The Atrium

A co-worker recently told me that her best friend was hospitalized for several days because of a cat bite. Of course my initial thought was that the cat was feral and perhaps the lady who was bitten had attempted a rescue. But as the co-worker continued her story I found that wasn't the case at all. Her friend had tried to trim Ollie's (see photo) toe nails, which he obviously didn't like, so he bit her -- hard. The wound required stitches and within a few days the bite was infected and the friend was hospitalized.

I must confess that as a cat lover and long time cat owner, I simply was not aware of the risks one takes when bitten or scratched by a cat. So being the curious librarian-type that I am, I investigated and discovered Cat Scratch Fever. My initial thought was, "why does this sound familiar?" Ha, then a memory of broken beer bottles and loud music made me realize it was because I associate the phrase with Ted Nugent (recordings here) and not cute furry creatures.

My research revealed that cat bites and scratches can cause bacterial infections in humans which result in what's known as Cat Scratch Disease. While most minor cat scratches will heal without medical treatment, it's best to self monitor for possible infection. Common symptoms include a fever, headache, and enlarged lymph nodes. If these symptoms occur seek medical attention immediately.

Oh, and if you're wondering what happened to the friend and the cat, they're both fine.