Cat bites, infection risk 'are no joke'

Dr. David Maloney has seen firsthand that a cat's bite is a lot worse than its hiss.

A veterinarian Maloney worked with locally was out for three months after a feline bit his knuckle, forcing the vet to undergo several operations. And while he was in vet school at Kansas State University, an injured cat sent two students and one intern to the hospital with bad bites after they tried to administer pain medication.

"I know of several other people who have needed to be hospitalized and received IV antibiotics after getting a cat bite," said the staff veterinarian at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab. "Cat bites are no joke. I would strongly urge anyone who receives a cat bite to seek professional human medical attention quickly."

Every year, 3 million to 5 million Americans are bitten by animals. Cat bites account for 5-15 percent of the total animal bites. Although dog bites are a significant amount of the total injuries (approximately 80-90 percent), roughly half of all cat-bite wounds become infected and require medical assistance.

"Cats have a high population of bacterial pathogens in their mouths, including Prevotella species, Actinomyces and Streptococcal species," Maloney said. "They also have a very effective delivery system: sharp teeth. Getting bit by a cat is like getting an injection, but of bacteria."

Cats' pointy teeth not only inflict painful bites but often inject bacteria into the bloodstream. And the puncture wounds are so small they are likely to seal up quickly.

"People have to be concerned about the risks of a cat bite. The idea that cats don't bite is a myth," said Dr. Richard H. Polsky, a certified applied animal behaviorist based out of Los Angeles.

Polsky also shares numerous dangerous cat-bite stories like Maloney's, in which people have been badly injured by a cat's canine teeth. But as an animal behavior expert, Polsky sees some of these cases go to court, where he provides his expert testimony.

"Although it's not as massive and visible as many dog maulings, they're very serious," he said, adding that cat bites are not discussed as readily as they should be. "Potentially, they're very dangerous. I've seen people in the hospital, close to fatality."

In 2004, 133 cat bites and one kitten bite were reported in the area covered by Salt Lake County Animal Services, which includes unincorporated Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City, Taylorsville and Herriman. However, according to Temma Martin, spokeswoman for Salt Lake County Animal Services, many more of these bites go unreported. Law states that animal bites must be reported to animal services, to establish a record of the animal's behavior and for the safety of the victim.