So, on Monday our little Train encountered another cat. She was sitting in her usual spot on the balcony, when the other cat, a local stray, got a bit too close for comfort. Train decided not to make friends, but instead to launch herself at the aforementioned stray… through a gate. Hearing what was going on, I ran towards Train and had the ‘smart’ idea of picking her up to bring her back inside asap. Sadly, this resulted in Train sinking four teeth deep into my palm.
We stopped the bleeding, all the puncture points were patched up and that, we thought, was that. During the night however it became apparent that something wasn’t quite right and this was confirmed by a trip to the Doctor the next morning. Between laughs he explained that it was already infected and a course of antibiotics and a tetanus shot would be needed. Oh, and I couldn’t work because Train was considerate enough to grab my right hand thus I couldn’t type, write and use my mouse very well. (Mr J. is currently taking dictation as while my typing is getting better, my hand starts to ache after a little while).
Fast forward to the present and the swelling has gone down – marginally. The antibiotics have knocked the edge of the infection, but I will be heading back to the Doctors tomorrow to make sure things are going ‘to plan’, because all I know is that it hurts!!
Moral of the story? If you get bitten by a cat, do get the wound checked out by a Doctor, as soon as possible afterwards. Oh, and don’t try and break up a cat fight… it only ends in tears (for you, not the cat).
I will try keep savvycat up to date in the meantime, although unfortunately I’ve run out of my pre prepared posts (the ones I was keeping for times like these — clearly I didn’t think I’d not be able to update for this long!).
Everyone I’ve been talking to has horror stories about cat bites — surely there’s some good ones out there? Anyone?
savvycat x
(with the help of Mr. J)
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Ouch! That looks pretty nasty & sore :(
I’ve only ever been bitten by a cat once. It hurt, but it had just been hit by a car and I was trying to help it so I could take it to the vet. The poor thing was in so much pain, it just wanted to get away. Unfortunately it died in my arms ….. so so sad :(
Time for a new good cat I say !!
remember grab/pick up by the scruff of the neck as to avoid the biteyness then throw cat in another room ..
You poor thing! feel better soon. I’m with Phil, scruff of the neck does wonders. Or a blanket thrown over one of the offending felines.
I knew someone who had their cat loose in their car (they were driving) and a dog rushed the car. She tried to control the situation and ended up getting bitten over 40 times on her hands and wrists. She’s had to have reconstructive surgery on one of her hands. Ouchie. The moral of the story is to not let your cat loose in the car, ever!
Barbara – that must have been so sad. Things like that just give me more reason to keep Train an inside kitty.
Phil – Can’t swap her out, but have started plugging in the fake kitty pheromones again to try keep her a little calmer… she was a bit wired afterwards. And Mr. J is reinforcing the gate.
Amy – I wish I’d been thinking properly at the time, will definitely go the ‘blanket’ option if it happens again.
And ouch… 40 bites and reconstructive surgery?! Cats can cause a lot of damage when they’re scared.
ouch! hey have you seen these cool balls? I just got some for my little guy, i was a bit sceptical about the whole catnip thing becasue he’s never gone for it in the past but he loves these balls so much i had to put them away so they didn’t lose their magic powers. http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5428916
Thanks for the link and comments, they look fantastic – I have made sure I’ve bookmarked them for the next time Train deserves a treat :)
Hey– i was bitten last evening by my cat and decided after all the swelling and pain to go to prompt care—-was given antibiotic–a 6 day treatment. Any idea as to how long pain will persist and swelling will go on for?
Thanks
Hi Erica,
My swelling lasted for about a week and a half, and the sharp pain went away after about 5 days… I guess it would also depend on where you were bitten and how often that area is used.