In agony with this cat bite :/

[Jadime23]

I work in a rescue centre and got bitten by a cat (not my first and won't be my last). I know that any swelling etc requires a hospital visit. But I'm not sure whether this is worth a trip. The puncture wound was quite deep. I am now feeling quite ill like groggy type feeling and my hand is really painful especially when I try and move it. It's red around the bite but not swollen..... Should I get it checked or am I just being a wimp??

[AWombWithoutAFoof]

Get it looked at. Someone I know got bitten by a cat and was told had she delayed seeking treatment much longer the likely outcome would have been amputation.

[DramaAlpaca]

I agree - you need to get a doctor to look at it. Cat bites can be very nasty, and that looks sore. You may well need antibiotics.

[Gatekeeper]

I got bitten a few months ago by a stray cat; rang the nurse for advice and she was insistant I come done and have it looked at. Even though it didn't look too bad and I felt ok she prescribe anti b's as a precaution. She had seen a woman the week before who developed a raging infection due to a bite so def go and get it seen to; you are NOT being a wimp

[GertiesNotDirty]

You DEFINITELY need to get it seen. No question at all. Cat bites are notoriously likely to get infected and with your symptoms I wouldn't hesitate in getting seen. Please do go ASAP and if poss draw a light outline around the redness before you go and make a note of the time you do it so they can see if it is expanding. Good luck.

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

Go and get checked out today. Asap. If it is a localised infction they can treat it easily but you feeling groggy is not good. I could ask about differences in breathing, heart rate, temperature but much better if you get yourself checked over by professionals. Don't wait until tomorrow.

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

In the meantime, draw a line around the redness with biro and write the time (24hr) inside near the line.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd go to out of hours, puncture wounds breed anaerobic bacteria & they are nasty.

Best to go before its really bad.

[thecatneuterer]

Yes if you're feeling ill then you definitely need antibiotics. I've had around 50 or more bites probably. One required antibiotics and once put me in hospital for two weeks! I always wait to see what happens before I bother with doctors/hospital but if you feel ill with it and/or if the swelling and pain is severe and certainly if it doesn't improve after 24 hours, then you need treatment.

[Jadime23]

Bloody cats :) thanks for the advice!!!

[GertiesNotDirty]

Are you going Jadime?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

You definitely need to get it checked out. Be prepared for them to have never heard of cat scratch fever, bartonellosis. On the couple of occasions I have had it the doctors have asked me which antibiotic they hours prescribe, tetracyclines, I always choose doxycycline as it is once daily dosing.

[sashh]

Another vote for antibiotics, I had a bite from a stray I was feeding that went like that, the OOH prescribed them with no problems.

[Madcatgirl]

I got scratched badly a few weeks ago, I called my doctors and because the cat had drawn a lot of blood I was asked to come straight in and had a tetanus and course of antibiotics, go and get it looked at.