03/30/2026
Warning: GRAPHIC PHOTOS
We’ve all been told how serious cat bites can be, right? Well I’m here to tell you, and show you, that they are definitely not something to play around with!
Back in November (2025) I was bitten on my right hand; over the knuckle of my index and middle finger. I scrubbed it with chlorhex, washed it out and presented to urgent care within an hour.
They flushed it with saline but one of the puncture wounds had already sealed. I got a prescription for antibiotics, was told to present to the ER if things got worse and was sent on my way.
The next morning it was swollen, red and extremely painful. A surgeon and criticalist I work with took one look at my hand and told me to go to the ER. I went to the ER and was fast tracked through triage and placed in a room. The ER doctor was ready to increase my an antibiotic dose and send me on my way but he asked if I wanted Plastic Surgery to consult with me since it was my hand. I said yes.
Plastic surgery came in, took one look and said “you’re not leaving”. They had the nurse place an IV, and arranged for me to stay overnight for IV antibiotics. They performed a bedside I&D procedure and set me up with IV pain meds.
The surgeon mentioned that worse case scenario I’d have to go to surgery and have another I&D procedure performed. But he didn’t think it’d come to that. Surprise! It did. He came back to check on me the next morning and the redness, swelling and pain had spread. Off to surgery I went.
I spent 4 days in the hospital on IV antibiotics and IV pain meds. I started physical therapy a week after being discharged.
I couldn’t lift my middle finger to full extension. An ultrasound revealed a torn tendon with a 10mm gap. I had to go back to surgery.
4 months later and I’m still in physical therapy. I can fully extend my middle finger now, but I’m still on restrictions.
Long story short, just don’t get bit 🤭
