Personal injury lawyers in Orlando encounter all sorts of unusual animal attack situations, including people who have been attacked by dogs or dangerous exotic pets. One wouldn’t expect house cats to be a common source of personal injuries; however, even though cats are not commonly considered to be threatening, they indeed can cause serious injuries if their owners do not take proper care of them. An ordinary house cat can cause significant injuries with its teeth and claws, but more importantly, life-threatening medical complications can arise from such wounds.
Cat Scratch Disease
Cats’ sharp claws and long, pointed teeth allow them to injure several layers of skin in a single attack. Unlike dogs, whose attacks often cause large gashes, the mark of a cat-inflicted injury is a small, but sometimes deep, puncture in the skin. This type of injury can be very difficult to thoroughly clean, creating a serious risk of infection.
The primary risk of a cat bite or scratch is so-called “cat scratch disease,” or Bartonella henselae. This is a bacterium that many cats carry, although it does not cause them to get sick. The symptoms of cat scratch disease generally take three to 10 days to develop in an infected human. They can include:
- A sore or red bump that appears near the injury
- Swollen and tender lymph nodes near the injury
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue or listlessness
The symptoms of cat scratch disease can persist for as long as three weeks. They can range from mild discomfort to major health problems requiring emergency treatment. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to complications of this disease, but they can occur to almost anyone exposed to the bacteria.
If you or a member of your family has been harmed by an unsupervised or mistreated cat, you could have grounds for legal action against the animal’s owner. For assistance, call our firm to contact the some of the most renowned personal injury lawyers in Orlando at Todd Miner Law®️.
Contact Todd Miner Law®️ for a Free Consultation
If you have been harmed by a cat due to its owner’s negligent actions, you could be entitled eligible to compensation for your medical bills and other losses. To learn more, contact the personal injury lawyers at Todd Miner Law®️. Your initial consultation is free!
