The Effects of Cat Bites on Humans

When you have pet cats, you love them as part of the family. Part of your love and care involves playing with your cat, which may include play biting. You also may experience a bite or two when giving your cat certain care that he may not especially care for, like grooming or bathing. You may not be aware that, whether it is intentional or not, a cat bite can become infected.
A cat bite can be serious because of the bacteria that a cat carries. The most common bacteria are pasteurella, which normally reside in the nasal, oral, and tonsil regions of your cat. Cat bites can be difficult to wash out properly to prevent infection from developing. Most times, the bite does not bleed much, which is the body’s way of flushing bacteria from the body. The wound may heal over quickly, trapping in the bacteria and causing the infection.
Once you get a cat bite, especially if it came from your precious pet, you may clean it up and think nothing further, as it may just look like a minor wound. Some of the signs you need to watch for include swelling at the site of the bite, generally progressing rapidly, which causes skin redness and intense pain as quickly as 12 to 24 hours after being bitten.
The most common infections resulting from cat bites are pasteurellosis, streptococcal and staphylococcal. The pasteurellosis infection shows signs within two to 12 hours of being bitten. The infection is painful, with swelling and redness. This infection spreads quickly and needs immediate medical attention. The infection is more serious if your bite is on the hand, because the bacteria can infect the tendons or the bones in the hand and may cause permanent damage. Streptococcal and staphylococcal infections have many of the same symptoms as the pasteurellosis infection. A streptococcal infection can cause chronic illness, kidney disease, painful swelling and redness around the bite area. A staphylococcal infection may lead to a skin infection, blood poisoning and pneumonia.
If you are bitten by a cat, clean the bite site thoroughly with soap and warm water to remove as much saliva and dirt as you can. It may hurt to clean the area well, but the pain will be much worse if an infection develops. Follow the cleaning of the wound with an antiseptic such as iodine. Let the area dry, apply some anti-biotic ointment, and cover with a bandage or gauze. If the bite is from a wild or feral cat, or the wound appears to show the serious signs mentioned above, get medical attention immediately.
Some people are more susceptible to infections due to cat bites. These include people older than 50: those who have diabetes, circulatory problems, liver disease, HIV/AIDS or alcoholism; or anyone who has had his spleen removed, gone through long-term chemotherapy or steroids, or had any type of organ transplant. Experts suggest that people without spleens stay away from cats and dogs due to the possibility of fatal infections. However, for most people, having a companion cat far outweighs any risk. It just takes a little care and common sense in order to avoid bite-associated infections from your pet.