My cat bit me!

[18yearstooold]

I was trying to give him a tablet and he but me

I've now got 3 puncture wounds in my arm

I've washed it out but do I need to do anything else?

[thecatneuterer]

Oh dear. Tablet-giving is never easy.

I've probably had around 50 or more bites (I work in rescue) and I've only ever had to treat three of them. Two with a course of antibiotics and one (which was really severe, almost to the bone and from an ill cat) put me in hospital.

The rest all felt a bit sore and swollen for a while and then just got better. However they can be dangerous (as my two weeks in hospital testified) so I would hesitate to say do nothing.

What I do however (although you may wish to be more cautious) is to wait to see if I start to feel at all ill or feverish (generally within 12 hours), or if the wound looks especially nasty. In that case I get the antibiotics. But if you do feel like that then you need them fairly quickly - so unless you have an amazing GP surgery that will probably mean a trip to A&E.

[18yearstooold]

We do have an amazing GP fortunately so if I need to go tomorrow I will be able to get an appointment

It's a bit swollen but I have the type of skin that reacts to scratches anyway

[thecatneuterer]

What are you going to do about the rest of the tablets?

[ChristmasPuddin]

If your skin normally reacts to scratches, are you allergic? I am and find that scratches or puncture wounds from claws tend to swell up and get very itchy. An antihistamine eliminates that.

[18yearstooold]

Anything scratching my skin makes it react, not just the cat

Towel is at the ready for the next dose

My other cat takes tablets really nicely but this is the first time this one has had them so I wasn't expecting his reaction -he's normally a big softy!

[thecatneuterer]

I find the best thing for giving tablets is Gourmet Gold Pate or Shiphams (or similar) fish paste (sold for sandwiches - mega yuk!). Both seem to be universally adored by cats and both are very sticky, so you can put the pill in and it won't fall out. Also the strong taste of the fish paste seems to mask the taste of the pill.

There are very few cats I'm unable to give tablets to that way. Any I can't manage get wrapped in a towel and I use a pill popper.

[18yearstooold]

Unfortunately he's a bit odd and will only eat dried food

I've never met a cat like him

I can leave tins of tuna or whole roast chickens out on the side and he won't go near it!