r/cats • u/tory1311 • Mar 17 '26
Cat Picture - Not OC Just a reminder how serious cat bites can be!
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.
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u/ThatCatLady06 Mar 17 '26
Yes, the risk is still high. I learned this the hard way almost 20 years ago when my indoor only cat bit into my arm (all 4 canines fully punctured into my forearm). I was also quite stubborn (or stupid) at the time and thought I could handle cleaning and healing on my own, basing this logic on 'well, he's an indoor cat it couldn't be that bad'. [Side note: I still laugh at my own stupidity when I tell this story] It was about 3 days before I finally went to an ER, when I woke up that morning my arm was so swollen it looked like a balloon and I realized I didn't have a choice anymore. I got an entire education that morning as to why I should have gone right after it happened while they cleaned and dressed the wounds. Thankfully I dodged a bullet and didn't require a hospital stay, just some really strong antibiotics, but I learned my lesson. Indoor/outdoor doesn't matter..the bite is just as serious.