What happens after a cat has been bitten?
When a cat bites, its teeth go through the skin and then it releases. This leaves small puncture wounds in the skin which rapidly seal over within hours, trapping bacteria from the cat’s mouth under the skin of the victim. The bacteria multiply under the skin. For several days there may be no sign of infection but then swelling and pain at the puncture sight are noticed. The cat may also run a fever. If the site of the bite is covered by loose skin, a pocket of pus will develop forming an abscess. In areas where the skin is not loose such as on the foot or the tail the infection spreads through the tissues and causes cellulitis. Rarely there may be more serious consequences such as a septic arthritis (infection of a joint space) or osteomyelitis (infection of bone) or pyothorax (the chest cavity becomes filled with pus).
