Puncture Wounds
When the cat’s sharp and pointed teeth penetrate the skin, bacteria present in the cat’s mouth get deposited on the wounded area. Unlike a dog bite, where there may be bleeding due to tearing of skin, a cat’s sharp teeth usually cause puncture wounds. Since there isn’t much bleeding, you might take the incident casually. If a bite causes bleeding, it allows some of the infected saliva to move out of the wounded area; however, bacteria may get a chance to multiply in case of puncture wounds. So, such wounds are not harmless. In fact, these are more dangerous.
A person who is bitten by a cat might be at a risk of developing pasteurellosis or streptococcal/staphylococcal infections. If you experience symptoms such as fever, swelling, redness, or pus in the affected area, do consult a doctor soon. An infected bite in a joint could even lead to bone infections, therefore, you must take all precautions and visit a doctor soon.
How to Treat Such Wounds
If you were bitten by a cat, follow these precautionary measures to prevent the wound from getting infected. If there is a little bleeding, it might help the bacteria to get flushed out from the affected area, but you will have to control the bleeding to clean up the wound.
- Place a gauze pad over the wound and apply a little pressure to control the bleeding.
- Clean the wound with an antibacterial soap and warm water.
- Make sure that there aren’t any remnants of the soap inside the wound.
- Betadine solution can also be used to sterilize the wound.
- You can also apply an antibiotic ointment and cover it with a clean bandage.
So, these were some steps which need to be followed in case of a cat bite. This will reduce the chances of an infection. Cat scratches could also be a cause of concern. It is very important that you seek medical attention to lower the risk of infections.
Stay away from a cat if it seems to be acting in a strange manner. If it’s too late, seek medical help to treat the wound and prevent it from getting infected.