Posts: 57,787
Threads: 5,857
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
4
My lovely wife went to pet our 'outdoor' cat yesterday afternoon when she returned from work. 16 year old 20 lb black cat decided "DO NOT WANT" and bit the heck out of her right hand, buried his fangs all the way down in the back of her hand and on the web between her forefinger and thumb, and would not let go until she squeezed his jaw joint with her other hand. While, I'm sure, saying rather angry things at the cat in German. (German's an awesome language to curse in.)
I cleaned it off with Betadine, dressed the wound with antibiotic ointment, and off to Urgent care. Antibiotics, dressing change. 24 hours later she's running 3 degrees of fever and the bite area is a spreading patch of angry warm red. We're going to wait overnight and see if the antibiotics kick in. If not, off to the ER for a good shot of heavy duty IV antibiotics.
Stupid cat.
Posts: 8,734
Threads: 487
Joined: Feb 2011
Reputation:
0
And people wonder why I don't have a cat. I'm very sorry to hear about your wife's hand, and I understand cat bites can be surprisingly dangerous.
From your description, I wouldn't be waiting until tomorrow to take her back to the ER. Spreading patches of angry red are not considered to be good signs, medically speaking. You should know that, too. Club her unconscious and drag her if you have to.
Posts: 5,446
Threads: 696
Joined: May 2013
Reputation:
0
(insert lots of words that sound like phanism). Flesh before fur.
Posts: 5,387
Threads: 567
Joined: Nov 2023
I wouldn't wait to go see a doc. Sounds dangerous!
Posts: 24,633
Threads: 1,093
Joined: May 2025
Put a sharpie line around the red...
If it moves another 1/2" (semi-arbitrary limit...), go RIGHT THEN.
I love cats. I love my cat.
I have no illusions about the danger of cat bites.
The Urgent care probably should have given her a heavy dose of antibiotics there... I don't like to second guess medical professionals, but cat bites have a habit of causing VERY serious infections VERY quickly...
Posts: 26,012
Threads: 2,901
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
1
I got bit really hard by a cat once about 7-8 years ago. I had to get a tetanus shot and antibiotics. A cat bite is a puncture wound and it leaves nasty stuff buried in the wound.
Posts: 37,935
Threads: 4,153
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
3
I deal with this all the time. I have a bitey cat - he can't help it - it's the way he's wired. Great animal otherwise...
If the wound bled a lot, I would be less concerned - I always encourage as much bleeding as possible for these wounds. Gotta give the meds a bit of time to work. If it's a puncture wound that saw no bleeding, I'd worry a bit.
By morning - that should be 36-40 hours(?) - I would certainly expect some improvement. I would call first and see what they suggest.
Posts: 3,960
Threads: 397
Joined: May 2025
Soak in HOT salt water - water as hot as she can stand it in a small bowl of water with a couple of tablespoons of table salt. Soak several times tonight.
Antibiotics should kick in by morning.
Posts: 7,028
Threads: 1,027
Joined: Apr 2024
Reputation:
0
After soaking the cat in hot water, tend to your wife afterwards.
Posts: 8,684
Threads: 273
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
:driving:
This is meant to indicate a trip should be planned IMMEDIATELY! . . . Go . . . NOW! Do NOT wait.
Have you gone, yet???
Why not????
LEAVE!!!!