What happens if a kitten bites you?
So, you’ve found yourself in the unfortunate position of being bitten by a cute little ball of fluff. While kittens might seem like harmless creatures incapable of causing any damage, they can actually cause some serious issues if they sink their tiny teeth into your skin.
In this article, we’ll explore what exactly happens when a kitten bites you and what steps you should take to prevent any negative consequences from occurring.
Understanding Kitten Teeth
Before we dive into the specifics of what happens when a kitten bites you, it’s important to understand just how their teeth are different from adult cats’. For starters, kittens have milk teeth, which are smaller and sharper than adult cat teeth. They use these tiny little daggers while nursing on their mother’s milk and practicing hunting behaviors as younglings.
It’s also worth noting that kittens don’t yet have full control over their biting reflexes; sometimes playing too roughly or going for human fingers instead of toys.
The Damage That Can Be Done
While those little razor-sharp milk-teeth may not look particularly threatening at first glance, they’re more than capable of doing some real harm – especially in immunocompromised individuals or children whose immune system is still developing.
A few things can happen:
- Infection: Cat saliva contains bacteria that live naturally in the feline mouth but may not be friendly towards humans (eg Pasteurella). This means there’s always risk for infection accompanied with swollen tissues.
- Breaking Skin: Most people feel itching where the kitty bit them before seeing blood seeping through scars caused by compromised defenses.
- Allergic Reactions: Although rare some people could develop severe allergic reactions after contact with cat saliva. Watch out for swelling on parts other than just the bite location as well as breathing difficulties.
Now let’s unpack each point:
Infection
The biggest risk associated with kitten bites is infection. A cat’s mouth, even a cute lil’ kitten one, houses all manner of bacteria and microorganisms that can cause serious problems if they make their way into your bloodstream through the wound caused by a bite.
These infectious agents range from relatively benign species such as Staphylococcus to more dangerous ones like Pasteurella multocida or Capnocytophaga bacteria which could lead to extreme illness or sepsis.
In order to minimise the risk of an infection occurring, it’s important that you clean the affected area thoroughly with soap and water after being bitten. If at any point signs of fever are felt then medical attention should be sought out just in case things start going south.
Breaking Skin
Of course, no matter how careful you are about cleaning up after being bitten by a kitten (don’t worry happens to everyone), there’s still the issue of actually breaking skin itself.
Assuming these wounds aren’t super deep right off the bat shouldn’t pose too much danger, but reopening during physical activities –(eg gym) might delay healing time so it’s best not strain those muscles until everything has cleared up properly.
Allergic Reactions
It is unusual –but possible– for someone to experience an allergic reaction following a round against kitty fangs. Mostly known for triggering allergies on sensitive skin would be proteins found on dander carried around by cats but direct contact with saliva could also do some damage albeit less commonly.
Symptoms vary between individuals depending how severe autoimmune disorder may put them at higher Anaphylaxis risks requiring immediate medical help so don’t take this lightly!
How To Treat A Kitten Bite
Now that we’ve covered what can happen if caught unawares by playful prey here are protocols one may follow whether sore hasn’t yet set in or complications have already made themselves apparent:
Step One: Clean The Wound Properly
Using soap and warm water, thoroughly clean the affected area. Remember that it’s not just a matter of getting rid of visible blood but everything bacteria may have left behind.
If you notice any extraordinary swelling, persistent redness or pus formation, visit your doctor since it can be signs of infection.
Step Two: Apply An Antibiotic Cream As Recommended By A Professional
This cream will help prevent bacterial growth by fighting against germs on location.
While making sure to follow instructions properly prescribed by the medic, note‒ antibiotics cannot do all things so underlying infections should remain cautious too!
Step Three: Monitor The Area Carefully
Keep an eye out for any signs of further complications such as fever related symptoms or bleeding despite medications applied properly still happening.
Conclusion
Kittens are cute little fluffballs with razor-sharp teeth capable of causing real harm—even if they don’t mean to hurt you! While being bitten by one isn’t always possible stepping into some preventive steps guidepost could prove quite useful in avoiding painful aftereffects. So when next you find yourself at war with wily kitten opponents Hopeful this short article has given bright ideas in how best to emerge victorious- while keeping safety precautions firmly remembered.