Cat attacks human

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.

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

What happens to a cat if they bite a human and the human has to be treated by a doctor? I am a bit concerned and I remember a few threads about this in the past. I am trying to find out PA's law but I am horrible at googling things.

Benson is up to date on his shots (till the 13th) and it was my mom he bit. Mom says her wrist is swollen 5 hours after the bite. She can barely move her wrist

She is seeing her family doctor tomorrow for other reasons and it's going to be visible.

I'm worried for Benson.

(of course mom too but we know how to treat the bite).

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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.

Originally Posted by Persi & Alley

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.

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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!).

Originally Posted by bookworm

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.

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I was heart broken while reading Lee's story last year. Of course it turned out just fine.

I honestly don't trust the shelters that would have to quarantine an animal around here.

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.

Originally Posted by howtoholdacat

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.

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I don't like the idea of someone coming into your home and taking over like that. If it was a visitor or someone who didn't live here I would understand. I also know he didn't attack her but thought he was defending himself. (she was breaking up a cat fight, cornered him and tried to pick him up).

I thought about this last night and recalled my Step MIL getting bit in the face by her dog. They never said anything about it being reported. They live in NJ. I do know the dog is on prozac and they leash him with new visitors come over. He is locked upstairs when children come by too.

Mom is now on Ciprofloxacin (500mg) and propoxyphene. He said she must go to the ER if the swelling gets worse and develops a fever. They would give her IV meds. She told the family doctor the truth. She also has special soap to wash multiple times. She was also advice to skip work tomorrow.

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.

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

Mom is now on Ciprofloxacin (500mg) and propoxyphene. He said she must go to the ER if the swelling gets worse and develops a fever. They would give her IV meds. She told the family doctor the truth. She also has special soap to wash multiple times. She was also advice to skip work tomorrow.

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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.

The most important thing is that your mom is getting proper treatment. Cat bites can cause blood poisoning very easily and should never be ignored. I got bitten by a feral some time ago and although I went straight to ER the bites (in my scalp) turned septic and abscessed and I had six weeks of antibiotics and daily cleansing by a nurse. The cat was trapped and quarantined for three weeks until declared rabies free, and then despite my protests and appeals, he was declared a dangerous animal and PTS. Every vet here I spoke to agreed with this action, but that is French law and custom. He of course was not a domestic cat, so not vaccinated.

Im not familiar with Pa laws..I should be I live here!! LOL...However Ive been nibbled on many times by my cats but never anything serious..My stove has done more damage to me. But I wanted to share a story I read a while ago about a mastiff in Kulpmont/Mount Carmel area that was attacked by another dog and the girl walking the mastiff tried to break up the fight and was attacked by the mastiff. Needless to say this girl was in critical condition at Geisenger Danville for a while and last I heard they were raising money for her plastic surgery. I was heartbroken for her and her family because due to the nature of the attack and what happened even though the dog was her grandmothers and updated on its shots they made her put the dog down....Im going to try and find a link for this article to post. But I hope everything goes ok for your mom and her wrist gets better!! Ill keep fingers and toes crossed for you

Thanks everyone for your posts. Mom's wrist is doing much better since her primary doctor switched the antibiotics . Benson has been very mellow too. He is up to date on his shots also.

OMG Michele, just saw this..I don't venture in here very often.

My little Benson....bad kitty!

I'm glad your mom is healing up....and that Ben is mellowing out.