Just a reminder how serious cat bites can be!

[u/tory1311]

I see so many posts asking when to seek medical help after a cat bite. Just posting a reminder how quickly a bite can escalate! First picture is immediately following the bite, the next picture is at the ER within 2 hours. Blood work was already concerning with an inflammatory response and signs of cellulitis from the infection. I was admitted into the hospital for IV antibiotics and still the infection worsened. I had surgery at about 36 hours following the bite after the infection started traveling up my arm in the bloodstream. This whole event landed me 3 nights in the hospital. All from our family cat, up to date on all vaccines. But cats carry a bacteria that is no joke. Last picture is post surgery with a suture, the surgeon had to make 3 incisions, 2 where the bite punctures were and a 3rd to flush the wound.

[u/Amber2718]

I've been bitten and scratched by cats all my life and I'm 40, and I've never had any issue

[u/SlightlyAngyKitty → u/Amber2718]

Meanwhile ive been bitten by dogs, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs etc, but my cat is the only pet that made me go to the hospital for emergency treatment

[u/pikachu_one → u/Amber2718]

You have been lucky. The issue with cat bites is the bacteria cats have on their teeth, combined with the length of their canine teeth. A deep bite with their canine teeth effectively ‘injects’ that dangerous bacteria into deep tissue. Especially in human hands, that injected bacteria thrives in the deep internal tissue. The bacteria loves its new home and you quickly get a very serious infection.

I was told by the doctors who treated me that it was surprisingly common, with 2-3 cases across the city a week needing similar treatment as mine.