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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If your cat bit you

111 replies

MollyWantsACracker · 22/01/2018 23:26

AIBU to wonder what you’d do. Proper bite, puncture x 4, (one quite deep) blood.
She’s been vet checked recently, no problems. Bite happened whilst sitting on lap, me mnetting, random grooming. No signs she was irritated.

It’s quite painful 😣

OP posts:
TornadoOfToys · 23/01/2018 07:37

And this:

Individuals
To prevent and control the spread of antibiotic resistance, individuals can:

Only use antibiotics when prescribed by a certified health professional.
Never demand antibiotics if your health worker says you don’t need them.
Always follow your health worker’s advice when using antibiotics.
Never share or use leftover antibiotics.
(and never tip leftovers down the drain)

www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/antibiotic-resistance/en/

londonrach · 23/01/2018 07:42

Reading this i wonder why anyone gets a cat.

SheSellSeaShells · 23/01/2018 07:42

When did you get a tetanus last? My dad got bit by my old cat once - who was fit and healthy (he kept rubbing his tum and pissed him off), anyway it went all puffy and very swollen - but then later he had track marks going up his arm from the bite and had to get to a&e - dr said they can have anything in their teeth or claws, and bacteria in their mouths that cause an infection no matter how healthy the animal. I was so shocked at how swollen his arm was.

Original poster
MollyWantsACracker · 23/01/2018 07:48

Morning. Well I'm still alive so counting that as a plus for the day that's in it. My hand is a bit sore and a little swollen as you might expect.

Mostly it's ok but I'm going to ring my gp at 9 when they open.

Thanks everyone for advice, I will not neglect it. Dd has to come first today though and you literally need to have arrived with your hand in a bucket to be seen at at A&E in these parts 🙄

OP posts:
latara23 · 23/01/2018 08:00

Hope your dds appointment goes well

worrywor · 23/01/2018 08:11

My cat bit my pinky right on the edge of the nail once. Not horrible, I had fake nails at the time and think he took a fancy at them! Got slightly infected, had to ooze pus out, and was really really really painful for about a month

MuffinMad · 23/01/2018 08:17

My cat has bitten me a few times. The last time he punctured the skin on my arm.

There's no warning with him. He's very temperamental, not the most affectionate cat I've had. I've had him from a kitten and treated him well. Just feel like he hates me sometimes.

I just put some savlon cream on it and watched for any swelling or if it got more painful. It cleared up in a couple of days.

Checklist · 23/01/2018 08:21

FerociousCat operated on the three strokes rule, apart from me - then she would go anybody else with teeth and claws! If it was me, she would bat me with her paws, but keep the claws in! Likewise, walking past her and creating a draught - she'd launch an attack on your legs! Walk past her the third time, when she was asleep on the back of the settee - serious scratching!

She used to sit in the doorway of the lounge, and not let DD2 out of the room - because DD2 was scared of her!

She was perfectly alright if she came to us, on her terms (subject to the three stroke rule)!

walkingdowntheboulevard · 23/01/2018 08:23

You need a tetanus.

Lizzie48 · 23/01/2018 08:24

I have 4 cats now, and have always had cats since I first owned my own place, and I had them growing up. I've never had a bite that's broken my skin, but I've had plenty of little nips, especially from my huge tomcat. He's mostly very docile but he will suddenly turn and nip, so I don't stroke him or pick him up unless I have to. He comes to lie next to me when I'm on the bed, though.

I watch very closely when my DDs are around and don't allow them to pick him up. The other 3 cats are real softies and love attention. Smile

If he were to break the skin, then I would have to give him up. I can't take the risk of him hurting my DDs (8 and 5 now).

Hope you manage to get to your appointment this morning, OP, and that it heals properly. Thanks

JamPasty · 23/01/2018 08:38

I’ve found some antibiotics in the cupboard and I’ve taken one. - FFS, it's no bloody wonder antibiotic resistance is on the rise when people do stuff like this.

Tamberlane · 23/01/2018 08:39

Hows the hand today?
I work as a vet. For us penetrating cat bites(a bite that breaks the skin) is a trip to the doctor asap. If its anywhere near a joint or basically anywhere on the hands its straight to a&e for iv antibiotics..no ifs or buts about it. There are dozens of horror stories in the industry of people who underestimated cat bites seriousness and needed surgery etc after.. plus its often days to weeks off work and poor mobility in your hands after due to scarring etc. Not ideal if you plan to work as a vet surgeon for the rest of your career. Don't underestimate a cat bite. lots of people get lucky but if your one of the unlucky ones its grim as hell.
Cat bites are awful!

FridayThirteenth · 23/01/2018 08:42

This thread is totally reaffirming my decision never to own a cat.

Checklist · 23/01/2018 09:29

My parents normally kept 3 - 4 cats. I have known about five cats, who were seriously grumpy in all that time - who adored one person, but that was it! Nobody else could handle them! The rest have been as soft as butter! (Not to mice and birds obviously)

The two we have now are extremely placid! Life is one long round of eat, sleep and affection!

ohfortuna · 23/01/2018 10:04

I had no idea cats did such a lot of biting!

JenniferL90 · 23/01/2018 10:08

Is she new to you?

If either of mine did this (had them both 10 years and they've never acted viciously other than a warning tap if one of us is pissing them off) then I'd be concerned they could be in pain somewhere I touched them?

One of mine made the vet bleed badly once as he was in a lot of pain, scared, and the vet touched that area.

Purringkittenmama · 23/01/2018 10:13

Go to A and E. Two weeks ago DH bitten by neighbour's cat and our dog (breaking up a fight). We went straight to minor injuries unit and he was given a 7 day course of antibiotics and 24 hour referral to plastic surgery dept at local hospital for assessment. At referral appointment, surgeon took one look at his hand and said he needed to go to theatre to have it drained and also needed IV antibiotics.
Please don't ignore this.
A nurse who treated him at the hospital said that a man had lost his hand as he had ignored an infected cat bit for two weeks.
Treatment DH received was fantastic.
Hope things go well for you.

ohfortuna · 23/01/2018 10:22

Bloody hell why do people get cats and dogs they're a Menace🤤

Frogletmamma · 23/01/2018 10:28

Did you touch it near the tail. Its their sexual bit and sometimes they go uts.

Frogletmamma · 23/01/2018 10:29

sorry nuts

Lizzie48 · 23/01/2018 10:29

Would the haters stop jumping on threads like these? We love our pets, that's enough reason for us to have them. Far more women are hurt by their partners than by their cats and dogs.

HamishBamish · 23/01/2018 10:30

Yikes, it sounds like a cat bite can be very serious OP. Get yourself checked out asap!

I had no idea cat bites could be so dangerous. I don't have a cat, but will certainly be remembering this if I ever do!

BarbieBrightSide · 23/01/2018 10:35

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but the trouble with deep cat bites is that they can introduce anaerobic bacteria deep in the skin tissue, where there isn't oxygen so the bacteria flourish. Cats have dirty mouths.

Please speak to someone about it today at the very least.

I hope your daughters appointment gets the outcome you want.

ohfortuna · 23/01/2018 10:36

That wasn't my cat's issue. Sometimes she's just in a really crappy mood, other times we take too long to read her mind
So it's like your life is lead in service to the cat??
Wtf, what's in it for you 🤤

Clandestino · 23/01/2018 10:37

Cat bite, I'd immediately go to my GP for antibiotics. I had a warning bite from my cat (didn't break the skin) when he felt like he had enough of my cuddles, I gave out to him and he never did it again. The other one scratches first which already is painful enough.
My tomcat has a long history of fights and if you ever had to clean an infected cat bite and squeeze out bloody puss from a swollen cat's cheek (DH helped for a minute before he started turning green so was released), you'd think twice before not taking it seriously. Get yourself a very hot and salty water and treat the wound and then go to the GP. If this isn't how your cat usually behaves, get her/him checked by the vet as there could be an underlying issue that made it cranky. Cats are really good at hiding an illness or injury but this kind of reaction may mean they're in pain and cranky as a result.