Don’t ignore them, even small ones can become a big problem.

Like dogs, humans and any other animal, a cat’s mouth contains over 100 different types of bacteria, and some of them can cause a nasty, even life-threatening infection. While dog bites can be more serious both physically and visually, a bite from a cat is more likely to become infected.

In many cases a dog bite will leave an open cut on the flesh that will bleed. The bleeding is actually a good thing since the blood will flush out much of the bacteria from the dog’s teeth. Not all dog bites include tearing of the flesh; many just involve a puncture wound, but most will bleed.

A cat’s teeth are different than those of a dog., they are long and needle sharp. A cat bite often is a deep puncture wound that may bleed a little at first but usually will stop bleeding and close up. Washing the bite area and putting antibiotic ointment on it may help on the surface, but beneath the surface germs can thrive.

Many kinds of bacteria live in a cat’s mouth, but one of them causes most of the problems. Pasteurella is a common bacteria in the mouths of both cats and dogs, but it can cause a serious infection that if left untreated can leave permanent damage. Pasteurella is an anaerobic bacteria, which means it thrives in an environment without oxygen. A closed wound provides a perfect breeding area for these bacteria, and they will multiply like mad.

The first symptoms of pasteurellosis usually occur between 2 to 12 hours after the bite, and may include swelling in the area of the bite, pain, and reddening of the skin in that area. You should seek medical help right away if these symptoms appear. Most cat bites are on the hand, and if left untreated the bacteria can infect the tendons and even the bone of the hand, causing permanent damage that can leave you unable to use the fingers of that hand. In addition, the infection can travel up the arm and affect other organs, even causing damage to the heart.

Any cat bite can become infected, even a minor one, as I found out the hard way. A minor puncture that barely broke the skin got infected. I ignored it at first because I didn’t think it could be serious, then spent a Saturday evening in the emergency room with an IV bag dripping antibiotics into my arm. The hospital staff took it more seriously than I did. The doctor explained to me what could have happened if I had waited much longer. It has been over a week and I almost have full use of my hand again. Another day or two should do it.