Cat got my snake...

[debcash]

She's alive but has several scratches and two small puncture wounds.

I'm kicking myself -- tonight is feeding night and even with 30 I put them all in seperate containers to feed. This one is a beautiful snow female - a late 04 and she's a bit big for the deli cups I'm using for the hatchlings, so I put her in a sterilite shoe box gave her the mouse & she was happily eating.

I had to run upstairs and get another batch of mice defrosting, so I put the screen lid from her cage over the shoebox and figured she be fine for a few minutes. I don't know how my cat got in the room, but I was gone about 5 minutes and when I went back down the poor snake was hiding under some furniture and the cat was trying to get it.

I threw the cat outside and checked the snake - she looks a bit beaten up. I'm pretty sure the cat bit her and carried her. She has the 2 small punture wounds and several sratches. She not bleeding but had just eaten and I hoping she doesn't regurg. I've got her back in her cage and am just wondering is there anything else I can do for her?

[DdotSpot]

Are there any open wounds? I know she wasn't bleeding...but if there is a possibility of the substrate getting IN the wound...you might want to put her on paper towels or something of the sort. Other than that...just wait a couple sheds and she should heal up. Cross your fingers that the stress from the cat doesn't cause her to regurge.

Sorry to hear :/

[Wilder]

I would think paper towels for substrate and some Neosporin on the wounds would help in most cases, but don't know if there's any other worry due to the bacteria from the cat's mouth. Is there a vet you can call to find out?

Really sorry to hear of it happening, but cats can be quick and you just never know what they'll do. Hopefully the snake will be okay. Good luck!

[DdotSpot]

Good point Wilder,

Maybe some of you vets/vet techs in here can answer the bacteria concern. I know that neosporin would be a good precautionary application, just make sure that he/she is on paper towels(you don't want that substrate to stick to the neosporin) before you apply it. What I do is take a Q-tip and remove most of the cotton from the tip and then use that to apply the neosporin to the specific area. It seemed to a pretty good job at keeping it protected as well. Let us know what happens after the shed :)

They seem to shed quite a bit more often after getting wounded...

[JTGoff69]

Seriously, not to make you paranoid, but I've just learned that cat saliva is toxic to birds. I honestly don't know how it affects herps, but I would flush with peroxide and coat with neosporin. Watch the wounds carefully.

[debcash]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the help! I feel so badly for the little thing.... I just went to look at her more closely and the cat did quite a job on her - the lower 1/3 of her body looks like the cat really tried to chew on her - a lot of indentations but no blood. I'm going to put her on paper towels and get the wounds disinfected. Should I dilute the peroxide or use it at regular strength?

[gillilansisland]

I do animal rescues an i had a lady found a 5 ft boa in her shed so she hit it with an axe twice exposing all of its insides I took it to the vet an he said it was a lost hope he wouldnt even try to patch it up so i used betadine on the open wounds. Six months later it had a large scar but it started eating again an was fine. The betadine i would use before i would the neosporin. Its a liquid not a paste.

Thanks
Gillilansisland

[MegF.]

Cats bites are very likely to become infected. I would waste no time in getting your snake to a vet for possible antibiotics. Cats have some of the worst bites of any animal and shouldn't be trifled with.

[amcgltdchix]

I'm a LVT with 12 years under my belt in 2 states.

Soak your snake in lukewarm water baths. Do not use peroxide, that will actually kill healthy tissues-hence the bubbling. DO use chlorohexadine or diluted betadine to clean the sites. The water baths promote blood to go to the damaged areas to speed healing.

DO also get your snake to the vet for an exam, some rads to check for broken bones etc and some antibiotics.

Cat saliva is just dirty. Hence why people think its toxic to other animals. BUT human bites are the worst. Cat bites just do lots of damage and dirty teeth don't help the process either. :)

Much luck! I hope your baby makes it.

Ellen

[Mets38]

Deb,
Hi, lot's of great advice. I just wanted to add that this happened to one of my garters and he came through it okay. My cats found a ribbon snake once and when my son picked it up it was limp and we thought for sure it was dead. He was really beat up and he is doing just fine today. I really hope yours is okay. It is a terrible feeling, I know. :)

[Mark'sMorphs]

Cats bites are very likely to become infected. I would waste no time in getting your snake to a vet for possible antibiotics. Cats have some of the worst bites of any animal and shouldn't be trifled with.

I hear this all the time. But I get bit by wildcats all the time and have NEVER had any problems except the puncture wound. :shrugs:

[debcash]

Thanks eveyone! So far so good....
I cleaned her up last night (used a Q-tip and diluted peroxide, rinsed with warm water and applied triple antibotic ointment - I didn't see the post from amcgltdchix until this morning). I looked in on her this morning and she has not regurged (yet) and is staying in the warm side of her box. Her wounds looked ok - no redness or swelling that I could see. She looks alert although I'm sure she feels like she was put through a meat grinder.
I'll take her out tonight and take a closer look at the wounds. I'd like to see if she can digest her food before taking her to the vet as a regurg will only complicate things. Hopefully this evening she'll have her food digested and I can get her to a vet in the morning to determine if there is any internal damage, (she was moving well last night, so I am hopeful).

[MegF.]

I hear this all the time. But I get bit by wildcats all the time and have NEVER had any problems except the puncture wound. :shrugs:

Punctures are the problem. Minor cat bites and scratches are usually not a problem, but anytime a cat gets a tooth into you real deep, it's time to head to the hospital. I've seen several people nearly lose a hand and one almost died from sepsis after only one day. It doesn't take long for a puncture from a cat to become very infected. I work in a hospital and there's always someone coming in with a hand the size of Texas because they didn't think that cat bite was any big deal yesterday....today, another story!

[Bl1nd]

if that happened to my snake and i had a cat sorry to say but the cat would be dead... :flames: (i hate cats cant you tell ;) one resen is they are dirty and im allergic lol )

[Bl1nd]

if that happened to my snake and i had a cat sorry to say but the cat would be dead... :flames: (i hate cats cant you tell ;) one resen is they are dirty and im allergic lol )

oh yea forgot to put im sorry to hear that i hope your little snakie pulls thru keep us updated :)

[amcgltdchix]

if that happened to my snake and i had a cat sorry to say but the cat would be dead... :flames: (i hate cats cant you tell ;) one resen is they are dirty and im allergic lol )

Nice... it would be better to keep those sarcastic animal cruelty jokes to yourself. Those of us who are here to help heal them understand when there are multiple pet households.

[Bl1nd]

Nice... it would be better to keep those sarcastic animal cruelty jokes to yourself. Those of us who are here to help heal them understand when there are multiple pet households.

i was just kidding i wouldnt kill an animal for it being a animal. sorry if i offended anyone besides i would never have a cat in my house to begin with.

[amcgltdchix]

i was just kidding i wouldnt kill an animal for it being a animal. sorry if i offended anyone besides i would never have a cat in my house to begin with.


At least you are an honest person! LOL! Thanks for the apology :)

[bballmatt100]

ummm not to worry but... my first corn i had like 8 years ago met my cat. there was one long slit down the side no blood or anything but the snake still died. But it dies immediatly so yous should be aight. Hope for the best!

[Mark'sMorphs]

Punctures are the problem. Minor cat bites and scratches are usually not a problem, but anytime a cat gets a tooth into you real deep, it's time to head to the hospital. I've seen several people nearly lose a hand and one almost died from sepsis after only one day. It doesn't take long for a puncture from a cat to become very infected. I work in a hospital and there's always someone coming in with a hand the size of Texas because they didn't think that cat bite was any big deal yesterday....today, another story!

Well I must have some kind of super immunity to cat bites then.
As I said before I have had both European wildcats, jungle cats (Felis chaus) and domestic cats give me VERY deep bites with puncture wounds to the bone on several occasions.
And they have never gotten infected and healed quickly.
:shrugs:

[dionythicus]

Two of our babies got out back in May and were loose for about 7 days. One was found when the cats were messing with boxes in our bedroom. Once I got my hands on it, I found that it had two puncture marks at the end of its tail, probably from a cat trying to pull it out from the box it was trying to hide in. The snake came out ok, just two tiny scars that were healing well with time.

On the other hand, I got hit right between the eyes by one of my cats in June. She just sorta went Ninja in my arms for no apparent reason. The claws went all the way in. I cleaned the four puncture marks with peroxide and applied Neosporin. When I woke up in the morning, my eyes and nose were very swollen and the punctures were infected. Icky. I was able to clean it all up myself and didn't require any medical attention.

I guess we were both fortunate.

[Anazazia]

As for the cats... it depends on if the cat's an inside cat, outside cat, if you're allergic... basically, it's like anything else. Your snake will have her own individual reaction to the bite, and we can't generalize about how bad cat bites are. As long as you're using some sort of cleasnser that's what's important. If you're worried about the cat bite, think about if the cat has ever bitten you and what you reaction was, might give you a better idea of how your snake will react to the bites. Good luck with her!

[JenC]

My kitty stalks my snakes at night when they are active...shes got a high prey drive (indoor cat), our male cats are outdoor and bring dead snakes home all the time:(

I hope ur baby gets better:) Keep us updated!!

[debcash]

Thanks eveyone for your suggestions and concern. She is healing up nicely. She shed today and most of the small scratches are gone, she still has several little 'nick' marks, but they seem to be healing up. I've given her a few warm baths which also seem to help. She (very fortunately!) did not regurg the mouse she had just eaten and she managed to digest her meal fully, so I am hoping we're out of the woods.
I'm amazed she got through it as well as she has.
Thanks again everyone!!

[Hurley]

I obviously saw this late, but I think I'll type on it anyway as it's a fairly common occurance...

I would avoid peroxide, as well, on anything but superficial scratches. It works by oxidizing...and that includes exposed tissue. Very damaging to tissues under the skin. I also wouldn't cover puncture holes with triple antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin) and seal in the bacteria, slowing drainage and blocking oxygen from the wound. Neosporin in a thin layer on scratches or around the wound doesn't hurt, but don't get it down in the puncture, it does more harm than good. I would let the snake digest for a day or so max then get it to the vet. Keep it in a clean, dust free cage, and soaks in dilute chlorhexidene or betadine would be beneficial. After she has digested I would take her to a good reptile vet and get her on a course of antibiotics. As others have mentioned, puncture wounds are dangerous in that they carry in harmful bacteria and then seal over, trapping the infection inside. If enough tissue damage has been done, this is the perfect growing medium for bacteria and may lead to abscessation, septicemia (bacteria in the bloodstream), and even death.

Cat bite wounds are "tip of the iceburg" wounds. What you see is often minor compared to what you don't. You don't have to break the skin to tear and crush the tissues underneath. Good luck to your snake, I hope it recovers quickly and completely without complications.

[PssdffJay]

I've got her back in her cage and am just wondering is there anything else I can do for her?

How attached are you to that cat...? :grin01: Just kidding!! I swear!!...

Hope your little one is doing well... I have a cat too... but not forvery much longer....... Just kidding!!!!!

[Gintha]

One of my cats bit Treasure a couple months ago.. right through the tail! I had to pull Treasure off the cats tooth.. but i was lucky.. no infection at all and with her last shed its almost 100% gone. Then 3 days ago the same cat bit Mom.. Mom is on VERY strong antibiotics and may need IV antibiotics. I've been bitten twice, once all 4 teeth punctured my calf muscle and made me lose use of my foot for a week, other time tooth severed the nerve in the back of my hand and made me lose feeling in my hand for 5 years hehe.. neither got infected. Just goes to show that its case by case, unfortunately. Glad to hear your baby is doing better!

[PssdffJay]

One of my cats bit Treasure a couple months ago.. right through the tail! I had to pull Treasure off the cats tooth.. but i was lucky.. no infection at all and with her last shed its almost 100% gone. Then 3 days ago the same cat bit Mom.. Mom is on VERY strong antibiotics and may need IV antibiotics. I've been bitten twice, once all 4 teeth punctured my calf muscle and made me lose use of my foot for a week, other time tooth severed the nerve in the back of my hand and made me lose feeling in my hand for 5 years hehe.. neither got infected. Just goes to show that its case by case, unfortunately. Glad to hear your baby is doing better!

Gintha, how attached are you to your cat?...

[debcash]

Update --
Although she seems to be healing up well I decided to take her to the herp vet today to make sure. He was really pleased with how she's healing up and fortunately saw no sign of infection. She is shedding in bits and peices and looks like a mess right now, but once she goes through a full shed I think she'll be back to her beautiful self.
Now I know to have some snake first aid supplies on hand - and to never, never, never walk out of my snake room without having them all back in their rack.
Thanks again everyone!
Deb

[SnakeAround]

Good she's fine now! Only one question for Mark; how do you manage to get bitten bij wild cats so often!? Try to play 'catch-me-if-you-can'?!

[Gintha]

Glad to hear shes okie!

~>I have 6 cats, not just 1 hehe.. and am VERY attactched, specially since I'm Bastetist.. AKA cats are to me what a symbol of Jesus is to a Catholic =)

Was my fault Emma bit Treasure.. didn't know the cat was in here and T was on my neck.. cat snuck up behind me on the bed and leapt on me and T and CRUNCH ~,~

[ashleynicole]

I have 4 indoor only cats and i just wanted to say that if you have cats that are strictly indoor then you don't have to worry nearly as much about diseases and bacteria, yes their mouths still have bacteria, but so do ours! of course, if i ever get scratchec or bitten by a cat, indoor or outdoor, i always flush with peroxide, wash with antibacterial soap, and use neosporn and ive never gotten an infection

I guess your snake is probably doing good now, i hope?? i read through the thread but i didnt see any updates on his/her condition. I would second the flushing with betadine and neosporn.

That is one of my fears though, that my snake might get caught by my cats one of these days. i see my babykitty jump up and watch him when he's active at night. What i do is, when i take him out to play, they always come up and sniff, and the first night i had him,my scuba actually batted towards him (without claws) so i let them sniff the snake and then i pushed on their noses firmly and said "NO". My cats are fast learners,this is how we taught them as kittens to not get on the table and not eat off of plates if they are on the cofee table or something. To this day my cats will not eat food off of the floor or a plate unless it is in their dish.

If something were to happen however i have to say that i would be mad at the cats, but ive had cats for years and i am new to snakes, my cats curl up with me at night and meet me at the stairs when i come home (not for food, they have auto feeders and waterers) and my snake.. well,hes a cool pet but he just doesn't do all that. And it is in a cats nature to attack things that move.

anyway, i hope your snake is ok and let us know how hes doing.. unless i overlooked an update.