potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1200
Loc: Deep North (East)
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Friday evening around 7PM I found my neighbor's 7 yr old male cat in my kitchen, looking hungry. He's wandered into my house (no screen doors) before, and wandered right back out again. Plus while he's not exactly playmates with my 5 yr old female cat, they do visit each other's yards and don't fight. So I thought he was being friendly, reached down to pet him and he went postal, chomped down hard on my hand and scratched my arm up pretty bad. Served me right I suppose.
Within a couple of hours the bite was starting to get swollen, even though I had immediately cleaned the wounds with peroxide and antibiotic ointment. So Saturday AM I went to the doctor, who gave me a script for Augmentin, an antibiotic. He said the cat's teeth function like hypodermics and "inject" the saliva deep into the wound, so surface cleaning probably didn't do me any good.
Today the hand is still swollen and throbbing with pain, localized at the base of my thumb where the bite was. If the swelling isn't going down by tomorrow the doc said he will consider reccomending IV antibiotics to deal with the infection! It's really sore, and the movement in my thumb is really restricted. This is my left hand, and fortunately I am right handed.
The strange thing is that the hydro I take for my back has no perceived effect on the pain in my hand, it throbs with pain, made worse by any attempt to move my thumb. Or maybe without the hydro I'd know just how painful this wound really was. A couple of Alleve on top of the Norco seems to help a little.
Basically I'm just venting. But does anybody have any experience with cat bites? And no, the cat isn't rabid. We hope!
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LumbarSpasm
Silent Chaos
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 1538
Loc: USA
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Use the antibiotics, use ice, and if not better to some degree in 72 hours call your doctor back. ?
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LumbarSpasm
Or just a pain in the butt?!
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lovepink
Goddess
Reged: 01/01/02
Posts: 1476
Loc: NYC Metro Area
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Ugh! I'm so sorry this happened to you - I was bitten as a toddler & ended up with a massive infection.
Have you asked your neighbor to provide you a copy of the cat's vaccination record? If not it might be helpful.
I wish you a speedy recovery. 
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Lovepink
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 765
Loc: Texas!
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Looks like you'll have to amputate! j/k I'm so sorry about that. cat fights sound a lot worse than they are. I have 5 and only 2 like each other, well tolerate each other.
I'm so sorry about this hon. But, even if it's a pain (haha, excuse the pun, unintentional) you need to follow the doc's advice. Also, you can take more than a few aleve. I believe the most is 5 (1000mg), but I never take that much. My doc told me to try 4 Tylenol and 4 Aleve TOGETHER to try to get rid of my headache. So, as long as it's not all the time it shouldn't hurt you. I bet the Aleve helps with the inflamation and that helps with the pain.
Take care. I'll be PMing you in a few days when I have time. K?
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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Sky_Queen
Fly Girl
Reged: 12/03/02
Posts: 1962
Loc: Texas
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Ever heard that song "Cat Scratch Fever?" It's not a myth. Just go back to your doctor if it doesn't get better, you might need more antibiotics. Are you sure you didn't pull it's tail or something?? 
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gage
Member
Reged: 11/27/02
Posts: 138
Loc: south central U.S.A.
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sorry to hear about the cat bite and the pain its causeing!
just backspaced a bunch of neg stuff about cats, to save myself from catlovers flames. ive just had bad expereinces with cats and my kids!!!hope you feel better soon!gage
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1200
Loc: Deep North (East)
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Quote:
Are you sure you didn't pull it's tail or something??
No I didn't kick it until after he bit me! Just kidding, he high-tailed it out of there post-attack, no time for retaliation.
Neighbors say he is ornery but not known to bite, they have an 18 month old toddler with no problems. Up to date on shots. Fixed, as is my 5year old female, but maybe there are some lingering hormones acting up. Who knows. The swelling seems to be going down, or at any rate not getting any worse. I'm not looking forward to the prospect of IV antibiotics. Or amputation! (thanks, Sweetz!)
Thanks to everybody for your concern! And for all you feline afficianados, here is my favorite perverse-cat-lover site RIGHT HERE
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Sky_Queen
Fly Girl
Reged: 12/03/02
Posts: 1962
Loc: Texas
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Cute site! I do hope you get to feeling better, it's really not funny. One time I was feeding a stray cat in my back yard, turned out it was a female ready to have kittens. Well, of course the kittens were just adorable and my husband was rounding them up to take them to the SPCA and the little siamese bit and scratched him up good. He was furious with me Make sure and use hydrogen peroxide several times today and put some antibiotic ointment on it.
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myrrine
Member
Reged: 08/10/03
Posts: 163
Loc: Western PA
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The reason your cat bite is getting infected like this, is because there is something like a poison in their salvia. I've heard they're one of worst bites to get. None, of my cats have never bit me that hard before, but I know sometimes their scratches get infected to...it's has something to do with some chemical they have...I'll have to do research. The alleve or some anti-inflammatory will be your best bet for this kind of pain because it will reduce the inflammation. Just remember to keep taking it, even when it doesn't hurt around the clock to kepp the imflammation down and keep the medicine in your bloodstream.. At least do this for the next three days. I would take 2 alleves every 12 hours. If you do that you'll see a significant reduction in the swelling and pain.
Also, another good way to clean it is to use witch hazel which is gentle but healing. I use that on all my wounds (including cat scratches) and it heals them really fast. Witch Hazel is really cheap. Too bad you aren't in PA becasue I make a really good wound healing astringent for my mom with witch hazel and calendula, chamoimile, and rosemary. If you want to know how PM me. Anyway, good luck. Just keep it clean and take your medicine
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They say "time marches on," I just never got used to the beat...
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greeneyes100
Stranger
Reged: 07/16/03
Posts: 22
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My cat bit me in the palm of my hand. It turned bright red and swelled up big time. I went to the ER. They gave me a tetnus (sp?) shot and a shot of some antibiotic, i think it was penicillian and a script for Keflex. They said to keep my hand elevated and to soak it in cold water. My hand looked like a boxing glove. They said to return if it continued to swell for the iv antibiotic. It took about 4 days for the redness and swelling to show even a slight improvement. But it didnt get any worse so I didnt have to go back.
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wat853son
Member
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 150
Loc: USA
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Wound type and wound depth were the most important factors in determining the likelihood of developing wound infection regardless of whether prescribed prophylactic oral antibiotics. Cat bites are worse than dog. The bacteria they have in their mouth are more pathogenic.
The wound type explains the infection rates. Dogs usually inflict crush injuries and lacerations; cats, with their needle-like fangs, typically cause puncture wounds. Puncture wounds appear innocuous on the surface, but the underlying injury goes deep. Cat teeth essentially inject bacteria into the bite, and the deep, narrow wound is difficult to clean.
The bacterial species most commonly found in bite wounds include Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas and Streptococcus. P. multocida, the root cause of pasteurellosis, is especially prominent in cat bite infections. Other bacterial diseases from animal bites include salmonellosis and cat scratch disease - Bartonella henselae (more from scratches than bites).
Good luck!
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Skylark
Member
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 114
Loc: California
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I have never had an unknown cat bite me, but my own cat stratched me (when she had front claws) badly - and I had to go on Augmentin to prevent infection.....ugh..
Hugs,
Skylark
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"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"....-E. Roosevelt
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lovepink
Goddess
Reged: 01/01/02
Posts: 1476
Loc: NYC Metro Area
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LMAO - I've seen that site before & its wild! Thanks for posting the link & I hope you feel better.
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Lovepink
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chevygal
Veteran
Reged: 04/28/03
Posts: 504
Loc: Way down south
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ouch! Just do what the doc says. I worked at the humane society for about 3 yrs, this was 20 yrs ago. I have seen some wicked stuff happen from cat bites. YOu take care of that hand and don't put off going in by thinking it will be better tomorrow, It seems sometimes we all have a tendancy to do that. I am sure you know. Sorry this has happeded to ya and I do hope ya feel better, Just take care of it and watch it. Please 
chevygal
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PamiX
Enthusiast
Reged: 08/01/03
Posts: 211
Loc: Ohio
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Potatoboy99,
Hope you'll be alrighty! Heres a link for ya.
Cats are in thr drivers seat
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Reel_X_4U
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 255
Loc: Queens, New York City
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Watch-out for cat-scratch fever. It's a type of bacteria that's some cats carry, it's not dangerous per se, but can make you sick for a few days. Pretty much it's self-limiting. A friend of mine was sleeping in his underway when his cat jumped up and landed in his crotch and gave him a nasty scratch on his penis. He kind of temporarily woke up and shooed it away and went back to sleep, after a few days he was sick went to the doctor, told him what him, and after a blood test, sure-enough he had acquired cat-scratch fever. The doctor wrote a script for antibiotics (think it was vibramycin) and told him to get bed-rest and plenty of fluids. It's wasn't a stray, it was is own cat who spend alot of time in the streets. I'm sure you'll be fine, since cats don't "REELLY" carry alot infectious diseases that can be transferred to humans. Alot of their zoonotic infections are species-specific.Cat-Scratch fever and toxoplasma gondii (which really isn't dangerous to anyone with a normal immune system) are two the main ones that humans have to be aware of. Anyway hope you feel better.
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Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
I've dreamt of things that never were, and say "WHY NOT"!!
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1200
Loc: Deep North (East)
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Cat Scratch Fever, huh? I guess that's why the Doc took my temperature. Well so far the Alleve and the Augmentin between them seem to be keeping the swelling down, and my hand is markedly less sore than it was this morning. So it looks like I'll survive this one. I still have 8 more days on the antibiotic, which I intend to finish however well I seem to be healing.
There's a lesson in here somewhere. Like don't pet strange cats in your kitchen.
Thanks All, for your kind words! You guys are the best!
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surpri
Journeyman
Reged: 04/15/03
Posts: 59
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Most animals including cats dont transfer illness that are exclusive to them with the exception of rabies of course. I have a cat that has cat AIDS (FIV) Humans are not in risk for contracting it. I have 2 other cats healthy and they separated upstairs and the downstairs door entrance is always closed. It is very contagious among cats. My concern about human complications after the test came back positive for cat aids, I was told Rabies were really the only thing known to pass to humans, though there are some more rare diseases that could be transmitted. I think SARS was theorized to have jumped from animal to human, something that doesn't happen often. I will check out that link-I love my cats and sad that one is terminally ill and will have to put him to sleep eventually.
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TRS
Journeyman
Reged: 04/02/03
Posts: 55
Loc: California
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Glad to hear you are getting better! I had a friend that also received a cat bite and her doctor admitted her into the hospital for it. Probably for the IV antibiotics. She said it hurt BAD! Loved the cat site too!! Take care, TRS
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MacReady
Newbie
Reged: 07/15/03
Posts: 43
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My german mauser rifle would be my cure.
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"I know what you mean Blair. Trust is a tough thing to come by these days.
Tell you what, why dont you just trust in the Lord?"
-RJ MacReady
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Reel_X_4U
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 255
Loc: Queens, New York City
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True Surpi,
Certain micro-organisms can jump between species, which can cause extreme and deadly problems for humans. For example, the flu virus mutates on a regular basis and it has an innate ability to jump from species to species. What this means in human terms is we have no immunity to a flu virus that once was confined to birds (avium) and all of a sudden jumps over to humans, with no immunity or inadequate immunity complications develop quickly and death occurs swiftly. That's what in the the 1920's with the flu Pandemic, the virus used pigs (porcine) as resevoirs during the summer and jumped over to humans during the winter. The respiratory infection started in the deep south and quickly spread worldwide and killed 20 million people. The three species the flu virus crosses in between with intermittedly is the cow (bovine), pig (porcine) and the bird (avium) and there might be others. And as humans we have no immunity to their species-specific flu viruses. That's why the CDC monitors flu strains worldwide on an annual basis, watching for the cross-over, like the one that happen with SARS, when it started in chickens (Avium) and jumped over to humans and kill many people. Luckily the virus was only moderately virulent and the CDC acted quickly to contain it. If a flu virus is highly virulent, it can kill within a week. Two things can be learned from these scenerios, get your yearly flu shot and humans should not live in close contact with animals. What a shame the doctor who discovered and informed the CDC of the SARS Virus, died from it. Medical Microbiology is great subject to study, Understand the terms "Portal of Entry" (Orifices), "Elective Localization" (Preferred site of infection), "Adhesion" (attachment to the site), "Reaction" (fever and other symptoms), and "Portal of Exit"(bodily discharges). Exotoxins (toxins given-off by live bacteria) and endotoxins (toxins given off by bacteria when they are killed or die-off, I call it the last LAUGH!!!) Anyone the subject is not for everyone, at least for me, it's a hobby and a point of interest. If anything I know about "UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS", and how to protect myself and what to look-out for in terms of symptomology. Kewl!!!
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Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
Some men see things as they are and say "WHY"!!
I've dreamt of things that never were, and say "WHY NOT"!!
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Stacy
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/15/02
Posts: 245
Loc: USA
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Something to remember...cat scratch fever can take up to a few months to show up. You will have horrible body pain and swollen lymph nodes.
I was bitten on the hand by a cat and my doc sent me to a hand surgeon. Swelling in your hand can be dangerous because there isn't that much room to allow for swelling. You can end up with blood supply cut off and even lose fingers or a hand.
Cat bites also have a lot of other bacteria and will generally get infected if no antibiotics are taken.
My pain from the cat bite was so bad that the hand surgeon put me on Oxycontin and something for break through pain.
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