My cat bit me, finger is swollen, painful, and has pus. What now?

Cat bites are always concerning as there are many serious infections which can be transmitted which are far more common than rabies. Immediate treatment by a physician is recommended and preventive antibiotics will likely be required, intravenous antibiotics are occasionally required depending on severity

It sounds like Kitu may have a bite wouldn’t abscess. These usually need to be drained and given antibiotics to resolve. In the meantime you may consider applying a warm water and Epsom salt compress to the site. This may help with discomfort and also may encourage drainage. I would still encourage you to have her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Anyone who is bit by a cat should be evaluated by a physician. A cat's mouth is usually full of bacteria that can result in severe infections and cellulitis in humans that get bit. You should check with a local physician as soon as possible. You are welcome to check with a physician (as I am a veterinarian) for any more specific information. Good luck! Sorry that this happened to you! I have been through this many times and I have gone to the hospital to be looked at every time and everything has turned out ok after.

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Pussy Cat! I recommend having him rechecked as soon as possible. My worry is that the bite wound is now a closed abscess and needs to be lanced so it can drain. Antibiotics have a hard time penetrating a puss filled pocket. I would not recommend waiting a week. I hope this helps and I wish Pussy Cat a speedy recovery!

This could definitely be from a bite, or there could be another reason for the infection. It's best to get this seen by a veterinarian, because there could be something under the skin that will continually cause an infection is it's not removed. This doesn't appear to be an emergency, but it's best to have her seen in the next day or two. For now, you can try the following: 1) Clip the hair around the area and expose all of the sore skin. 2) Wash/spray the area with just warm, clean water (no soap or other antiseptics) for at least 5 minutes at a time. Do this twice a day. I hope that helps and Cymba gets better soon.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You could try to keep it clean but aside from that, I am afraid that he will need veterinary care. Puncture or bite wounds can get infected rather quickly and result in a fever which may be why he is not eating. They can form abscesses that require local treatment and antibiotics. You could perhaps consider taking him to an emergency veterinarian who is open over the weekend. Good luck and have a great day!

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is very important to have Pussy Cat seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible if you suspect his eye has been damaged. The pus could be coming from around the eye, but if the cornea has been scratched, he could wind up blind, or even losing the eye if the injury is not addressed quickly. I hope you can do this tomorrow. I hope all is well very soon. Take care.