If you know the cat that’s bitten you has a rabies vaccine, it’s unlikely that you’ll contract rabies.īut if an unvaccinated cat has bitten you, you must take the bite seriously. Most domestic cats are already vaccinated against rabies. This virus is almost always fatal when untreated, but it’s extremely rare.Īccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are only 1 to 3 cases in the United States each year. RabiesĬats, like many other mammals, can carry rabies.

According to Poison Control, CSD is usually not serious, but people with weakened immune systems are at risk of developing a more serious infection. It’s important to know that CSD is most common in children. The following animals are at the highest risk of carrying the infection: CSD is transmitted when a cat carrying the infection: Cat scratch diseaseĬat scratch disease (CSD) (also known as cat scratch fever) is an infection caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae. Immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of developing a severe infection from these bacteria. In fact, a 2013 research review showed that Pasteurella is the most common organism isolated from both cat and dog bites. Pasteurella multocida is a type of bacteria frequently found in the mouths of cats that can cause infections after a bite or scratch. Here are some of the potential infectious diseases that can happen after a cat bite: Pasteurella multocida

Skin infections, known as cellulitis, can occur quickly after a bite. The warm and dark inner layers of your skin are optimal for the growth of the bacteria. The puncture hole can quickly seal over and trap bacteria from the cat’s mouth under your skin. When they bite you, they are essentially injecting bacteria deep into your skin’s tissue. There are tons of dangerous bacteria flourishing inside a cat’s mouth. In rare cases, these infections can be fatal. If left untreated, cat bite infections can spread to other parts of the body, causing a condition called septicemia (blood poisoning), which requires hospitalization. Roughly 400,000 cat bites occur in the United States each year.Ĭat bites with infections can become not only painful, but also red or discolored, and swollen.

According to a 2018 research review, infection occurs in about 50 percent of cat bites in children. In fact, the infection rate from a cat bite is fairly high.

Though house cats are often vaccinated against the most serious diseases, like rabies, stray cats aren’t usually vaccinated and can carry several diseases. When a cat bites, it may not seem like a big deal - it can be cute when they’re playing - but some cat bites can pose significant health risks.Ĭats carry many bacteria in their mouths capable of causing infections in bite wounds. Though cats are soft and cuddly, they may bite or scratch when they’re spooked. Share on Pinterest Jeff Wasserman/Stocksy United

Bite & Release by Cory Cyr