aid. If a cat bite is treated early and cleaned daily, there is little risk for infection.