Is it true about cats?

My brother and his girlfriend have 3 cats and now they are taking care of mine for right now. As some of you probably read my post in behavior section. Anyways my mom has heard on tv and read about it that cats can be deadly. If they bite you to do damage something in their saliva can make you ill and even kill you. I never EVER heard of this. To me its just another problem added into society. Just like Carrots can cause cancer if eaten raw or something to that nature. When my mom told my brother he just laughed at her and said ook. I am thinking if that is true maybe its outdoor cats that would be more exceptable due to being in contact with more diseases? I dont know its just a guess. Also my mom had told me that since my immune system is low because of my arthritis and taking embrel shots that cats can get you sick and make you deadly ill. So, she said she read this and heard it on tv talk shows. True or not? I still love my cat and it wont change me wanting her back!!! This is also coming from a person (my mom) who doesnt like cats because to her they are sneaky and they like to jump on furniture etc. She says they are cute as kittens but when they grow up their cats. So, I know she isnt saying this or doing this to discourage my brother and his girlfriend or I to have a cat. She isnt mean to them just she isnt a cat person. So again Id like to know if this is actually true or not?

She is referring to cat scratch fever (probably) but although some people who lack the enzyme to fight this bacteria do get ill, they don't die.

Basically, a cat's mouth has a lot of bacteria in it. That is why when they catch a wild bird for example, even if they don't bite the bird, the bird will usually die. The bird dies because it lacks the enzyme to fight the bacteria in the cat's mouth or claws.

thats why when the kids or i get a scratch we immedietly(sp) go wash it with soap and water

Actually, an ER doctor told me the best thing you can do is to make a warm to hot epsom salt soak and stick the hand, leg, arm whatever, into the soak for 20 minutes replenishing the water so it stays hot

It is true. Here is a link I found in a quick search. http://www.kcom.edu/faculty/chamberl...e/catfever.htm
This actually describes almost exactly what happened to me when I was about 17 years old, especially the very enlarged lymph nodes. It looked like I had two eggs in my throat. Only I was stupid and didn't go to the doctor (and hid from my mother how high my fever was and that I threw up blood once) and it wasn't diagnosed. I'm probably lucky to be alive, I thought I was dying.
This is why you should wash EVERY scratch or bite, no matter how minor, with soap and hot water for at least 20-30 seconds and keep it clean. My husband thinks I'm paranoid for putting neosporin on any scratches I get, but I do not EVER want to go through that again. It was a few months before I felt 100% again.
But it won't stop me from continuing to have cats, I'm just careful whenever they break my skin (and they have all of thier claws, too!).

Added: Our cats lived stricly indoors when this happened to me.

Amber

if you are bitten by a cat, because it is generally a puncture wound, and because cats mouths are full of bacteria, as Hissy said, you should clean it thoroughly with soap and water and put an antibacterial ointment on it, and watch it carefully! for any sign of infection, even the most minor cat bite can become seriously infected and it can happen fast.
i know several ppl who handle cats a lot and they have ended up in the hospital on IV antibiotics within less than 24 hrs of being bitten, a cat bite is nothing to fool around with!
ask your vet, or call any ER and they will tell you the same thing

they can become so serious so quickly that antibiotics are often recommended for ANY cat bite, infected or not. and they are a must for any one with a compromised immune system or for infants or the elderly.

the closer the bite is to a bone, the more deadly it can be- but it NEVER has to be! IF you seek appropriate medical care, and do NOT wait!!

i dont think a lot of people are dying from cat bites, because the antibiotics used are very effective, but probably a lot of ppl do not realize how serious a cat bite can be, and do not seek help soon enough and may end up with some big medical bills and time off work, that could have been avoided.

i guess your mom is just trying to protect you. i love cats, but would never fool around with a cat bite! i got one just last year and it was nasty. it got red and swollen very quickly.
cat scratch fever is pretty common but is usually not a problem in an otherwise healthy person.
you may wish to speak with your doctor about your own special needs, and ask what you should do in the event of a cat scratch or bite- they may give you a standing prescription for an antibiotic, or advize you come in in the event of a bite or scratch.

good luck

Wow I should send this to my brother, he made my mom mad when he acted as if she didnt know what she was talking about. But either way yeah it wont keep me from having cats neither. Thanks for the information its very appreciated.

http://www.thecatsite.com/general/catbites.html


here is a link with more accurate information.

One of the articles I just read (you got me curious, and I did mor digging!) said that less than 2% of people who get it have serious problems, like seizures, coma, or death. Mostly in people with a poor immune system. But if that fits you, be extra careful. I don't know how close I came to dying, but it sure felt close. I was awful sick. Cat scratches aren't the only way to get it, either. So ANY time your skin is broken, wash it very well and watch carefully for any signs of infection. Kinda like "an ounce of prevention..." thing.

Amber

I'm sorry if I may have missed something, but has your cat actually ever bitten you, or ever tried to bite you?

Maybe I've just been exceptionally fortunate, but I've been around cats all my life, and I've only been bitten hard enough to break the skin once - and that was under extraordinary circumstances.

It happened when I took one of my cats to the vet to get her blood drawn, and she became extremely frightened and lashed out in fear, biting through my thumbnail. Normally it would have been a vet tech who would have gotten bitten, but I was holding her myself because I worked at the clinic. My thumb did get infected, but then it was a very deep bite. When my cat's bloodwork came back it turned out she was hyperthyroid - the condition had made her abnormally fearful, and with medication she returned to her normal gentle self. She never would have bitten me if she were in her right mind.

Usually cats will let you know with body language when they're upset, and will give you a chance to back off before they'll bite. Many cats live their entire lives without ever biting a human hard enough to break the skin. Some cats can be aggressive (Understanding Cat Aggression Towards People -click here), but you can reduce the chances of that happening by making sure the cat is raised well:

Allow the kitten to remain with its mother & littermates long enough to learn appropriate behavior (10-12 weeks), spay or neuter the kitten at or before 6 months of age, handle the cat gently and frequently, to get it used to being handled and groomed, and play appropriately - don't encourage a kitten to bite and claw your hands. Redirect any aggressive play tendencies toward her toys, and get to know your cat and become familiar with her body language, to spot the signs that she is becoming impatient and wishes to be left alone before she feels it's necessary to bite to get her point across. Most cats will give body language clues before attacking.

If you or your mother are concerned about scratches from the cat's claws, you can trim her nails or have a vet do it for you, or even use soft paws to blunt the nails. Declawing is not a good idea, as it hurts the cat and leaves her without her natural defenses, which may increase any tendency to bite.

Cats can be incredibly loving and affectionate pets, and bring lots of light and joy into life.

Here are some articles about cat scratch disease:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/001614.htm

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=1&SourceID=42

Originally Posted by hyperspazz

... cats can be deadly. If they bite you to do damage something in their saliva can make you ill and even kill you.

Click to expand...

Cats, usually thought to be the cleanest of animals, have little toxic wastedumps in their mouths ... your Mom is probably referring to the resulting infections from bite wounds, which, if left untreated, can and often do become quite serious and sometimes result in death.

Although cats have a weaker biting force than dogs, they have thin, sharp, little teeth, and 85% of cat bite wounds are puncture wounds. Because puncture wounds become infected more commonly than other kinds of bite injuries, the rate of infection associated with cat bites is higher than that for dog bites. An estimated 30% to 50% of cat bite injuries become infected. The median time from bite to appearance of first symptoms of infection is shorter for cat bites than for dog bites (12 hours compared with 24 hours).

Pasteurella is the most commonly isolated bacteria found in cat bite wounds, found in 50% to 75% of cat bites. Wounds involving Pasteurella organisms also are associated with a more rapid appearance of infection compared with wounds in which staphylococci (staph infection) or streptococci (strep infection) are cultured.

The next most commonly identified bacteria in bite wounds are streptococci, staphylococci, and Moraxella, Corynebacterium, and Neisseria species. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mitis are the most common isolates. Wound infections from cat bites may be complicated by abscess formation, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and central nervous system (CNS) infections. Certain organisms may be associated with a higher risk of complications: Pasteurella species, for instance, may be more commonly associated with bacteremia and CNS infections, particularly in patients with underlying immunocompromising illnesses.

Driving a car is dangerous
Crossing the road is dangerous
Eating rare meat is dangerous
Sunlight is dangerous
Getting out the bathtub is dangerous
Using electrical appliances is dangerous

All of these things are dangerous to a degree - it just depends on how you want to live your life. Talk to your doctor - don't take too much stock in medical advice from the internet or a talk show. You need to know solid facts, and what applies to YOU.

The other thing to be concerned about with a cat bite or ANY other puncture wound is tetanus. Tetanus booster shots are supposed to be effective for ten years. When I volunteered at a local shelter they had us get our tetanus shots up to date before allowing us to work with the animals.

Does this mean that I shouldn't let Max drink out of my glass? LOL

True yes, but not entirely likely. Just wash out all scratches and bites the same way you would wash out any other cut or scrape you get and the likelihood of anything happening is pretty slim. Because it's a bite, though, it's especially important that you DO wash out the cut, since getting bitten by anything means saliva, which means bacteria which could mean infection.

Hi, Sorry I didn't read all the posts. I just wanted to add that my hand and arm is always all scratched up from rough play with our cats.

Its my fault I tease them till they fight back, they don't get mad or anything just start to play rough like they do with each other.

Maybe that is why I am on disability for depression and alot of other problems? I am all messed up from cats scratching and biting me all these years?

I am just kidding and not trying to make light of the problems that could happen to some people from scratch or bite.

I have been scratched and biten by both my cats and I have NEVER washed ONE of the wounds - And I have never had anything happen to me - You would have to be EXTREMELY immune compromised in order to catch anything from your cat.

At least my cat can't MAUL me!!! (BTW Love dogs to bits!)

The FIRST thing to do when receiving a wound of ANY sort is to thoroughly cleanse the wound, but it is even more important when treating a bite wound. Punctures are tricky ... they can heal over quickly since the wounds are typically small and trap the bacteria inside to fester. The pathogens carried in the mouths of animals can cause very serious, even life-threatening blood-borne infections and other health issues. Just because someone says they have never had a bad reaction does not mean that others should neglect basic wound care and treatment. Your own personal experience may be quite different from other people's experiences.

One does not need to be immune compromised at all to develop a serious infection from a bite wound. I am not immune compromised in any way, shape or form, but after my stud bit the pointy part of my elbow down to the bone recently, I developed septic arthritis in the elbow joint as well as the shoulder joint. After many painful needle-aspirations to drain the infection from the bone as well as several courses of both oral AND intravenous antibiotics, I still have to go in once per month to have my white cell count monitored and my entire arm is STILL sore.

cat bites can be very dangerous. my BF was bitten by a cat, just one deep puncture in his hand, and i insisted on taking him to the emergency room because a relative of mine, who works in medicine and had worked in an ER, always stressed to me the danger of cat bites. at the ER they ended up keeping him overnight! so that he could be kept on IV antibiotics. the ER doctor told me that cat bites are the most infectious bites that they see, followed by human, followed by dog, and if we had waitied to bring him in he might have lost his hand. a little tooth nick probably wouldnt hurt you, but an actual bite, as in a deep puncture wound from a cat, should always get medical attention and will most likely be treated with strong antibiotics.