Cat Bites: A Hidden Danger

If you own a cat, odds are good that cat has probably bitten you. Cats are often playful in nature, and quite a few cats express this playfulness by scratching and biting their owners. It’s easy to write-off being bitten by a cat, as even a serious bite doesn’t do too much physical damage, but it’s important you are aware of the potential health risks associated with such bites. The puncture wound isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. A new study conducted by the Mayo Clinic showed that nearly one-third of patients who visit the hospital due to a cat bite require treatment for infections and other issues related to the wound. Because cat teeth are so sharp, it is easy for them to puncture the body’s more delicate tissues and introduce harmful bacteria that can lead to a very serious infection. In the Mayo study, 30 percent of cat bite victims required hospitalization, with an average hospital stay of about three days. Complications from a cat bite can include abscesses and the loss of mobility in joints. It seems crazy, but a cat bite on your hand could leave your arm in a sling. If you are bitten by your cat, be sure to wash the wound out thoroughly with an anti-bacterial soap and seek medical attention at the first signs of trouble. Cat bites look harmless, but left untreated can pose an incredible health risk to the victim. For a short listen about the need to take cat bites seriously, click on the Mayo Clinics' podcast by Dr. Brian Carlsen,