My kitten just bit me! :(

[wdwmom0f3]

Bad! He was under the umbrella table out back and he got his foot stuck and he was freaking out! When I tried to help him, he bit me several times on my finger. We got him out and he is fine, but my finger is killing me! It drew blood in a few places and I washed it and covered it in an antibiotic cream and a band aid. Is there anything else I should do? He is young, 9 weeks, and has not had his shots. Do I need to be worried?

 

[kacaju]

Bad! He was under the umbrella table out back and he got his foot stuck and he was freaking out! When I tried to help him, he bit me several times on my finger. We got him out and he is fine, but my finger is killing me! It drew blood in a few places and I washed it and covered it in an antibiotic cream and a band aid. Is there anything else I should do? He is young, 9 weeks, and has not had his shots. Do I need to be worried?

I would not worry just yet, but keep a close eye on it. If at any time it looks worse not better then go to the Dr.
If his foot was stuck he did not bite you on purpose, don't be concerned he is a *mean* kitty!!

 

[FergieTCat]

He was frightened and he didn't know you wanted to help! If he bites again, say "NO!!!"

You might want to ask your doctor if he recommends a tetanus shot (for you.)

 

[Kath2003]

Just watch the wound for a few days.
He wouldn't have meant to hurt you; he was scared.
Kittens usually scratch and bite as part of play anyway. I spent at least 3 months covered to my elbows in scratches because mine kept moving faster than I could

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Definitely keep an eye out for infection. Cat bites can be nasty and need to be treated by a doctor.

You could also try soaking in a bowl of hydrogen peroxide..keep your hand in the bowl unless you need it to do something else with for the rest of the evening.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would probably put a call in to my doctor's office to let them know what happened and see if there's anything else I need to do.

Ouch!

 

[taylor1293]

My cat bit my thumb last year while giving him antibiotics. I ended up at Urgent Care two days later with an infected thumb. You may need antibiotics and a tetnus shot (if you haven't had one in 5 years). According the doctor, almost all cat bites need to be treated.

 

[SpecialK]

I would probably put a call in to my doctor's office to let them know what happened and see if there's anything else I need to do.

Ouch!

Me, too. My vet told us to go to the doctor with any cat bite that broke the skin because of the high bacteria count in a cat's mouth. Don't know if that holds true for kittens.

 

[Disney Ella]

Did the bites just sort of tear the surface of the skin or did the teeth penetrate into your finger? Since cat's teeth's are pointed, they can push any bacteria from their mouths or your skin into the wound, which increases the chance for infection. If the kitten really sunk its teeth into your finger, you will need to be treated with antibiotics and a tetanus shot (and antibiotics should start before you notice any sign of infection to be most effective.) If the bite just broke the skin, you should be okay just watching it.

 

[Cinderella94]

Is he generally an indoor only cat (except for this incident) or is he indoor/outdoor? I'd be more concerned if he's indoor/outdoor.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

He is an indoor kitty for now because he's to small to put out over night. I am slowly introducing the outdoors to him. That's why he was sitting with me on the deck. These are not scratches, he bit me hard! I have about 6 places that was bleeding quite a good amount of blood. He has tiny sharp teeth.

I guess I will watch it until tomorrow.

 

[princessmom29]

My BIL is a vet. His rule for cat bites is the anytime the skin is broken you need to seethe doctor for antibiotics. The infection can be BAD and spread very rapidly. You can lose a lot of tissue by waiting.

 

[Micca]

At least you won't get "Cat Scratch Fever"

 

[smschex]

You need antibiotics. Cats carry a bacteria called Pasturella in their mouths. Their sharp teeth inoculate the bacteria deep into the tissue and infections almost always develop pretty rapidly for that reason. It is better to be ahead of this kind of infection than trying to play catch up after it has a chance to take hold.

 

[dzorn]

Definitely keep an eye out for infection. Cat bites can be nasty and need to be treated by a doctor.

You could also try soaking in a bowl of hydrogen peroxide..keep your hand in the bowl unless you need it to do something else with for the rest of the evening.

Hydrogen peroxide kills healthy skin cell to so I would not reccomend it. OP call your doc and see if he wants you to get a tetnas shot, antiboitics or just keep an eye on it.

Denise in MI

 

[BonnieA]

A cat bite a few years back put me in the hospital for two days. She hardly even punctured my hand, I thought nothing of it. Then I got a severe headache, chills and fever. It came on a day after the bite. I would check with your doctor.

 

[JaneBanks]

At least you won't get "Cat Scratch Fever"

My MIL actually had Cat Scratch Fever!

It was before I met DH so I don't know the circumstances. I would call the Dr. just in case!

 

[mlittig]

Good luck and please keep us up to date

 

[phorsenuf]

At least you won't get "Cat Scratch Fever"

My son had cat scratch fever. He ended up having to have a gland removed in his neck because of the infection. It developed a tumor (benign).

 

[snarlingcoyote]

My BIL is a vet. His rule for cat bites is the anytime the skin is broken you need to seethe doctor for antibiotics. The infection can be BAD and spread very rapidly. You can lose a lot of tissue by waiting.

This. You need to go to your doctor NOW. Any time a cat bites you, you should expect to get a horrible, nasty infection that could land you in the hospital for a few days on IV drugs. Start the antibiotics when they have a chance to work.

For anyone's future reference and for information to file away:

Cat scratches should just be cleaned out, given antibiotic cream and watched. They will usually get better on their own.

Cat bites that draw blood are an entirely different kettle of fish. The protocol I think sounds best is to wash the bite out with SOAP and water for at least 5 minutes, then douse the wound in hydrogen peroxide until it stops fizzing, rub in antibiotic cream and cover with a loose bandage. Once you've done all this, go to the doctor ASAP. If necessary go to an urgent care. Right then. DO NOT WAIT. Tell the doctor what happened; they will give you antibiotics. Take them all.

If you don't go to the doctor, expect to get a huge horrible infection and have to go to urgent care or to the ER and possible spend a day or two on an IV in the hospital.

Seriously. A cat bite is worse than a dog bite or a person bite. It doesn't matter if the cat is indoors or out, yours or someone else's. They almost always get infected. This is why you don't want to declaw your cat. If your cat gets ticked off or panics and scratches you, no big deal. If your cat gets ticked off or panics and bites you hard enough to draw blood, very big deal.