Cats are pretty gentle creatures most of the time. But not always. Strays and feral cats that are not used to human contact will on occasion react violently towards a person that tries to make contact, pick them up or pet them. And before you know you it your wrestling with a screeching cat. With some rather nasty bite marks to show for it.

Most cat bites are from cats they are familiar with. Perhaps your cat doesn't feel like taking a bath. Or isn't in the mood to be petted and takes a swipe at you. Or one of the kids is playing to rough and the cat takes a bite out of Tippy's face. An estimated one million people are bitten each year  by cats. Cats bite really hard.

Listed below you'll find tips to follow if you have been bitten by a cat. You should contact a medical facility if you are not comfortable taking care of the bite yourself, or if it is deep and the wound is bleeding badly and might require stitches. Cat bites can become  easily infected. They usually are deeper than they appear and can rapidly lead to infection. You may need to get a tetanus shot if you haven't had one in 5-10 years. Because it is another viral disease that must be avoided because it is fatal.

Tips For Taking Care Of A Cat Bite

• Wash and rinse throughly  with a mild soap and hot water. Completely clean the area to make sure all the saliva and blood is washed away. Rinse with peroxide solution.
• Apply pressure with a clean wash cloth to the bite area to stop the wound from bleeding.
• Put a bandage or apply a sterile piece of gauze on the wound.
• Keep the bite elevated if possible. Keep it above heart level to slow the swelling and prevent any infection that may occur.
• Apply a good triple antibiotic ointment at least twice a day.

Report the incident to an animal control office or police if the cat was a stray. It may have been infected with the rabbies virus. It is extremely rare for domestic animals to have rabies, but if animal control can't find the animal and you show signs of rabies you may need to have a series of rabies shots as soon as possible.

If for some reason the cat bite becomes infected you should call your doctor as soon as possible. Signs of infection may include redness, hotness in the area of the wound, tenderness, swelling, oozing, or bleeding.

Cats are loving creatures. But once bitten. It is a good idea to take precautions.