What should I do if a cat bites me?

If you are bitten by a cat, you can contact:

• to the emergency room (this is the best option);
• to the doctor on duty in the emergency room;
• to the doctor on duty in the surgical or infectious diseases department;
• to the ambulance paramedic;
• to a paramedic or outpatient doctor.

It is very important that the victim is able to inform the medical worker of all the circumstances of the bite, describe the animal (appearance, behavioral characteristics, etc.).

First of all, if a cat bites a person, a medical specialist must exclude the possibility of infection with the rabies virus (if necessary, the doctor will administer an anti-rabies vaccine, and the cat will be placed under quarantine observation). For prevention, a special anti-tetanus serum will also be administered, and further treatment will be prescribed (most often, antibiotic therapy).

How to treat a cat bite?

When contacting a doctor, after the necessary diagnostics, the wound is treated (washed, antiseptics used). Suturing is possible only for fresh, uninfected damage.

If necessary, vaccination is carried out according to the standard scheme. Tetanus prophylaxis is carried out if the victim does not have a confirmed immunological history.

The following symptoms usually indicate hospitalization:

• increase in temperature;
• sepsis;
• progressive tissue swelling;
• dysfunction of joints and limbs.

Next, the doctor will definitely prescribe prophylactic antibiotic therapy. The antibiotic is selected on an individual basis: usually, drugs with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity are used. Most often, Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Amoxiclav) is prescribed in the amount of 625 mg three times a day (dosage for adults). If there is an intolerance to penicillins, then Metronidazole in combination with Doxycycline (Erythromycin) or Ciprofloxacin with Clindamycin can be prescribed.

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

How to treat a bite from a domestic cat?

If the bite was made by a domestic cat that you know well, that does not go outside and lives exclusively at home, then visiting a doctor, although very desirable, is not necessary: you can treat the bite site yourself. However, seeking medical help is necessary in the following situations:

• if blood oozes from the wounds and does not stop within fifteen minutes;
• if the bites are multiple and deep;
• if swelling appears, the bitten area turns red, and the temperature rises.

If the wound is superficial and the damage is minor, then you can easily deal with the problem yourself: wash the bite well with warm water and soap, dry it with a clean napkin, treat it with Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide or any alcohol solution. Next, you should carefully monitor the damage and listen to how you feel. You should also examine the nearest areas of the lymph nodes: during the inflammatory process, they increase in size first. If any negative changes occur, you should immediately visit a doctor. Self-administration of antibiotics is unacceptable: they are prescribed only by a medical specialist.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ]

How to treat a wound after a cat bite?

Damage to soft tissues from a cat bite can be accompanied by infection, so the first thing to do is to treat the wound surface. But there are not always suitable products at hand, or there are some that a person doubts: can they be used to treat bite wounds?

There are two types of solutions that can be used as an antiseptic: alcohol-based or water-based. Alcohol-based solutions are preferable in this situation. However, if you don’t have such preparations at hand, you can also use water-based solutions: the main thing is that the cat bite is treated.

The most common processing methods are:

• Chlorhexidine;
• Fukortsin;
• Miraxidin;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• solution of potassium permanganate or furacilin;
• Miramistin;
• medical alcohol, vodka;
• brilliant green solution, iodine;
• tincture of calendula, propolis, etc.;
• Octenidine;
• Polysept;
• Decasan.

If you don’t have anything like this in your home medicine cabinet, you can consider antiseptics in the form of a spray:

• Octenisept;
• Isaseptic;
• Panthenol;
• Diaseptic;
• Amidin aqua;
• Medonica, etc.

The treatment should be done generously. However, we must not forget that any of the products can cause an allergic reaction.

[ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Medicines that a doctor may prescribe

Antibiotics are often the main medications for a cat bite. They are used in combination with other drugs, such as analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunostimulants.

It is quite possible that the doctor will prescribe antibiotics for local use - for example, in the form of ointments or creams. However, most often, systemic drugs are used: their action is reliable, extensive and effective.

Antibiotics for cat bites are prescribed in tablet or capsule form, as well as in the form of injections. Indications for antibiotic therapy are:

• extensive and deep bites;
• blood poisoning;
• increase in temperature;
• purulent processes.

In the development of purulent complications, the most relevant is the use of penicillin-type drugs - for example, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Ampiox, etc.

Amoxicillin for cat bites is prescribed at 1.5 g every 6 hours. The only contraindication may be hypersensitivity and allergy to drugs of this group.

A combination of Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid is considered effective. One of these combined antibiotics, Amoxiclav, is prescribed for a cat bite at 875 mg twice a day, or 625 mg three times a day. Side effects during treatment are usually transient. They are manifested by allergic reactions, dyspepsia, and the development of pseudomembranous colitis.

Cephalosporin antibiotics have a bactericidal effect on many types of microbes. The drug of choice may be a representative of this group, Cefuroxime: it is used for treatment for a week.

Macrolide antibiotics are considered the safest in terms of side effects, such as Tetracycline and Azithromycin. However, they sometimes have an adverse effect on the digestive and urinary systems.

Antibiotic therapy is always supplemented by the use of other medications. For example, to provide an anti-inflammatory effect, Indomethacin, Celebrex, Voltaren, etc. are prescribed. And to relieve pain, analgesics such as Baralgin or Ketanol are suitable.

To eliminate swelling and prevent the development of allergies, antihistamines may be prescribed - for example, Loratadine or Suprastin.

In case of infection risk, rabies injections are given to a person after a cat bite not forty times, as is commonly believed, but only six times: the serum is administered on the day of the cat bite, and then on the third, seventh, fourteenth, thirtieth and ninetieth days after it. This course should not be interrupted under any circumstances: some patients believe that one or two injections are enough to prevent rabies, but this is not true. However, vaccination can be stopped if the biting cat continues to live and be healthy 10 days after the attack on the person.

A tetanus vaccination after a cat bite is given if the patient has not had a scheduled DPT vaccination or if its effect has already expired. In such cases, the person is given DPT again, which includes purified adsorbed tetanus toxoid. Both the DPT administration and the anti-rabies serum injection require the patient to refrain from drinking any type of alcohol during the entire treatment period, as well as for six months after the last rabies vaccination.

If the doctor deems it necessary, then the introduction of anti-rabies immunoglobulin may be added to the announced course of treatment. Immunoglobulin for a cat bite is administered once, during the first day after the bite, but not later than the third day after contact. Half of the dose is injected into the area around the injury, and the remaining half is administered intramuscularly (injection into the upper third of the thigh or buttock).

Such necessary immunization is usually well tolerated by patients. Allergic manifestations are detected in only 0.03% of cases.

Ointments for a cat bite wound

If an active inflammatory process develops, it is more appropriate to use systemic drugs. Ointments are appropriate only at the stage of tissue restoration, when the inflammatory reaction has already been defeated. Such a remedy is selected by a doctor, based not only on the sensitivity of bacteria to antimicrobial drugs, but also on the stage of wound healing.

One of the most common ointment products is Baneocin, a bactericidal drug. It is applied to the clean area of the cat bite, several times a day. Contraindications to such treatment may be:

• allergic reaction to the composition of the ointment;
• extensive bites in several places;
• treatment with aminoglycosides;
• the period of bearing and breastfeeding a baby.

Levomekol for cat bites is also quite an effective remedy with pronounced antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The ointment accelerates the healing of even those wounds that have managed to fester. The period of use of the product should not exceed five or six days, then it is replaced by another one that promotes the restoration of damaged tissues.

Vishnevsky ointment for cat bites also has a pronounced antibacterial and regenerating effect. It is used under a bandage, twice a day. If an allergy appears in the form of increased swelling, rashes and itching, then the ointment is canceled. Do not allow ultraviolet rays to hit the areas treated with Vishnevsky ointment, as it increases the photosensitivity of the skin.

Tetracycline ointment for cat bites is effective due to its bacteriostatic action. The product is applied 1-2 times a day for a long time (up to two or three weeks). This ointment cannot be used to treat children under 11 years of age, during pregnancy, or for fungal skin lesions.

Many patients are interested in whether Dimexide gel can be used for a cat bite. In fact, such a gel is more appropriate for treating bruises and muscle pain. For the treatment of bite wounds, it is better to use other drugs with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action.

Traditional treatment for a cat bite

It is not recommended to treat a cat bite yourself without consulting a doctor, since it is impossible to prevent the development of particularly dangerous infections at home. After consulting a medical specialist, it is permissible to carry out treatment with folk remedies along with drug therapy prescribed by the attending physician.

The following may serve as auxiliary means:

• Fresh juice from aloe leaves or cranberries (has excellent bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties) is used to soak wounds three times a day.
• Grape leaves are put through a meat grinder, the resulting mass is applied to the site of the cat bite, and secured with a bandage on top (like a compress). This bandage should be changed twice a day.
• Lilac leaf juice is used to make poultices, several times a day. Each poultice should be kept on the bite area for two hours.
• Eucalyptus tree leaves are kept in boiling water for a quarter of an hour, then the infusion is filtered, diluted with water 50:50, and used to wash the bitten area.

[ 8 ]

Herbal treatment

• Mix one tablespoon of fresh plantain and yarrow leaves ground in a meat grinder. Place the resulting mass on a gauze napkin, apply to the site of the cat bite, and fix. Leave for an hour. Repeat the procedure several times a day until complete healing.
• Fresh shepherd's purse is picked, crushed and applied to the bite site several times a day, secured with a loose bandage.
• Chop up the cattail leaves (often called reeds) in a blender or meat grinder, apply to the wound, and secure. Change the bandage every three hours.
• The plant mullein has an excellent healing and antimicrobial effect. To prepare the tincture, take 100 g of mullein flowers, pour 250 g of alcohol or strong vodka, leave for 20 days, shaking periodically. Then filter the tincture and use it as follows: if a cat bites, you can apply compresses (gauze napkins soaked in tincture) to the damaged tissue, or immerse the bitten area directly in the tincture (this is convenient, for example, if a finger is bitten). The procedures are repeated three times a day until the condition improves.

[ 9 ]

Homeopathy for a cat bite

Homeopathic remedies have long been popular with many people - primarily due to their safety and effectiveness. However, we would not recommend using such remedies as first aid: the risk of wasting time and allowing an infection to develop at the site of the bite is too great.

However, in combination with further drug treatment, the use of homeopathy is quite appropriate. Many patients manage to speed up recovery and tissue restoration with this method.

For cat bites, the following homeopathic remedies are indicated:

• Calendula 6 – accelerates healing, relieves pain, prevents the development of purulent infection.
• Witch hazel 6 – will help with bleeding wounds.
• Hypericum 6 – facilitates healing in areas rich in nerve endings (fingers, inner surface of the wrist, etc.).
• Ledum 6 – prevents the development of the inflammatory process, soothes the skin.
• Symphytum 6 – used for damage to tendons and periosteum.
• Arnica 6 – relieves pain, promotes the resorption of hematoma.

In order to determine a specific drug and its dosage, you need to contact an experienced homeopathic doctor. Moreover, the consultation should be personal, with the presence of the victim. "Absentee" prescription of remedies in homeopathy is not welcomed.

Surgical treatment for cat bites

Deep puncture wounds can easily become suppurated due to the penetration of infectious agents into the tissue. Suppuration is the first indication for surgical treatment.

Already at the first consultation, the surgeon will conclude whether the patient needs surgical assistance. However, at the first stage, primary surgical treatment of wounds is often sufficient: it is carried out in the manipulation room of the emergency room or surgical department. The doctor removes dead tissue, foreign objects, cleans the wound and disinfects. If necessary, drainage is installed or stitches are applied.

In case of damage to nerves and blood vessels, the victim may be admitted for inpatient treatment.

If an infection develops in the wound (the main signs are swelling, redness, pain, local increase in temperature), the doctor performs surgical treatment again. He removes the inflamed tissue, cleans the wound, washes it with antiseptics and medicinal solutions, and installs drainage. If such treatment was carried out correctly, the effectiveness of the treatment increases significantly.

In some cases, the help of a surgeon may be required if the cat bite was on the face: in such a situation, aesthetic and plastic surgery is performed on a planned basis.

[ 10 ], [ 11 ]