Cat bite paranoia

[Button]

I spent 9 days in the hospital last Nov. with cellulitis from a cat bite. The wound was disinfected immediately and I went on an RX with a form of penicillin within 9 hours -- and still the infection! He's a healthy feline with alll his shots, etc. I'm completely over it and yes, we are keeping the cat. But I live in horror of another bite/scratch, whatever. He was an outside cat (able to come and go at will through his cat flap) and we "converted" him to indoor puss (after four injuries within a year and a half. He is now almost three, we've had him two years, he's been strictly indoors since last spring. The bite was unprovoked -- he was sitting on my lap as he still does anytime I sit in the easy chair. For no reason he looked up at me and sank his teeth into my wrist! He's "mouthed" me before but never bit. We installed stools, perches, etc. at the windows for him to look out and either my husband or I play with him with his feather on a stick, etc., several times a day. He is, of course, spoiled rotton but is basically such a good cat -- uses his litter box with no problem, greets guests politely, follows us from room to room and sleeps wherever we happen to be. Why that bite? And is there apt to be another? Failing to get "rid" of the cat, Emergency told us next time to come in immediately. It could have been life threatening.

[jason]

im guessing your kitty was (at least partially) outdoor at the time of the biting hence the bacteria (if so, yet another reason to keep kitties indoors). that particular type of bacteria infection is life threatening as im sure you have by now read about.

the bite was most likely a result of something traumatic (yeah, surprise ) that your cat encountered or something happened that triggered a past experience. do you remember anything just before this bite ocurring within 48 hours or so that was different (out of the ordinary at all)?

im guessing this was a once in a lifetime episode given his typical behavior you described. ive had one incident with my two cats (just one of them) that if it were typical bahavior, i would be concerned as well. cats can have their moments.

thanks for keeping him inside and keeping him altogether.

[Auntie Debbie]

I have a few ideas as to why your kitty may have bitten you....
One is the "Stimulation Threshold" where your petting him may have gotten him over stimulated. Some cats can take just so much petting and they become defensive or lash out to get you to stop.
Another idea is maybe he heard something (with his super sonic ears...that you may not be albe to hear) that he associates with anger or pain and he lashed out at you.
Yet anohter...he could have given you a love-bite. You say he has mouthed you before, but lightly. I've had kitties that have "mouthed" me while enjoying some cuddle time. It's one way of showing affection. He may not have meant to really bite.
If this is the only time he has done this, you may want to have a vet give him a good check up. He may have felt pain or just not be feeling well and this was his way of getting your attention.
There are some good suggestions at this site:

http://www.catsinternational.org/articl ... bites.html

Further tips and info can be found under the Feline secition of my website (Debbie's Feline Health) listed under Favorites on the menu on the left side of the board.
I hope they help and that your kitty isn't developing a bad habit.
(I'm assuming you don't play fight with him with your hads...that's a definite no-no and he could be looking to play.)
Please let us know how you're making out and I hope you're all healed soon!

[Guest]

"guessing your kitty was (at least partially) outdoor at the time of the biting" -- No, Jason, not at all. He'd been inside for months by then. Cats frequently harbor bacteria in their mouths which can be dangerous if you are susceptible (I've learned). "If this is the only time he has done this" -- It's the first time he bit me but he has run darted out from some "hiding place" and grabbed the leg of any passer-by and he did bite once or twice then but never with this serious a result and we understood that he was just "playing". He had been completely check out several times by Vets (injuries from when he was an outside cat set us up on a first-name basis with the offie!). They pronounced him to be a healthy, a happy, well- adjusted cat and they agreed with us that he surely lacked "street-marts." It was really really tough converting him to inside and he still cries by the door. He's VERY vocal and you have no doubt how he feels about something! The web site was a real help and I'm thinking now that their "startle" when just dropping off to sleep may have been it. He's funny and dear and we love him so hope that was the last! We were careful playing with him with hands because he did scratch (and Emergency said if he had just licked his paws and scratched, the same thing could happen to me again, so I try to be doubly careful. We're in our 70's and have always been dog people so we are novices with cats. My husband is worse about babying him than I am! Our grown kids and grandkids love him too.

[Auntie Debbie]

As novices with cats you seem to know a bit already! It's great that you understood the biting of the legs of passerbys is playing. He was substituting the "moving" legs as prey. Years ago we had a family cat that did this to my little sister...she was low to the ground, not too intimidating and he used her feet as his moving toy (prey).
I'm glad the link was helpful.
Even though you may be able to explain some of his biting, please keep him up to date with his rabies shots. Should he bite someone that requires medical attention, you may for whatever reasons be asked to submit proof that he is up to date on rabies. I hope he will never bite you or anyone again though.
Keep us posted and if you have any other problems, please post, ok?

[Traci]

Have you recently had a tetanus shot yourself, or one given you at the ER during this recent event? I find that when I keep my tetanus up-to-date, cat bites seem less severe to me. They are typically good for 10 years, maybe a year or two over that., might be something to discuss with your physician especially if this incidence has left you very fearful of it occuring again.

Wish we had easy answers for you, but unfortunately, sometimes these things can never be explained, ... a cat may bite suddenly for no apparent reason known to us, but to them, they certainly have their reasons....could be fear, stress, pain, sudden noise, dislike of petting for an extended time, the possibilities are endless. Since you describe a well-formed bond and well-adjusted kitty, chances are in your favor it won't happen again, but one can never predict a cat's behavior or reason for a quick unprovoked bite.