Beware of bite wounds of the little angels

Cats are mischievous little angels, their playfulness, wagging of tail, soft meows, gentle touch are all welcome. But we should be careful about cat bites because they may cause serious problems. Here’s some valuable information about cat bites.
Cats are mischievous little angels, their playfulness, wagging of tail, soft meows, gentle touch are all welcome. But we should be careful about cat bites because they may cause serious problems. Here’s some valuable information about cat bites.
Cat bites can cause serious problems, which can be of two types:
Cat bites another cat
The first is when cats have a serious fight and the bites and scratches can be very serious – usually for both cats. A bite on a cat’s tail should never be ignored as these can create major problems. All other bites and scratches should be attended to. Keep them clean and consult your vet immediately to make sure all is fine.
Cat bites a human
The cat bites to humans can also be extremely serious and should never be ignored. If the bite or scratch is minor, then wash the area thoroughly using soap and mild disinfectant and keep it clean and cover until the scratch heals. If the wound is deep, consult a doctor immediately. In case there are stitches, take the full course of medicine and antibiotics until all tablets are gone.
It is important that all cat parents have their tetanus shots on a regular basis. Some people react very badly to a cat bite and the affected area can swell up and be very painful.
Cat scratch disease
‘Cat scratch disease’ or ‘cat scratch fever’ is one of the worst human reactions to a cat bite. I also had to undergo such an unpleasant experience and spent almost 3 weeks, on and off, in bed feeling very ill indeed. I was judging at a show and was badly bitten by a cat who we subsequently found out had very bad teeth and was not as healthy as show cats should be. Cat scratch fever is a bacterial disease and although some people only have a mild infection, others, like myself, take quite a while to recover. Depending where the bite is placed – head, hands, neck and upper limbs as well as legs – the area can become swollen. The patient will experience fever, headache, fatigue and poor appetite.
Unfortunately, we cannot tell which cats are likely to carry the bacteria (Bartonella henselae infection) as they do not show any signs of illness.
So, it is up to the parents of all cats to keep their animals in spotless and very clean conditions and make sure that they pay attention to the health of their cats at all times. This applies to companion, breeding and show cats.