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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I actually call 111 about my bloody finger (oh and find that cat and have it shot)?

57 replies

ReanimatedSGB · 01/06/2019 00:20

A cat scratched me about five hours ago. It got the pad of my finger, drew blood. My fingertip has not stopped hurting and it is quite swollen. I've been whining on Facebook and at least two people have said: get medical attention. For a scratched finger? Really? Am I going to expire in the night?

And I am also a bit unimpressed with the owners of the cat. A sticker on the door saying 'Attack Cat on Duty' is all very well but most people are going to take that as a joke - I really didn't expect the bastard thing to go for my hand like that.

OP posts:
CheshireChat · 01/06/2019 02:16

But antibiotics before it's infected?! Antibiotic resistance much?!!

Obviously, if the patient has other conditions, sure, but otherwise it sounds like madness.

Slapdasherie · 01/06/2019 02:22

I ended up in hospital on an antibiotic drip from a cat bite.
The throbbing started after a couple of hours and a couple of hours after that I saw a red line moving up the vein in my arm.
Blood poisoning isn’t a joke.

EleanorAbernathy · 01/06/2019 04:53

I currently have 13 cats and have had my share of bites and scratches - I still have a couple of scars, but I've never sought medical treatment.

Just make sure you give it a good wash and stick some savlon on it unless there's any obvious sign of infection and you'll be fine!

Original poster
ReanimatedSGB · 01/06/2019 10:02

Well I have survived the night, the inflammation is no worse and there's quite an intereting bruise come out. Thank you all for your concern and advice Grin

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 01/06/2019 10:07

No need for tetanus if you had your vaccinations as a baby.

This is not true. You need 5 doses and if you're not sure how many doses you have received, you may need a booster dose after an injury that breaks your skin.

Not that I think this injury needs one!

Cat scratches hurt a lot IME

Singleandproud · 01/06/2019 10:09

I rang 111 after a cat scratch and bite, OOH Dr rang back and told me to go to A&E as they didn’t have the facilities to treat it if I needed tetanus despite me telling him it was just small but deep. I went to A&E waited for 2 hours and then practically got laughed at by the Dr. Told to come back. If I got a fever or tracking up my arm.

However, a cousins had a similar bite and it did track up their Arm, they were hospitalised on IV antibiotics for 3 days and had to be off work for 10 days.

Mamabear12 · 01/06/2019 10:11

Go to hospital or GP and get on antibiotics pronto. They usually take these things seriously if it swells up. More dangerous if a bite. My ds got bit by a puppy on finger (it was accident as they were playing and it was tiny blood prick) but it swelled after and he was admitted for 48 hours in hospital!!! He had IV antibiotics and they were considering putting him in surgery to clean the wound down to the bone!!!

LoafofSellotape · 01/06/2019 10:14

A and E told us that antibiotics were standard for a bite.

A scratch I'd wash in TCP and monitor it.

No need for tetanus if you had your vaccinations as a baby Surely you need one if you haven't had one in the last 10 years,or have I got that completely wrong? I have had once since baby jabs.

1CarefulLadyOwner · 01/06/2019 10:17

Why don't you give it a good wash and apply some TCP, cover with a plaster if necessary.

QuestionableMouse · 01/06/2019 10:18

I'd expect it to hurt because it's on one of the most sensitive parts of your body.

Keep it clean and keep an eye on it. If it starts looking manky I'd seek medical advice.

Cat scratches do really hurt though. Mine got my arm yesterday (playing with one of those stick things and she got a bit carried away) and it's still sore now.

pastyballbag · 01/06/2019 10:22

Hope you’re of sound mind OP www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700762/

Greyhound22 · 01/06/2019 10:34

Yes - my old boss got scratched by her cat - it got horribly infected and she ended up in hospital on a drip for nearly a week.

usernameuser · 01/06/2019 10:44

It's a cat scratch. Bloody hell only go to the overstretched gp/hosp if really really necessary. It's a cat scratch not an alligator bite 🙄

Polarbearflavour · 01/06/2019 10:48

Why listen to some random people on the Internet, they won’t care if you get an infection.

I would ring 111 and see what they say.

Oldraver · 01/06/2019 10:55

My Mum's cat took exception to having the pre-rabies blood test while in Spain.

We ended up in a sort of A+E due to the amount of blood drawn. Cat had managed to get her on a vein

redwoodmazza · 01/06/2019 10:59

Cat bites are worse than scratches but best check it out to be sure.

Myheartbelongsto · 01/06/2019 11:04

Stop calling it a bastard cat.

You stuck your fingers inside a letterbox with a warning on the door!!

awalkintheparka · 01/06/2019 11:05

Just go to the pharmacy and get them to have a look. No need to call 111

SilentSister · 01/06/2019 11:15

Interesting, not something I have ever thought to worry about, and we have a bastard cat who sometimes goes into attack mode and bites. We just wash the wounds and put savlon on.

On the other hand when I stabbed my foot with a garden fork (yes, I know, stupid) I went straight to the local surgery and the nurse fit me in for a Tetanus booster. Like pp's I think you need one if over 10 years since your last.

SoupDragon · 01/06/2019 13:39

You stuck your fingers inside a letterbox with a warning on the door!!

If your cat is agressive to the point of injuring people doing their job, you need more than a joke sign up.

WiddlinDiddlin · 01/06/2019 14:07

Never stick your fingers through a letter box - if necessary, roll the leaflet or wedge it somewhere else but don't push your fingers through the box. Take a wooden ruler with you if its a really common problem, use that to coax apart stiff brushes on letterboxes, or hold open vicious springloaded flaps!

It's all very well saying the owner of the animal should do xyz.. yes they should, but by the time you've had your fingers (which are not replaceable on the whole) degloved, bitten off or infected by a scratch or bite from whatever resident hellbeast is behind the door, that's too little, too late.

I have my post go into a twee little box on the wall.. because behind my letter box are potentially over 200 bitey snappy teeths belonging to the 5 post eating wankers / hellbeasts dogs, that live here, but not everyone is pro-active about these things!

wheresmymojo · 01/06/2019 14:20

Apologies in advance but I'm going with the 'you're being melodramatic' side.

I've had cats all my life, have fostered lots of cats and currently have four of my own.

I've been bitten and scratched many times (usually either because I'm playing with them or because I've been holding them when they've been scared by something and have panicked) and I've never done anything with them and they've been fine.

I'd leave it a day and then see personally...

It will hurt a fair amount because it's on your fingertip which is obviously full of nerves.

HobbyIsCodeForDogging · 01/06/2019 14:32

Oh god what a bunch of snowflakes we're turning into. No wonder the NHS is on its knees.

madcatladyforever · 01/06/2019 14:40

You can sepsis from a cat bite or scratch. My neighbour kept ignoring my warnings NOT to try and pet my cat as she was feral and bites. She's fine if you leave her alone.
Result: my cat bit her after several attempted pettings and she ended up on an antibiotic drip in hospital for two days.
Luckily she admitted I'd warned her loads of times to leave the cat alone.
Cat scratches and bites are full of bacteria.

SimulationTheorist · 01/06/2019 14:41

Maybe don't post unnecessary crap through people's letterboxes?