Due to decreasing use over the years, I have decided to disable the forum functionality of the site.

Forums will still be available to view but new posts are no longer allowed.

Two steps back...

Krickette April 09, 2010 February 22, 2011

Forums

Quick update on Zoot Suit and Riot. Last night they both slept on my bed, Riot curled up on her pillow, Zoot laying on my legs. I was really excited, they seemed to be making real progress! They roughhouse a lot, but I figure they each have places where one can get to and the other can't and if it turned ugly, they can get away from each other. Well this afternoon when I came back from class, Zoot was being super skittish. She ran into the bathroom, and I followed her in. Normally, if I reach down and touch her or pick her up she settles down and such. So I tried to grab her as she went back out of the bathroom, and I missed and grabbed her tail. Before I could let go she reached around and bit the tar out of me. I mean deep punctures, they were swollen and hurt really bad. I grabbed her hard out of "make this thing that's hurting me stop!!!" instinct, which made her even more hissy and bushy and angry. Well the second she started hissing, Riot charged her and got all hissy and bushed up and angry and I had to separate them. I put Zoot in the bathroom and locked her up there so that she could calm down. The good news is Riot was really sweet to me afterwards, and came and cuddled with me on the couch and purred and purred and groomed me and protected me from my roommate by growling at her when she walked in. The bad news is Zoot is still freaked out. I let her out of the bathroom because I thought she had calmed down some, but then I couldn't find her for like 2 hours. I picked up my mattress and box spring and everything. I finally pulled my blue jean drawer out and she was there. She didn't want to be picked up, but I got her and put her in the bathroom again. I sat in there with her for a while and she was all hunched over and didn't want to be in the open. Let her sit in there again while I ran errands and she was more willing to be out and rubbed on my legs and purred... I dunno, I'm so upset.

Monsterpony Fri, 04/09/2010 - 17:10

GO TO THE DOCTOR! Cat bites are bad! You need to have the wound cleaned out and to be put on antibiotics. GO NOW!

I received a deep puncture wound from a cat bite while at work and was sent immediately to the ER. The opened and flushed the wound and put me on IV antibiotics immediately and sent me home on orals. I still got an infection that required me returning to the hospital for a second round of IV antibiotics 5 days later.

critterkeeper Fri, 04/09/2010 - 19:26

Krickette, I am with MP on this one - [b][color=#FF0000]GET TO THE DR NOW![/color][/b] I had a breeder friend, Shirley, who raised CFA Siamese. She got bit by one of her queens and had developed a bad infection (she had treated the wound at home for nearly a month before going to the doctor). She ended up having to have her thumb amputated at the second knuckle. A few years later, she got bit again by another one of her cats and developed septicemia - she did not survive (in all fairness it was partly do to undiagnosed heart issues). These were well kept show cats and were fully vaccinated and vet checked regularly (several times a year during show season).

Krickette Fri, 04/09/2010 - 20:06

Dang. I knew they could be bad but I've gotten little bites and scratches all the time with no issue. I figured deep would be the same just hurt worse. I'll go to the ER and get it checked out. Now it just looks like a little tiny scab, it doesn't look ugly at all. Ugh. Just what I need right now, it's midterms!

Krickette Fri, 04/09/2010 - 20:25

OK, looking at it. It definitely burns and my hand hurts, like typing hurts. It feels like it's tight, you know? It's definitely swollen still, though not as bad as it originally was. And actually, my arm hurts, like up near my shoulder, but that could be like psychological me freaking myself out kind of stuff. Ugh. Well, I'll get up early tomorrow, pack some homework and go sit in the waiting room for hours >.<
Then I get to drive for an hour to see my brothers play, then drive back. joy!

You can't see much.... I'm so pale that it bleaches everything out, but thats sort of what it looks like at this point. I'm gonna go put a new bandaid on it now.
[attachment=0]RSCN2493 - Copy.JPG[/attachment]

Krickette Fri, 04/09/2010 - 21:22

ok scratch the tomorrow morning thing, i'm in the ER now. This hospital is so nice, everyone's very friendly and there are nice little flatscreens on the wall for you to watch tv (and real remotes! not the crummy ones on the beds that only change the channel upwards!) It's my favorite ER I've ever been to, and I've been to a lot. They even call when you get home to make sure you're ok! I've never had to wait very long, either.

Monsterpony Fri, 04/09/2010 - 22:56

Good job going to the doctor! I was really worried. My infection did go up my arm to my elbow within a few days even after being treated.

Heidi Sat, 04/10/2010 - 10:38

Whew! I am so glad you went to the Doctor! Cat bites, any cat bite that you could classify as "deep" *must* be seen by a Dr for antibiotics. Cat's teeth are long and pointed, carrying the bacteria far down to the deepest part of the wound and when the top scabs over quickly, it traps that bacteria deep in the tissue with nowhere to drain.

Do a google-search for Redirected Aggression, also called Misdirected or Displaced Aggression. This will help you understand why Riot and Zoot were behaving in the manner they were; [i]one hissing and the other running in to fuzz-up and hiss at the other. [/i] You need to help them get past this little 'blip' and encourage a relaxed atmosphere around them and/or associating Good Things when in sight of each other.
Good luck,
heidi

Here is a good article from LittleBigCat: http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?a…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Krickette Sat, 04/10/2010 - 15:22

I'm good! They gave me some bactraban and a perscription for an antibiotic commonly used for dog and cat bites. He didn't drain it or anything. My arm feels better today.
Also last night when I got home I went looking for her, she was upstairs in my friend's room. She let riot come up and sniff her no problem, but hissed every time she saw me. She ended up hiding in the desk drawer, and when I grabbed her to take her down to my room she bit me again. I locked her up for the night in the bathroom and she's a lot better today. I didn't let her out until like 2 this afternoon (she had foot water litter toys and a bed.) and now she's on my bed playing with Riot. They wrestle a lot. She's letting me pet her but she's still a little timid.

vneerland Sun, 04/11/2010 - 10:49

:shock: All I can say is that you are a good good person for taming Zoot. I will plead guilty to not being a cat person in the first place, but the neighborhood strays don't agree and moved in. I plucked three feral kittens off my backporch a few weeks ago, and though they had never seen humans they were fine the moment I touched them. One even came running?? :o I have no clue what makes some sweet from the first moment and others remain defensive. Anyway. Two of my tame ones found new homes in one single morning of having them out where people could see them (a dog demo, of all things) One more totally lovely kitten up for grabs. And reading your story? I count myself lucky that 'mine' were this easy. I fear I would not put forth much effort if I got bitten. (and yes, I know it was just defense on the kittens behalf)
Hats off and I hope you get well soon.

Heidi Sun, 04/11/2010 - 11:10

Please, if a cat/kitten hisses at you, or is otherwise exhibiting any fear/reluctance behavior, do NOT try to handle it without a firm scruff-hold. I can't believe you allowed yourself to get bit [i]again[/i], but as bites go ... at least you're already on antibiotics! :lol:

Krickette Sun, 04/11/2010 - 15:03

I was scruffing her the second time she bit me, but I was reaching up to rearrange as she seemed like she was slipping and was freaking out more than usual, so I was going to try and grab her better.
Plus I wasn't in the right frame of mind for kitten handling in the first place, but had to get her out of that room.

Heidi Sun, 04/11/2010 - 19:15

Oh, I hear ya! I got bit when I frightened our former-feral when she dashed out the door and I was distracted as I reached (too slow) to grab/scruff her and she nailed me. I got her in the house, but oh! ... she nailed me GOOD!

Krickette Sun, 04/11/2010 - 20:29

They did ask me about that, I said I wasn't sure, he asked if I was in school and I said yes, and he said that I was good then. So I assume I have to have it for school haha!
Not nearly as swollen today, though I lost my bactraban (no clue where it went! very sad!). I did take my antibiotics, there are only 6 of them, supposed to take them twice a day. big ol horse pills. Augmentin.