They're cute,
they're cuddly,
and
they're deadly.
That's right,
your furry feline friend might look
like they're inviting you in for a belly rub,
but it's a trap.
And before you know it,
their vampire-like fangs and sharp claws
could send you to the hospital.
A small cat bite in your arm today
could lead to an amputation tomorrow.
And if you don't take it seriously,
you might not be around
to watch any more cute cat videos.
Although it's the only domesticated
species in its Felidae family,
cats don't lack the killer instinct.
And even if your cat is not aggressive,
sometimes during playtime
it may get carried away.
Because cats have long, thin, sharp teeth,
more like Dracula’s fangs
than our incisors,
a cat’s bite will leave small,
circular marks on a person’s skin.
And cats' mouths have types of bacteria
that we don't,
so they cause infections.
When a bite drives this bacteria
into a person’s skin,
the warm environment
with low oxygen levels allows the bacteria
to multiply and spread quickly.
So no matter how tight you are
with the adorable "Mr.Snuggles" here,
beware that the possibility of an attack
is always present.
According to the
World Health Organization,
in the United States,
there are an estimated 400,000 cat bites
and 66,000 visits to hospital
emergency departments every year.
A cat can attack for many reasons.
It could be playing,
defending its territory,
redirecting its anger,
or it may simply get exasperated
by your constant petting.
Whatever the case,
a bad bite can become serious fast.
So follow these tips to save yourself
from a nasty infection,
disfiguration
or even death.
Knowing the warning signs
could help prevent a cat from biting you
in the first place.
Watch for ears that are tilted back
and pointing toward the tail,
flat against the cat's head.
Listen to verbal cues
like angry meowing,
howling,
hissing
or a whine that sounds like
a demon is about to be unleashed.
And check for a tail that appears fuller
and fluffier than normal,
dilated pupils,
and an arched back.
If a cat bites you,
don’t shrug it off and ignore it.
Even if your cat is clean and vaccinated,
if there’s a puncture mark in your skin,
get soap and hot water
and at the very least,
wash it out thoroughly.
Not cleaning the wound right away
will leave bacteria from the bite
deep in your skin,
increasing the odds
of a serious infection.
In 2012, in Oregon,
Paul Gaylord was bitten by his cat
when he tried to help his pet
as it choked on a mouse.
What he didn’t know
was that the mouse was infected
with the bubonic plague,
the same disease that caused
the Black Death centuries ago.
Within a day, Paul was in the hospital.
He went into a coma for 27 days
due to the infection
and ended up losing
some fingers and toes,
but survived the plague.
Go to your doctor
or the nearest urgent care center
for medical attention.
It’s better to take action
when the puncture is still fresh
than to wait too long
and risk needing surgery.
If your cat bites you,
you'll know if it’s up-to-date
on all of its vaccinations
and can give that information
to the medics.
But if you’re bitten by someone else’s cat,
find out if the animal has received
all of its booster shots lately.
There are several common illnesses
that cats can spread to humans,
including cat scratch fever,
a bacterial infection that can cause
a blister and swelling in the lymph nodes
near the wound,
headaches, fever, sore muscles and joints,
fatigue and lack of appetite.
Pasteurella multocida
is a bacterium found in more than
70% of cats' mouths.
Bites carrying this bacteria
can cause pain,
swelling and redness within two days
and are usually treated successfully
with an antibiotic.
If the bacteria passes through your blood
into your heart,
it could infect your valves.
And if your cat spends
a significant amount of time outdoors
or eats raw meats or wild birds,
it could have salmonella.
If a stray cat bites you,
wash the wound and go immediately
to an emergency room.
Provide all the information you can
about the incident,
including where you last saw the cat.
You might need a series of
painful rabies shots,
but it’s better than foaming at the mouth
as your brain starts to disintegrate
from the inside out.
Once you get rabies symptoms,
it's almost guaranteed that you'll die.
And even if it isn't rabies,
and the infection isn’t that bad
or none is present,
you might need to take antibiotics.
Some cat bite issues
can take up to 10 days to appear.
Yes, you’re feeling surprised,
angry and in pain.
But remember,
cats are animals.
It didn’t attack you personally
because it doesn’t like you.
Maybe it felt overstimulated,
fearful or threatened.
You're much bigger than a cat,
and you could easily injure a cat
if you attack it.
Just like any other pet,
good training from day one
is essential for cats.
Avoid playing roughly
with your hands or feet,
and use toys to satisfy
a cat's hunting nature.
And be aware that too much petting
and snuggling can lead to an attack.
If these little cat bites are so dangerous,
could you imagine what a bite from
one of these big cats could do to you?
Find out how to survive a lion attack,
right here.