Treatment should always start with ensuring the safety of everyone involved, including the cat.
How to Treat a Cat Bite
Basic first aid skillsare useful in treating a cat bite.
Since cat bites are often deep, they pose a risk of infection.
Rengim Mutevellioglu / Getty Images
Cat bite may seem innocuous enough, but they have the potential to transmit certain diseases.
The concern is greater if the cat is stray or feral.
If the infection spreads to the blood, it can lead to blood poisoning (septicemia).
When these symptoms appear, the likelihood of death is high.
A rabies shot is usually not given following a cat bite.
Rather, the pet may be quarantined for 10 days and observed for signs of rabies.
This includes bites from cats.
If the rabies vaccination has lapsed, the quarantine may last longer.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Cat and dog bites.
Updated October 9, 2020.
Wilson BA, Ho M.Pasteurella multocida: from zoonosis to cellular microbiology.Clin Microbiol Rev.
2014;61(4):290-6. doi:10.1111/zph.12070
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies symptoms and specimen collection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Information for veterinarians.
