What to do if a skinny stray kitten bites you and draws blood?

It looks like this little girl has a bite wound. I would recommend trapping the cat and bringing it to a shelter if one is available. I would be cautious about touching her just in case the animal that bit her had rabies. She need veterinary care, this is not something you can take care of at home. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This type of wounds must be considered always infected. A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Unfortunately, we can only give medical recommendations to animal patients. Please discuss the situation with your family veterinarian and they will advise you on the best course of treatment for your child.

Without more information it's not possible to determine what has caused your kitten’s condition. However, it is essential that your kitten see a veterinarian immediately. He sounds like he is seriously ill, and there are various reasons that may have lead to his sickness. One very serious concern in a kitten with bite wounds is the possibility of rabies infection, which is transmitted from the saliva of infected mammals, can be passed on to humans, and is fatal. A young kitten that is not eating is at risk for dehydration and low blood sugar, which can quickly become deadly. Cow’s milk can actually cause gastrointestinal upset in kittens, and should not be fed to kittens or cats. Kitten should be nursed by their mother or fed kitten formula until they are weaned. Please have him seen by a vet immediately.

With bite wounds there is a risk of Rabies (although I believe Australia has strict quarantine procedures and may be Rabies free now) as well as bacterial infections both from bites/scratches and your own skin bacteria. Any wound needs to be thoroughly cleaned and evaluated by your primary care provider/MD.

How lovely of you to look after this stray! There are a number of things that could cause him to lose weight, such as intestinal worms, diabetes, kidney disease, or hyperthyroidism to name a few. He could also possibly have fleas. It's important to make sure your cats are up to date on their flea treatments and deworming treatments. As for the stray, I would take him into the SPCA if you don't want to assume financial responsibility for him. They can get him the veterinary attention he needs and find him a home. Otherwise, you can take him into the vet yourself :-)

Antibiotics in the US aren't available over the counter, and cats are picky with their food so they are unlikely to eat food that is treated with medications. You can get a live animal trap and leave food in there to try to capture the kitty so it can get proper treatment.