Myth: You can’t get a disease from your own cat’s bite.
Done: Anyone can get an infection from any cat bite.
Cats carry a germ called Pasteurella multicidal in the mouth, a bacterium that can cause serious infections in humans. Both humans and animals have mouths full of germs, but normally the body’s own immune system keeps them in place. The skin is one of the most important natural barriers. When this is interrupted by a bite, especially a puncture wound, the bacteria burrow into deeper tissues, where they are nourished by a constant supply of blood. Cat teeth are often sharp and needle-shaped and can penetrate underlying tendons and ligaments, where infection can jeopardize the use of the affected limb.
Any cat bite should be cleaned immediately with soapy water and rinsed for several minutes. Even with a thorough cleaning, infection is likely to occur. However, taking antibiotics before signs of infection develop does not seem to decrease the chance that a wound will become infected.
Cat bite infections spread quickly, especially when the bite wound is on the hand. Within hours, redness, swelling, pain, and warmth can develop at the site of the wound. A red streak may extend upward as the swelling spreads along the lymphatic channels and veins away from the wound. If these symptoms occur, call your doctor right away. He may decide to offer you an antibiotic over the phone, or he may want to see you. Either way, you Will you need an antibiotic. Penicillin or amoxicillin left over from a sore throat or ear infection is unlikely to be effective. If you decide to wait a few days and see how things develop, you will likely end up in the hospital on intravenous antibiotics.
Cats are also carriers of other diseases. Cat scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae. Infection with this organism produces a red, crusty bump or pustule at the site of the cat scratch or bite within 3 to 10 days after exposure. The swollen glands develop within the next 2 weeks. Bites to the arm or hand cause swollen glands in the armpits, while bites to the lower extremities cause swollen lymph nodes in the groin. Along with swollen glands comes fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and headache. Antibiotics are not usually needed for this infection, which takes 2 to 5 months to resolve.
It is possible to get rabies from an unvaccinated cat. In the US, the highest incidence of feline rabies is concentrated in the lower New England states. If your own cat bites you but has been vaccinated, the risk is practically non-existent. If you are bitten by a ferret cat, you should contact your doctor or health department immediately to see if you are a candidate for the rabies vaccine. If you wait until you have symptoms, you’ll soon be dead. Don’t skimp on immunizing your pet—spending $20 now could save you $2,000 or more in the long run.
Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, MD
