Never underestimate cats

Cat bites are rarely talked about, but given the high infection risk they carry, they should not be ignored.

According to a study in the Journal of Hand Surgery1, a third of all patients treated in A&E for cat bites to the hand have to be admitted, and half of them need surgery.

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Cats have small, very sharp teeth that can cause deep wounds. Their bites can lead to serious complications, especially when infection sets into a joint.

If you ever get bitten, you should immediately clean the bite with water and soap. If there are any foreign bodies in the wound, carefully remove them, then rinse again and apply an antiseptic cream. And if you are bitten anywhere on the hand or near a joint, consult your doctor.

1) Babovic N, Cayci C, Carlsen BT. Cat bite infections of the hand: assessment of morbidity and
predictors of severe infection. J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Feb;39(2):286-90.