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[donutte]

Oh believe me, I'm SUPER careful with all scratches and bites. Even after a "love-bite session" from Pea-Pea, I'll wash it down really good. When Lucky bit me last year, tooth firmly in thumb, it bled and bled and we poured alcohol on it (I didn't even feel it for all the throbbing). Scratches look about the same today. They don't hurt, except where there are bruises under the two big scratches. You can't see those particular scratches in the picture, but those are both looking pretty good too. I'm not a fan of bandages, unless it's a wound that is not scabbed over, or is likely to get rubbed against a lot (like when I had a blister pop inside my ankle).

I'm amazed how much I DON'T feel it, to be honest. I've never taken any scratch or bite for granted though. Grew up with critters and learned that at a very early age.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Generally speaking, scratches aren't nearly as dangerous as bites.  One of the reasons is that scratches tend to be shallow (comparatively speaking, although much longer.  The danger from a bite comes not only from the bacteria in the bite, but also from the shape of the wound...deep and narrow,  This provides the perfect breeding ground for some really nasty little anaerobes, specifically tetanus AND gangrene.   ~GRIN~  Come on guys...we LIVE with these cats!  We know where their mouths have been!  Get those bites checked!

 

[segelkatt]

My doc also went ballistic when she saw a 3 day old bite, actually it was a scratch from the teeth, not a puncture wound, wanted to prescribe antibiotics, I said no.

Reaction varies among docs. Those who have cats at home or those who are vets also say that peroxide is good as it does not sting, penetrates the wound very well to disinfect it and is easy to apply by just pouring it on, not wiping. Just wait until it stops bubbling before putting a band aid on. Sometimes I have had 10 band aids on my arm, I have also had bruises from bites. None of them ever became infected, I just keep pouring on the peroxide until it does not bubble anymore, then again in the next few days as long as the wound looks red.

Those who would rather pour alcohol on there and suffer the sting are welcome. Iodine is not a good idea nor are any salves or ointments as one just rubs more bacteria from one's own fingers into the wound. I suppose one could squeeze the ointment straight from the tube onto the wound but then I would be concerned that the stuff still in the tube could become contaminated. Peroxide works on me and always worked on my children's scrapes and skinned knees who were fascinated by the bubbling action, I told them that the peroxide was eating the bad bacteria that would make them sick.

 

[Docs Mom]

My arms are crisscrossed with scratch scars .... some from kitties, some from moving hay bales AND that wicked wild rose that is abundant on my place. I was once going by on my mower and a thorn grabbed my cheek [emoji]128552[/emoji] I had to STOP to remove thorn...
Grrrr... haven't had a whole lot of serious cat bites fortunately. Only one antibiotic worthy. I just squeeze to make them bleed alot and scrub it with Hibiclens or Betadine. Soaking it daily in that if possible.
View media item 369803 My Maggie is a bite first ask questions later kind of gal, especially when trimming her claws. Last time I did them I was doing it one claw at time, it was a race to see if I could clip it before she bit me...[emoji]128542[/emoji]. I lost the race 3 times that day. Only one of the bites was soak worthy though...

 

[mservant]

Some ouchy cat bite n scracth conversation  here. 

   Those look quite nasty ones @Donutte  , probably as much down to the number as the scratches themselves, though the two puncture wounds look a bit sore....  I hope you're right and all healing well now.  

Mostly the worry is if a puncture wound starts to heal and any bacteria still in there ( other than the cat - scratch fever).   Wounds can be worse if on hands and feet as well because of all the muscles and tendons close up under the skin with protective coverings which can inflame badly and infection spread quickly if the wound goes down in to them.   I've been lucky up tiil now (crossing fingers and touching wood etc) and managed never to get an infected wound.   Pretty remarkable given how frantic one of my previous cats would get if she was sick and had any suspicion she was going in a carrier to visit a vet.  (She was one very scary furball).  

I make sure Mouse's rear claws are kept clipped because even though he doesn't use them to grip or scratch,  if they get long and he's standing on me they will stick out, and they scrape down  when he's standing on my feet while giving my legs a pawsage.  

  Kind of spoils the pawsage.  

    He's pretty cool about having his front claws clipped but wriggles like a weazle when I turn him belly up on my knee to get to the back ones.  

    I am S O lucky that Mouse is as gentle and well behaved as he is, but he is seriously good at making himself in to a very long, wide wriggling mass of furry legs when I'm trying to get him in to a position he doesn't want to be in (e.g. his carrier or on his back for claw clipping rather than belly rubs).  He does bite but so far he has always been controlled and not broken any skin - he is very well acquainted with the word 'ouch'.  

 

[NewYork1303]

Lately everything has just been so busy! I'll feel wonderful when I have a weekend to just relax.

Bought the cats a few new toys at the pet store today. It was fun to pick out a few. The balls we got for them have disappeared under the furniture already.

 

[bootse]

Didn't look at my cat for 2 days and really felt bad but my tooth is all infected and my face is still sticking out like a monster yesterday our 28th Anniversary I wound up in the dentist office and came out with pencillin to take the swelling and infection down so all I wanted the last 2 days was for it to go away because I was in such pain and poor BOOTSE didn't have a clue because even though I managed to feed her I didn't play with her till today for a little bit thank God for my husband he's been taking care of everything and as for our Anniversary it came and went but we did order out today really still not feeling well but I have to get my BOOTSE back ya know

 

[tallyollyopia]

Well, after work I went to the store and got a tiny bottle of Tylenol PM and when I woke up after a couple hours, unable to get back to sleep, I took a couple. I slept really well, but I'm still groggy. I'm not sure if I'm still groggy because of the medicine (I tend to be sensitive to sedatives), or because it's the first good, long sleep I've had in almost a month. Points to ponder.

 

[raina21]

I went into work an hour early today since a coworker had a family thing to go to (which I didn't mind because I need all the extra money I can get right now). But closing took sooooooooo much longer tonight for some reason. I didn't get done until after 11pm (I got into work at 3pm). At least I will get the extra $$$ I need for my next trip to Philadelphia (which is the first week of September).

 

[bootse]

Sleep, sleep, why can't I sleep? Well, I can, but not for more than four hours at a time, apparently. I need sleep. I have work tonight. I have to be rested to do my job--because it's exhausting. Just not exhausting enough, or I'd still be sleeping!

 

[NewYork1303]

I have been eaten alive by mosquitoes today. It is ridiculous how many of them have found their way into the house lately. 

 

[raina21]

I just got home from a very long shift at work. Right now I am laying down on my bed talking to my boyfriend and Tesla jumped up and curled up right beside me. This isn't the best picture of me since I'm still a little sweaty from work. But Tesla was being such a cutie! View media item 369860
View media item 369861

 

[debbila]

I had my appointment with a neurologist yesterday for my Bell's Palsy. He found effects on the unaffected side of my face from when I had it years ago too! I'll be getting tests to find out the cause so that hopefully something can be done to prevent it coming back again. I'm a positive person so I know things will turn out good. Just waiting with a smile on my face!

I love hearing about everybody's kitties and seeing their pictures. Keep posting them, they are so cute!

 

[margd]

Just jumping back in - I've been busy completely redoing my place and haven't been on the site very much.  Here is a picture of Chula and friend in my newly presentable apartment.   (The strings from the blinds are tied up now, btw.)

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About cat scratches and bites - I've always been very fortunate and have never gotten an infection.  This thread is a good reminder to take scratches and bites very seriously.  

@Tallyollyopia  - my heart goes out to you with your sleeping problems.  I struggle with these myself.   One big problem is the mental wheels just turning and turning while I'm trying to sleep but I find that low voices in the background break that cycle so I can drift off better.   There's nothing like knowing you have to get to sleep in order to be able to work to keep you from getting there.

@Debbila  - Bells Palsy is such a pain.  I hope your doctor finds out what's going on so you don't have to go through this again!  

 

[NewYork1303]

All the cats have been enjoying the new toys we bought them yesterday. They've been running around chasing balls and wrestling with a new kickaroo.

 

[bootse]

The dog and I just came in from being on the Porch a half hour. Hubby and BOOTSE are upstairs him in his Computer room and BOOTSE on my side in th bedroom she loves it up there but only gets to go up there when my husband is in the Computer room because we keep the doors shut so we can keep an eye on her but they should be down soon I'm going to call up there now

 

[handsome kitty]

@Margd   I love the wide window sills in your new place.  Nice for the kitties.

@Tallyollyopia   I use Tylenol PM and am groggy the next day too.  I still like getting a good nights sleep when I use it.  It has Benedryl in it to make you sleep.

Yesterday DH and I went to the Facebook Farmer's Market.  They had a Grateful Dead cover band playing.  They were really good.  Today we're thinking of going to the art museum at Stanford U.  They have a new display up and parking is free on Sundays.  DH also wants to have Pizza My Heart for lunch.  Need to google the menu and see if they have any GF options.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

HEY!  YA'LL... 

gather round and come in close,..I have to whisper or she will hear me!  I think there is something fundamentally wrong with teh pussycat.  I mean, really,  fundamentally, wrong.  I wondered for about a red hot minute if she might be stupid, but she isn't.  In fact, she knows how to open every door in the place, can climb into the very top cabinets for Temptations, has me trained like a dancing bear in a Russian circus (using a lot of the same techniques, by the way), and generally picks up on anything that interests her in a heart beat,  But...lately...

It's Da Bird.  She is still obsessed, but...sometimes she's just...watch where it WAS...her little head staying in one position till I flutter it back by again.  Not always, just sometimes.  I know her vision is fine, as she chased a single mosquito around that apartment for 45 minutes, then caught and ate it.  She never, for one second, lost track of it...so...

WHAT'S UP, PUSSYCAT?

 

[NewYork1303]

I came home to find that Carrot had snuck into the closet. He was curled up in the laundry room purring away.

 

[segelkatt]

I accidently locked Patrick into "his" room overnight. He has his litter box and food bowl in there and he sleeps on the daybed a lot. So there should not have been a problem but apparently he really wanted out and could not open the door. He scratched so hard on the carpet right there where the door SHOULD open that he ripped it out of the metal part that goes across the edge at the door and destroyed a piece of the carpet about the size of my hand. Oh my, now what? This is a RENTAL! I usually pull the door shut just far  enough that it is almost closed to keep the other cats out who are not smart or strong enough to push the door open, and he puts his paws under the door and pulls it open (he's really strong). But this time I had pulled it all the way closed and he could not open it.

If that had been Panthera he would have been banging on the door and making it rattle in the door jamb and also voicing his displeasure of being on the "wrong" side of the door, but Patrick does not do that, he just wants to pull the door open.  

Maybe if I hang some bells on the door knob on the inside he would use those intentionally or by accident if I hang them real low so I could hear him?