Bit by a stray

So I was stupid and was feeding a beautiful girl outside my new apartment. I had some gravy on my finger from the cat food and I stuck it out for her to lick it but she crunched down. Whoops. Anyways it was only one puncture wound on the pad of my left index finger. The cut is tiny and looks fine. The area around my fingernail, however, is pretty swollen and warm and tender. Do you think that she just bruised the top of my finger? I am currently finding a home for her as I cannot take her in because my boyfriend is allergic. She doesn't seem ill at all and she didn't mean to hurt me. She just thought I was food. I don't want to have her tested for anything because she deserves a good home.

Cellogirl said:

 
So I was stupid and was feeding a beautiful girl outside my new apartment. I had some gravy on my finger from the cat food and I stuck it out for her to lick it but she crunched down. Whoops. Anyways it was only one puncture wound on the pad of my left index finger. The cut is tiny and looks fine. The area around my fingernail, however, is pretty swollen and warm and tender. Do you think that she just bruised the top of my finger? I am currently finding a home for her as I cannot take her in because my boyfriend is allergic. She doesn't seem ill at all and she didn't mean to hurt me. She just thought I was food. I don't want to have her tested for anything because she deserves a good home.

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If you are sure it was an accident by natural reasons, you can probably let it be.  Its extremely rare people get rabies from cats in the USA.  From dogs, there is a couple of cases now and then, from cats its unique.   In some others, more southern countries, however, rabies from animals isnt rare.  Its most often dogs if we talk home animals, but cats arent that unique.  So, beware.

But if if punctured, and you already are swollen and warm and tendery, you have already an inflammation there - and in practice - infection too...  So get it treated by your local doctor!  It may be necessary with antibiotics.

Tetanus shot may be necessary, if you havent got that in the recent years, or if your tetanus protection isnt complete.

Observe, tetanus shot may have an side-effect, your arm will get swollen and you may get some fever...    I got once bitten by my otherwise very friendly resident.  They gave me the tetaus in the other arm.  So, my hand was tender because of the bite - its a tremendous force if they bite for real!   but it was the other tetanus-shot arm, which become swollen and  I got fever...

If you want to play it really safe, take the anti rabies vaccine too.  It hurts thay say, but it will get you protected for many years in similiar situations...  It may be worth to dont need to be worried nor afraid.

And yes, dont tell you know which cat it was.  Say you tried to cuddle with a shy cat you didnt know, and it ran off after it wriggled lose...  so you dont think it attacked you, but you want to be sure and safe..  Something like that.

The puncture wound itself is already healed and it's been less then 24 hours. The other side of my finger feels like I slammed a door on it. I work about 60 hours a week and I am a full time student so my time to see a doctor is limited. Wouldn't it be the would site that would be inflamed if it was infected? Not the other side of my finger?

Cellogirl said:

 
The puncture wound itself is already healed and it's been less then 24 hours. The other side of my finger feels like I slammed a door on it. I work about 60 hours a week and I am a full time student so my time to see a doctor is limited. Wouldn't it be the would site that would be inflamed if it was infected? Not the other side of my finger?

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  Not necessarily.  I'm with Stefan - you need to see a doctor.  If it is swollen, warm and tender that pretty well describes some kind of infection. 

Sorry.

I'm with ^^^^^

The fact that the area of inflammation or infection is away from the puncture doesn't actually surprise me. There's a reason puncture wounds worry doctors. It sounds deep, and it will only get worse unless you see a doctor.

Yep, infection. You need antibiotics and that should take care of it. A cat's mouth/teeth are full of bacteria.

A friend of mine got bit by her usually friendly cat after accidentally tugging on a matt while grooming. She ended up in the ER a few days later with blood poisoning from the bite getting infected. Don't mess around with animal bites! You need to go to a doctor.

Cellogirl said:

 
So I was stupid and was feeding a beautiful girl outside my new apartment. I had some gravy on my finger from the cat food and I stuck it out for her to lick it but she crunched down. Whoops. Anyways it was only one puncture wound on the pad of my left index finger. The cut is tiny and looks fine. The area around my fingernail, however, is pretty swollen and warm and tender. Do you think that she just bruised the top of my finger? I am currently finding a home for her as I cannot take her in because my boyfriend is allergic. She doesn't seem ill at all and she didn't mean to hurt me. She just thought I was food. I don't want to have her tested for anything because she deserves a good home.

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Cellogirl said:

 
The puncture wound itself is already healed and it's been less then 24 hours. The other side of my finger feels like I slammed a door on it. I work about 60 hours a week and I am a full time student so my time to see a doctor is limited. Wouldn't it be the would site that would be inflamed if it was infected? Not the other side of my finger?

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I suspect the cat did bite you for real!  alike my friendly resident did!  So that is why you  feel it on the other side too...  But this means, the would IS deep, and as the wound has already closed of "healed", its NOW it begins to be dangerous.  If you get any pus, it cant come out.  also, the bacteria who dont like oxygen, they will thrive now.

Of to your doc ASAP!   Forget about the rabies shots, if you feel it complicates the situation.   But you need antibiotics for sure, probalby the wound reopen and cleaned, and possibly a tetanus shot too...