A British veterinary nurse was rushed to hospital after a “dirty” cat sank its teeth into her hand – leaving her needing surgery and weeks of treatment.
Caitlin Le Surf was bitten while carrying out a routine grooming job at work – but within hours her hand ballooned.
By the next morning, the swelling had become so severe the 25 year old was forced to seek urgent medical help.
Her shocking ordeal has since gone viral after she shared footage of the injury online.
Around 60,000 people in the UK end up in A&E every year with animal bites – and experts warn cat bites are among the most dangerous, with up to half becoming infected.
“I’m a veterinary nurse so I was holding a client’s cat for dematting, which she tolerated until we tried to shave the matts from her armpits, when it bit down on my thumb,” Caitlin, from Kent, told Need To Know.
At first, she was concerned but hoped it was nothing serious.
She said: “I was very anxious, I immediately flushed the wound with hibiscrub and sterilium in the hope it wouldn’t get infected and would just be sore.
“But it did hurt.
“The next morning, when the wound opened with pus, I knew it was going to be a long day.”
Caitlin rushed to urgent care, where medics quickly realised how serious it was.
She said: “They took X-rays, cleaned the wound, did an initial tendon damage assessment and started me on oral antibiotics.”
But things rapidly took a turn for the worse.
Caitlin was referred to a specialist plastics unit where she underwent intensive treatment – including surgery.
She said: “They started me on multiple rounds of IV antibiotics, did a local anaesthetic in my hand to do an initial flush and debridement.
“Then the next day I had a full general anaesthetic, regional block into my arm for them to cut open the wounds, take away any infected flesh and flush out and check the tendon wasn’t damaged.
“There was the potential for needing further surgeries.”
Experts say cat bites are particularly risky because their sharp teeth drive bacteria deep under the skin.
Caitlin said: “Cats have long sharp teeth and very dirty mouths so when they bite they introduce bacteria very deep into the wound – that’s why my hand blew up.”
She is now recovering at home but still undergoing treatment.
Caitlin said: “I’m still on oral antibiotics and changing my dressings daily.
“My hand is still swollen and I can’t use my thumb properly yet – I have hand therapy booked for tomorrow.”
Caitlin was bitten on 9 April, with swelling starting later that evening before she was admitted to hospital the following day.
Now she is warning others not to take animal bites lightly.
She added: “If anyone gets bitten by any animal that pierces the skin, they should flush it and clean the wound and go straight to urgent care or A&E for a tetanus injection, proper cleaning and to start antibiotics.”
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