Cat attacks human

The easiest thing to do since this is your pet who you can keep an eye on, is for your mother to simply say she reached down to pet a stray cat and that's what bit her and not mention it was your cat. They'll treat her and Animal Control will probably bring a trap to her house which she can not set then have them pick back up after a week or so. Been there and done that.

What actually happens in animal bite cases (at least in GA) is that the animal is quarantined for 10 days and watched for any signs of rabies. After that they go home. That's it. Sometimes, you can even get them to allow you to pay to board the animal at a vet of your choosing.

Since the cat has his shots and is a pet that will be confined to your home there's really no public health threat.

That being said, your mother needs a tetanus shot if she doesn't have a current one (they're good for 10 years) because cat bites are puncture wounds. She'll probably be prescribed an antibiotic because bites infect easily. On her own, soaking the wound in Epsom salts will help ease the swelling and fight infection. Cat bites are nasty things, not to be taken lightly. Again, been there, done that and it's really not much fun. I know you mentioned you know what to do for a bite but I added this in case others don't. I'm affected by a lot of medications and have had a lot of success with the Epsom salts since the antibiotics tend to make me sick but you have to soak it about every hour and follow up with something like Neosporin. I don't encourage not seeing a doctor but if someone else is in the same boat as me I just wanted to pass this along.

I hope your mom heals quickly and that Benson gets to stay safe at home.

Yep, you didn't hear that from me!

If he does have to go into quarantine, don't let it stress you too much. I worked at a vet's office where we frequently quarantined bite cases. We hung a big sign on the kennels but otherwise that was the only difference between those animals and any others. We never had a rabid animal and after a couple of days we could tell they were fine but we had to comply with the law. As the primary care giver to those pets I loved on them the same as the others. It would suck to be without him for 10 days but there are worse things that could happen in a vet's office than a quarantine.

It might make a difference if she's going to her family doctor and not the ER. Here's PA's DOG BITE LAW
Here's the PA code pertaining to rabies and bites: CHAPTER 16. RABIES PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Would you believe there's actually a dog/cat bite expert offering his servics to attorneys?
CAT BITE EXPERT WITNESS

You're welcome.

FYI to other peeps, rabies should never be taken lightly! This cat has his shots and is in the household and can be monitored. If his behavior or health changes at all go to the vet and ask your mom to go back to a doctor. No human has ever survived rabies without timely medical treatment. I don't want anyone taking my advice without knowing that info too!

I read some case in CT in which a womans cat was declared viciouse and would be put to sleep if he snuck out doors again. I know cat bites are painful and dangerous, rescueing strays and the ocasional feral kitten I've had more than my share, but I thought that was a bit extreme!

Is this the case? It seems to have ended happily:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_(cat)

Back to the OP: I'm sorry your mom was bitten (ouch!), and that you're going through this stressful situation. Of course I understand the reasoning behind the quarantine, but I didn't realize they'd go through with it if your cat's vacs were up to date. (Is that what happened to Lee and Persi? How awful!)

Just how bad is the swelling and how close to the wrist was it? I'm a bit concerned because if it's bad enough, even with antibiotics (which type?), and left overnight that they may put her in the hospital tomorrow.

I have a stepsister that left a small bite on her finger overnight, but because of the bite being so near bone and joints they ended up putting her in the hospital for a couple days when she went to her GP to get it treated.


If you try to get her to say it was a stray... I hope she can lie well. Some people can't or will slip up if they're asked repeatedly.

I live in Illinois and several years ago one of my BF's cats bit and scratched him when he was trying to put her in her carrier. The doctor didn't say anything when told what happened, just prescribed antibiotics, but I guess that depends on the law.
Good luck to your mom, Benson and you!

^Depending on what a person can take, the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for bite wounds tends to be Augmentin (amoxicillian clavulanic potassium - kitty version is called clavamox, which I'm sure you're familiar with).
I had 2x750mgs a day for that. yuck! Huge pills that can make you nauseous and even dizzy. I hope the antibiotic your mother started doesn't make her feel too ill.
It would help, if she can take them, that she takes an NSAID to help with the inflammation.

The previous surgery, that this is a bad bite, and how she's feeling makes me worry. That the infection doesn't get bad enough that she finds herself getting surgery on that hand and wrist again...

More that this doesn't turn into a big situation for you and Benson.



Someday I would really like to see a sticky, in a few different places on this forum, with good information on what to do for animal bites - cat and dog. A good break down on just how serious they can be, how important treatment is, and maybe (if it exists) a link to various state laws concerning bites. Everyone thinks rabies and tetanus - but that pasteurella bacteria can cause serious damage. People can loose hands from bad bites.
It really seems like every couple of months someone posts who has been bitten or has friend/family member who has.

Yes! I'm so glad they got it settled with Lewis still alive.

I'm not a lawyer, but I am a law librarian, so I can tell you that it is NEVER a good idea to advise anyone to lie to the authorities. You may not have to tell the whole truth, but it is NOT a good idea to tell an outright lie.

You know, I can see the docyor insisting on rabies treatment if he thinks it's an unknown stray, I know there have been quite a few racoons in our area found positive this year.

Maybe it would be best to say it was an accidental bite while playing with a fully vaccinated cat?

Things may have changed in Pennsylvania in the mean time, but one of our dogs bit my father when he tried to break up a dog fight, and he had to go to the ER. The doctor asked him if he knew the dog, and my father asked what difference it would make. He was told that if it was a stray he'd have to undergo rabies shots himself, if it was a neighbor's/friend's dog it would be reported and put in quarantine, and if it was his dog and its shots were UTD, nothing would be done. He opted for the third answer.

It's hard to say what's best to do now.

Well, when my own fully vaccinated cat bit me they wanted to put her into quarantine. Of course, it was a different state. Maybe it just depends on who you get.

Let me review my experience with this. Under a unique situation of much duress, Persi bit me to the bone and DW had to take me to the ER. Persi was confiscated from me and placed in quarantine for ten days. I was advised that he was now on record as a "vicious" cat and that I should "dispose" of him. If there is ever another record of him biting anybody, the county of Dallas will "dispose" of him for me. Meanwhile he continues to live peacefully in this home with us and I love him like a son.

OMG. Maybe now I'm a little less homesick for Dallas than I was before I read that. Not knowing the law regarding that stuff here in GA, when my elderley neighbors grumpy cat bit me to the bone I just inquired as to his shot status, got some antibiotics from a friend and did without the use of my right hand for about a week. I never dreamed they would get so up tight back home though.

I can't comment on PA, but it may be of general interest that here in the UK cats are, by and large, above the law. Unlike in the case of a dog, an owner cannot be held liable for the actions of his/her cat and, as far as I know, a cat cannot be legally restrained or destroyed after attacking a human.

Of course, we have no rabies here (one advantage of being an island!).

It's frightening to think your pet, a member of your household, can be taken away because of a bite. Though some bites are vicious, in most cases they are not. I've been bitten four times by dogs, twice by cats. Because I work with animals professionally I've got lots of opportunities to be chomped! Anyway, I've never been indiscriminately attacked by an animal. In both cases of cat bites I was between two fighting cats. The dogs vary like I once unknowingly approached a dog on his blind side but none of those animals were really trying to hurt me either.

It scares me to think someone might step on my cat's tail, get chomped and then my cat would be taken away. Assuming the bite victim was forthcoming about what happened, of course.

The general rule in US law--again, I am not a lawyer, and there are exceptions and exceptions to the exceptions--but owners of animals are generally held strictly liable for their animals' behavior. It is considered a duty of the owner or custodian of an animal to keep it under sufficient control to assure the public safety. And a judge or magistrate may order the destruction of an animal adjudged to be vicious or dangerous; not, generally, without a hearing.

My arm swelled a lot. Not enough to warrant an IV and no fever, but enough to cause a lot of pain and bruising. I'm not sure how anyone could work through the pain the first day or two after that infection starts. Either she's tough, stubborn, has a high pain tolerance - or all three.

More that all goes well.
Tell her next time there's a fight to try throwing pillows at the cats or go for some water. The mess and even risk of water getting in a cat's ears is better than a serious bite to a human or another cat.