Cats sure make for great pets, but cat bits can happen to even the most adoring of cat owners. If you’ve been bitten by your cat or someone else’s cat, is it necessary to seek medical attention?

We believe it is, and our AFC Urgent Care Knoxville team explains why below.

How Necessary Is Medical Care for a Cat Bite?

Believe it or not, it’s actually quite necessary. Although cat teeth are quite small, they’re generally very sharp. Because of this, they can easily puncture the skin, leaving small yet deep wounds.

These punctures rapidly seal over, trapping bacteria from the cat’s mouth under the skin of the bite victim, where they can easily multiply and cause infection. Even if the bite that you’ve received from your cat isn’t bleeding, it’s still best to visit our AFC center to get treatment just to be safe. If you don’t want to receive medical treatment, be on the lookout for the common symptoms of infection.

Common Symptoms of Cat Bite Infection

• Redness or discoloration
• Swelling
• Inflammation
• Warmth
• A bump or blister where the bite wound is located

How Can I Care for My Bite Wound?

While we believe medical attention is more important than you might realize for cat bites, you should still perform general first aid on your bite even before visiting our AFC center.

If you’ve been bitten, follow the below-mentioned first-aid steps.

First-Aid Steps for Cat Bites

• Wash the wound. Use mild soap, and run warm tap water over it for five to 10 minutes.
• Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth.
• Apply over-the-counter antibiotic cream if you have it.
• Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage.
• Keep the wound bandaged and see your doctor.
• Change the bandage several times a day once your doctor has examined the wound.
• Watch for signs of infection, including redness, swelling, increased pain and fever.

Have you been bitten by a cat or another animal? If so, don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Knoxville center!