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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to go to walk in centre with cat bite?

27 replies

Thurmanmurman · 12/01/2019 10:53

My cat attacked my hand on Thursday night! Jumped up next to me on the sofa for a stroke then got freaked out and went for me, scratched my arm and bit the back of my hand. It drew blood and did hurt but I got the TCP out and thought no more of it... until I stated googling 😱 Around the actual bite, which looks like a pin prick, it is very sore to the touch and my middle finger hurts when I move it. However, it’s not hot or red and if I hadn’t googled and read all the horror stories about cat bites I wouldn’t even consider seeing the doctor unless it looked infected. DH thinks I’m being OTT and I probably am and am not the type to waste doctors time so thought I’d ask the wise people of MN if you have any experience on this subject.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 12/01/2019 10:55

Cat bites can be nasty. I'd get it seen

Bambamber · 12/01/2019 10:56

Not in the slightest. I work with animals and if I get a cat bite it is standard procedure to get it seen by a Dr and I think we're supposed to have antibiotics (thankfully not happened yet). Cat bites can be prone to infection

Finfintytint · 12/01/2019 10:56

Yes, it’s a puncture wound. I’d get it checked if your hand is painful.

ZacharyQuack · 12/01/2019 10:56

Yes you should get it checked out. Cat's mouths are filthy and you might need antibiotics.

dementedpixie · 12/01/2019 10:56

www.nhs.uk/conditions/animal-and-human-bites/

ScreamingValenta · 12/01/2019 10:56

Yes, you should go. It happened to my husband and they gave him anti biotics. A cat's mouth is full of germs and its teeth are needle sharp.

JennyOnAPlate · 12/01/2019 10:57

Yes definitely get it seen. Any bite which punctures the skin needs looking at (whether it's from an animal or a human!)

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 12/01/2019 11:00

I waited once. I did what you are meant to do, washed throroughly under running water, with soap, used disinfectant, kept it clean. Had them before (lots of times) and they had healed fine.

However, this time it wasn't fine, became painful to move, and started to swell and go red.

I went to the walk in centre, was given a/b's and had to return a week or so later. Mine was actually several bites in the same area.

I wouldn't leave it if I were you.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 12/01/2019 11:05

I spent a week in hospital on intravenous antibiotics after a cat bite. I would definitely go.

Original poster
Thurmanmurman · 12/01/2019 11:15

Blimey! Thanks everyone for your replies I’ll go now (meanwhile cat is sitting there licking her bum without a care in the world)

OP posts:
Polarbearflavour · 12/01/2019 11:16

LTB - the cat that is! Shock

EnglishPuffins · 12/01/2019 11:17

Sorry I don't wish to scare you but please go to A&E ASAP. I looked after a young woman who died from a cat bite last year.

madcatladyforever · 12/01/2019 11:19

YES!!! My cat bit my neighbour and she had to go to hospital for IV antibiotics.
They can turn into sepsis at the drop of a hat.

WellThisIsShit · 12/01/2019 11:22

Good lord, I had no idea cat bites were so germy! Glad you’re trundling it off to get it seen to OP.

LIVVI1234 · 12/01/2019 11:28

Cat bites can be serious as their sharp teeth push bacteria into your flesh, but as the holes are small, the flesh heals up again with the bacteria caught inside and leads to infection.

That said, Ive had cats my entire life and a lifetime of cat bites - ive never had anything too horrific happen!

ErrolTheDragon · 12/01/2019 11:30

Good lord, I had no idea cat bites were so germy! ...er... 'meanwhile cat is sitting there licking her bum'

Better safe than sorry. I'm sure the doctors would much rather treat 100 cases which maybe would have been ok anyway than have to deal with the one where it isn't.

TougheningUp · 12/01/2019 11:50

I got bitten by one of my cats years ago and within 12 hours my hand and arm were red and swollen. I went to my GP who sent me straight to A&E, who gave me antibiotics and made me sit there for monitoring for hours. If the infection hadn't responded well to the antibiotics they told me I might have to have my arm amputated.

Luckily the antibiotics worked quickly and I was fine.

Definitely get it checked out.

MiniMum97 · 12/01/2019 12:11

My son got bitten by a dog and they just told him to have a bath! He was fine thankfully. Are cat bites much worse?

LannieDuck · 12/01/2019 12:11

Yes, cats can pass on infections when they bite.

If it's painful I would get it looked at. Is it swollen?

lljkk · 12/01/2019 12:12

I wouldn't bother (have had a cat bite draw blood & it recovered without even TCP applied). It's not an easy decision, though, I appreciate.

Am keen to find out just what was done for OP.

Original poster
Thurmanmurman · 12/01/2019 13:24

Thanks for all your advice. Just got back from the walk in. Dr said it didn’t look infected but has prescribed antibiotics to be on the safe side. Apparently cat bites are worse than dogs as another poster said, the wound heals very quickly so any germs are trapped underneath the skin. I’ve always had cats and had the odd scratch and nip but never broken the skin. I’m just glad it was me and not the DC!

OP posts:
StarlightIntheNight · 12/01/2019 13:26

Go now! You might need antibiotics. My son was bitten by our puppy. My husband thought I was OTT when I decided to take him to the emergency after two days of him on antibiotics because I thought his finger looked slightly swollen. Well, they took it very seriously, X-rays, admitted him straight away and he stayed 48 hours in the hospital receiving antibiotics on IV. This was for a tiny bite, but because dogs and cats teeth can harbour lots of bacteria...it can be very dangerous if it punctures the skin.

dementedpixie · 12/01/2019 13:27

She's been and is back already

StarlightIntheNight · 12/01/2019 13:28

and just saw your last message that you went and got antibiotics. Thats is great...but still keep any eye for any signs of infection. My son got the oral antibiotics, but still needed to be admitted for two days and nights to the hospital to receive antibiotics via IV

snowball28 · 13/01/2019 08:04

Glad you got seen! I once accidentally tried on my cats paw and he predictably went wild and bit my foot several times, I thought nothing of it but ended up in hospital on intravenous meds for the infection! It got pretty nasty very quickly, I check for him behind me now Grin