I hope he's getting rabies shots.

My neighbor is a pharmacist and insisted I go in after I got scratched by a Bobcat- I actually wasn't worried at all until I saw how the Urgent Care Team and Doctor reacted to it. Sounds like your heading down the best path- keep us posted.

If I did that I'd lose trapping properties. Like Nittany said, most farmers, including the ones who own the properties I trap on, have barn cats to keep down the rodent population. SSS'ing would get me booted off most of those farms.

One farm in particular, the owner insists I trap the dump which is near the barn. I explained to him that I could trap the trails leading to it and avoid non-targets but he insists on having traps right there. One season I caught the same non-target three times. Each time it was released none the worse for wear.

I eventually proved to him through results that trapping right at the dump was unnecessary.

A guy in our sportsmans club got bit by his family cat. Thumb started swelling quickly. Went to the hospital and was immediately transferred to the Cleveland Clinic. Came very close to losing his thumb. Several days in the hospital.

Heck ....a friend of mine punched a guy in the mouth and had the guys tooth embedded in this hand...was in the hospital for 3 days on a antibiotic drip.... So don’t wait like my friend did.

Landowner dictates the fate of the ditch tigers, it's his place and by his grace I'm on there trapping. You get a reputation of being a caveman doing as you please and that word will get around quickly and your opportunities will dry up that quickly. If I'm not sure it's better to release then create a issue you could of avoided in the first place.

Very True. Cats have a ton of bacteria in their mouth

Always have that discussion with the landowner before you start trapping. Saves a lot of headaches when the situation does arise.

You would never get permission to trap my property and most other properties in the area I trap with an attitude like that.

I wouldn't worry about it if it was just a domestic cat. Clean it well with hydrogen peroxide and it should be fine!

Our house cat bit my thumb once. I knew it had all of it's shots. Woke up the next morning and I thought my thumb would bust it was so swollen. They put me on antibiotics.

Decades ago, I got bit by a farm cat trying to release it, I thought I could hold it down with my trowel. Next day I was into the Dr. office and he said he would try antibiotics in pill form, but if it was not getting better in a day it was the hospital and a drip IV bag. Could barely get my coat over the swollen wrist. Dr. visit, vet visit with the cat, he had to send paper work and head to state lab for rabies testing, then my time to the state lab with package. A lot of time and expense, I was going to be trapping for a week off of work, this back in the early 80's when red fox were in great demand. Not the week I had planned, and yes a release pole is in the truck every season now.

My daughter got steph infection from a cat scratch about 6 yrs ago. She has flare up from time to time

Not good advice^^^^^
There is not much difference between a domestic cat, barn cat and feral cat when it comes to bacteria in the mouth. Better to play it safe than sorry.

Agreed. Barn cats, at least the ones around here usually do not get vaccinated for rabies. Also, they are "living off the land" catching mice, rats and whatever. I would never trust being bitten by a barn or feral cat. Nothing to do here but get the shots in my opinion.

Like they say about pit bulls,,,,,,,that cat had to be trained to bite.

Man I'm suprised its such a big deal. I been bit by cats several times, rubbed some dirt on it and all was well. I guess I got lucky. I'll be more careful about it from now on.

Next

I would rather release a bobcat then a house/barn cat.

Did he start rabies shots?