What to do when bitten by a stray cat
Dogs and cats bites are common injuries that can happen anytime. Even a pet dog or cat can bite you accidentally while playing but that is not that harmful because pet animals are injected regularly. But if you are bitten by a stray cat then you should not take it lightly.
Why should you worry?
Stray cats carry a lot of bacteria in their mouth which will result in an infection. Their bite also creates very deep and narrow puncture wounds which are difficult to clean.
What should you do immediately after a stray cat bite?
Immediately wash it under running water. If the wound is bleeding then do not try to stop its flow but let it bleed by pressing the wound. This will help to flush out the bacteria from the wound. Try to keep the wounded area elevated as this will help in preventing infections and swelling. It is recommended that you should not use any harsh chemicals to clean the wound because it will slow down the healing process by harming tissues.
Once you are done with the first aid, after that you should immediately seek medical attention. It does not matter whether it was a stray cat or not if you are bitten by one then you should definitely consult a doctor for the checkup. Serious infections can take 24-48 hours to develop and complications include loss of joint mobility or nerve involvement. Therefore, the doctor may prescribe you antibiotic that will prevent infection. In some cases when the wound is deep then you will have to take stitches as well on the wound. When you will be visiting clinic make sure to describe everything as this will help them in your treatment.
Some conditions when you need to pay special attention -
- If you notice any kind of swelling, redness, pus, increasing pain, discharge from the wound, and difficulty in moving the bitten part then you need emergency care.
- If bleeding does not stop even after 15 minutes of pressure.
- If you are already having some kind of disease like diabetes, liver or lung problems.
- If you are already having any serious injury, broken bone or nerve damage.
- If it’s been more than 5 years since your last got tetanus shot.
There are very fewer chances of rabies from a cat bite but in case of a stray cat, you should have a proper checkup done. Also, ask your doctor about the rabies signs. There are not many cases of cat bites; cats usually bite when they feel that they are in danger or you are irritating them or when they try to snap the food from you. On cat bite, you should not only seek medical attention but should inform pet control department too because these types of stray animals will be harmful to others as well, so tell your exact location and describe the cat so that they can catch it as soon as possible.
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