How long after a cat bite does infection set in

Cats are territorial animals. This means that they may fight with each other over territorial disputes. Entire male cats are especially territorial; therefore, neutering may reduce the likeliness that a cat will fight. However, it will not completely eliminate the occurrence of fighting, as neutered cats may still fight.

If a cat gets into a fight with another cat, it may get bitten. Cats have a lot of bacteria in their mouths that can be injected into another cat’s skin through biting. These bacteria can cause an infection under the skin.

If you see what you suspect to be a bite wound on your cat, bathe it with salt water (one tablespoon in a pint of water) and take your cat to a vet, who can start any treatment required.

Abscess

You may not always see visible puncture marks if your cat has been bitten, as the area often heals over quickly, but the area may be hot to the touch and painful to the cat. The cat may be limping if bitten on one of its limbs. Other signs may include listlessness, inappetence (lack of appetite) and may resent being touched or held.

After two to three days the bite wound may develop into an abscess – a swelling filled with pus. Cat bite abscesses are most often found on the face, neck and tail. If left untreated an abscess may burst, in which case you will see pus and may notice a bad smell. Abscesses are often very painful.

If your cat develops an abscess, take it to the vet. Your vet will lance the abscess, drain it and flush it out until clean, and may give the cat a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection.

Your vet will advise you on how to look after the abscess wound after it has been treated. The wound should heal within a few days. If it does not, take the cat back to the vet.

If you have been bitten by a cat, then you should immediately see a doctor who will clean the wound and may give you a course of antibiotics.

Thank you for visiting our website, we hope you have found our information useful.All our advice is freely accessible to everyone, wherever you are in the world. However, as a charity, we need your support to enable us to keep delivering high quality and up to date information for everyone. Please consider making a contribution, big or small, to keep our content free, accurate and relevant. A cat bite can come from a domestic house cat or a feral stray. Although it may be painful, the bite may not cause any serious complications. However, if the bite becomes infected, medical attention may be necessary.It is not uncommon for cats to bite people. In fact, cat bites are the second most common bites by mammals behind dog bites. Cat bites do not tend to be serious, and many are treatable at home. However, in the event of a more serious cat bite, you may need to seek medical treatment to prevent infection and other complications.Read on to find out what to do if a cat bites you, including information about infection risks, treatment options, and possible complications.What to do if you have a cat bite

If you experience a cat bite, it is important to immediately wash the wound using soap and water. If there is bleeding, apply pressure to the wound using a clean towel.

Once the bleeding stops and the wound is clean, apply a sterile bandage to the area. Also, elevate the wound above your heart to reduce the risk of swelling and infection.

When to contact a doctor

If the cat bite does not stop bleeding after 15 minutes, becomes very painful, or shows signs of infection, or if the cat was a wild or stray animal, you should contact your doctor right away.

Other reasons to contact your doctor following a cat bite include the following:

• You have diabetes.
• Your immune system is weakened or compromised.
• You have not had a tetanus vaccine within the past 5 years.
• You do not know the cat’s vaccination status.
• The cat appears sick.

What to expect during the appointment

During the examination, your doctor will check the cat bite for any symptoms of infection. They may also clean the wound and arrange for it to be stitched closed. In addition, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to ward off infection and give you a tetanus shot.

Questions to ask your doctor

You may have some questions for your doctor regarding a cat bite. These could include:

• Will I need stitches?
• How long will it be before the cat bite heals?
• What are the signs and symptoms of rabies?
• If my cat bites me, what should I do with it?
• When should I contact the authorities regarding a cat bite?

Can a cat bite become infected?

It is possible for a cat bite to become infected. In fact, cat bites are responsible for three-quarters of bites that become infected. An infection could become quite serious and require medical attention.

Symptoms of a cat bite infection include:

• swelling
• warmth or fever
• pus
• pain

If a cat bite becomes infected, it will likely do so early on. Of cat bites that do become infected, 70% do so

within 24 hours, and nearly 90% do so within 48 hours.

However, it is important to continue monitoring your cat bite for several days to see if any symptoms of an infection appear.

How to treat a cat bite

When treating a cat bite at home, keep the wound clean. Wash the area two or three times per day, and change the bandage often to help prevent infection.

Your doctor also may prescribe antibiotics to ward off infection. In addition, they may give you a tetanus shot if you have not had one in the past 5 years.

If there is any concern or suspicion that the cat may have rabies, your doctor may recommend having a rabies shot as well.

Complications of a cat bite

In some cases, a cat bite may damage the nerves in the hand, which could require more in-depth treatment, such as medication or surgery.

An infection in a cat bite could be a precursor to more serious developments. There are several cat-related diseases that can spread during a cat bite. These include:

• Cat scratch disease: This infection occurs due to the bacteria Bartonella henselae, and it could result in a mild infection with a small, raised, solid bump near the cat bite. Occurring 1–3 weeks after the cat bite, cat scratch disease could cause fever, muscle pain, eye infection, or other severe symptoms.
• Pasteurella multocida: This infection can lead to rapidly developing cellulitis at the site of the cat bite as well as chronic local infection of deep tissues and osteomyelitis.
• Rabies: This deadly neurologic disease causes symptoms similar to those of the flu, such as fever, headache, and weakness. Symptoms could progress to anxiety, confusion, agitation, and cerebral dysfunction. Once symptoms of rabies begin, the disease is almost always fatal.  
• Sepsis: Sepsis occurs when the body has an extreme response to an infection, setting off a chain reaction throughout your body. If you do not receive treatment for sepsis right away, it could result in tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
• Sporotrichosis: Sporotrichosis is an infection that occurs due to fungus in the environment. Symptoms vary based on where the fungus is growing. Symptoms of the cutaneous form include a small, painless bump that grows larger, while the disseminated form affects internal organs and bones. Symptoms of the pulmonary form include shortness of breath, cough, fever, and chest pain.
• Tetanus: Tetanus symptoms include painful muscle contractions, difficulty swallowing, headache, fever, sweating, a fast heart rate, and changes in blood pressure.
• Tularemia: This disease occurs due to bacteria, and it could lead to an infection with chills, fever, headache, joint pain, muscle aches, ulcers, and swelling of the lymph glands.

How to prevent a cat bite

It is not always possible to prevent a cat bite. However, following these steps can help reduce the risk of a cat bite:

• Do not antagonize cats, as this could prompt them to bite.
• Do not bother a cat while it is eating.
• Never leave a cat alone with young children, as they may not be gentle with it.
• Do not try to separate cats during a fight.
• Approach unfamiliar cats slowly so that they do not feel threatened.
• Do not approach stray or wild cats.

Summary

Cat bites are quite common, and you can treat many cat bites at home with good hygiene. However, it is important to monitor your cat bite for several days for symptoms of infection.

If your cat bite appears to be infected, contact your doctor right away to schedule a physical exam and further treatment. This will help ensure that you follow the correct treatment plan to reduce the risk of complications.

How do you tell if a cat bite is getting infected?

When should I be worried about a cat bite?

Do cat bites always get infected?

Will a cat bite infection heal on its own?