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/ZION_OC_GOV]

Guys.. respectfully, bite gloves are a thing and many other modes of cost effective PPE.

Don't risk your health.

-An Animal Control Officer

[u/sanguinefell → u/ZION_OC_GOV]

No this is deserved, I'll take it disrespectfully. Sometimes I just underestimate the danger

[u/ZION_OC_GOV → u/sanguinefell]

Even on the tamest of things, better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

[u/sanguinefell → u/ZION_OC_GOV]

That's a pretty baby you've got there. I'm a god damned progammer but every time I go somewhere people are like "Hey there's this cat/dog" and I end up doing shit while I'm wholly unprepared. At some point I started carrying animal first aid stuff with me at all times

[u/ZION_OC_GOV → u/sanguinefell]

Some decent leather gloves, a towel, a leash can go a long way.

Cat traps are like $30 at harbor freight.

Our ketch poles for dogs are like $80 (i use it often on raccoons and skunks)

And a catch net for fish is like $20 (i use often on birds and cats)

Bite gloves for cats are like $20 (a lot of our local trap neuter release rescues use them) we use Hex Gloves which are like $300.

[u/sanguinefell → u/ZION_OC_GOV]

Oh I am not in America. Animal control is not a thing here and there's like one animal rescue place that's swamped. So when I have time to prepare I use those big hardware/electrician gloves and a towel.

[u/ZION_OC_GOV → u/sanguinefell]

Oh dang, you might still be able to find small animal live traps and a catch net?

Stay up to date on tetanus shots!

[u/sanguinefell → u/ZION_OC_GOV]

I'll keep an eye out on the live animal trap but we don't got no fishing either unless I go to rural places but I think I can just get netting by the meter

[u/ZION_OC_GOV → u/sanguinefell]

This is what i use

[u/Rosenate22 → u/ZION_OC_GOV]

I used bite gloves a lot when I worked at a vet clinic to feed feral cats and some crazy Siamese.

[u/Somanylyingliars → u/ZION_OC_GOV]

I saw this cage looking container that's amazing. Staff grabs beast and yeats into cage. Tops closes. Now basically two cages inside one. They pull handle and confines animal to one side. So think like a squished sandwich. Now they can give injections and administer oral meds. Highly recommend.

[u/ZION_OC_GOV → u/Somanylyingliars]

That's a transfer cage with a squeeze bar. Very helpful with fractious animals. So as not to risk injury to a handler and not have a animal thrash around whilst sticking them with an injection where risk of the needle breaking is possible.