Our little felines are generally calm animals, but they are also very territorial and do not hesitate to claw or bite if they see it necessary to defend themselves, protect their own or secure their territory. It can also occur between cats that live in the same household due to differences in food, place to rest or toys, so you should know what risk bites between cats have in order to act appropriately when your little feline has been bitten by another cat.
Continue reading this article on our site to learn the risks and characteristics of a bite from one cat to another cat, as well like the things a good cat sitter should do if need be.
What to do if my cat is bitten by another cat?
To understand how important quick action is, it is essential to first talk about what happens when a cat bites another cat. Cat bites are especially dangerous because they go deeper and therefore cause more tissue damage. This is so because cats have long, fine and pointed teeth and the fangs are slightly curved. In addition, these teeth often contain numerous bacteria that predispose to infections by leaving them at the ends of the wounds, and since the bite is so deep and narrow, these germs are They reproduce very quickly due to the accumulation of humidity and heat. When these germs reach the bloodstream, they can be transmitted throughout the cat's body, causing septicemia that is often fatal. If a cat bites another on the tail or leg, cellulitis occurs as the infection spreads to nearby tissues, in other cases it can lead to an infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or septic arthritis, which is the infection of the space articulate. Likewise, bites between cats can transmit diseases as important as rabies, tetanus or the feline immunodeficiency virus.
Because of all of the above, if your cat is bitten by another cat, the risk of infection is very high, and if it has been bitten by a non-sanitary controlled cat, such as a stray, the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases they increase exponentially, so it is best to go to the veterinary center as soon as possible to have the wound examined and the necessary cures performed.
What to do so that my cat doesn't bite other cats?
As we have mentioned, the risks of bites between cats are very high. Symptoms that may lead to suspect that your cat is being bitten by another cat can be weakness, pain, inflammation, swelling and pus in small wounds, as well as more serious signs such as paralysis, fever, hypersensitivity or lack of the same, seizures and anorexia.
In the previous section we talked about bites between cats that do not live together, but what happens when our cat bites another cat with whom he lives? How should we act to avoid it? Maintaining a calm home environment is key to preventing fights and bites between cats that live together. To do this, it is essential to ensure that each cat has its own resources, such as a litter box, bed, toys and even feeders depending on the type of relationship they have with each other.
Why does my cat bite my other cat and how to avoid it?
There are several reasons why your cat can be aggressive towards other cats with which it lives, such as a lack of socializationin its critical stage, that is, between the first 2 and 7 weeks of life, at which time the kittens must be accustomed to living or being in contact with people of all ages, as well as different situations, transportation, and contact with other animals and cats so that in the future they are not so fearful of strangers and better tolerate the company of another of their own species.
In other cases, although socialization has been carried out to a greater or lesser extent, the problem is that the presentation between cats is not adequateIt is important to know the steps to introduce a new cat at home when there is already one, as they are very territorial and routine animals and anything that goes out of their comfort zone is going to be very stressful. In these cases, you can start the steps to follow in a correct presentation even if the cats have already lived together for a few days.
To prevent your cat from biting other cats if it goes outside, the solution is easy, don't let it go out alone under any pretext, so you also prevent the spread of diseases, parasites and the risk of being run over. If your cat needs to go out yes or yes, we suggest you get him used to walking on a leash so that you can control his behavior outside.
How to cure a cat bite?
Antibiotics given within the first 24 hours of the bite can prevent the spread of infection and fatal sepsis, so it is so important to go to an emergency veterinary center as soon as you see or notice that your cat has been bitten by another cat.
It is important to cut the hair around the wound and clean it thoroughly. Once clean, an antiseptic or disinfectant product such as chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine diluted with water (1 part povidone/10 parts water) should be applied. After that, you can apply an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic ointment in addition to oral antibiotics. If the cat is in pain, pain relievers should also be used. Normally, these wounds should not be closed, they should be left to heal in the air with routine cleaning and disinfection that the veterinarian will prescribe. Serious or complicated wounds may require surgery.
With rapid antibiotic treatment, abscesses that cats can develop after being bitten by another cat can be cured within five days, while cellulitis or bone or joint infection can last a few days longer.
If your cat is not protected against rabies and you do not know its feline leukemia and immunodeficiency virus status, you should Tell your veterinarian about it, as these wounds can transmit these viruses, and if the cat is positive for one of these last two retroviruses, it can develop immunosuppression, which delays the normal recovery of the wound by altering the correct function of the immune system. Therefore, if after the bite you notice that your cat's wound does not heal, you should discuss it with the specialist.
