"When Animals Attack'" - My Own Version

[TIFFERS]

Now, personally...I think "When Animals Attack" is sometimes a pretty funny show. I suppose that's cruel, but sometimes those stupid humans deserve a good beating.

...and yes, it's funny right up until it happens to you.

I worked AEC (the emergency clinic in Conroe) Wednesday night for the first time. Loved every minute of it. ...well, not every single minute, but pretty close. This is my own version of "When Animals Attack".

This particular patient is a 15.6 lb. brown tabby cat. He came in in a carrier and I removed him, no problem. He was large and cute and pretty cuddly. After the doctor did his exam, the cat started to get cranky. Then, he told me to go ahead and put him up. Well, on the way to putting him back in his cage he started going crazy. You know how hamsters have all that extra skin, well so did this cat and he flipped around in it and tore my hands apart. I was the only tech in the back, and I'll be darned if I lose a cat on my first day. So, I went back for him. The thing bit me numerous times on my knee, arms, and both hands. These pictures below are from the same night when I finally got home at about 1 or so in the morning.

I bled, a lot. And off and on since. My hands were so swollen that I have no knuckles, my fingers are twice their regular size, and you know what...it stinkin' hurt.

I called Dr. Lippke (my boss) and told him the situation. He said I had to go to the doctor and they would try and track down the cat to have it quarantined for 10 days because no one knows it was vaccinated or not.

The only scratches I have are the two that go down my arm. On my hand that has the ring, you can see where all of his teeth left marks on my hand. There's a little circle of teeth, if it hadn't hurt so bad I'd say it was cute. All of the wounds were pretty swollen, extremely tender, and very red and infected...yeah, it felt great. Cat bites hurt so much more than dog bites, and are more likely to abcess.

I have to take these antibiotics for 10 days that are guaranteed to make me extremely nauseous...sweet, I can't wait for that. Then...I got to wait for ten days to make sure kitty wasn't rabid. (Turns out, he was vaccinated and all is well with that.)

I was at the pharmacy dropping of my prescription and the guy was like "Holy heck! What kind of a cat do you have? A panther!" I told him, that I have a little cute white fuzzy kitten, and he gave me the strangest look. It was pretty funny.


http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/tiffydyann/S5002270.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/tiffydyann/S5002271.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a387/tiffydyann/S5002273.jpg

[ferJenna]

I can relate. I had the almost EXACT same thing happen to me. Mine happened when the doctor was actually doing the exam. Turned around and tore me to pieces. Then decided to go attach itself to the stainless steel cages behind it. Trying to catch that cat was truly a rodeo, LOL. Funny thing is, about an hour after that happened, we had another cat from hell that tried to do the same thing. I have scars on my arms to prove it. HAHAHA. I'm sorry you had to go through that.. you have my sympathy ;)

[TIFFERS]

: ) I guess it's just occupational hazards of doing what you love, eh?

[ferJenna]

Something along those lines ;)

[dlaura]

Ouch, my sympathy to you. Are you off of work for 10 days while on the antibiotic?

[TIFFERS]

I'm cross-trained to do all jobs except doctor, of course. So, while my hands were swollen, me and a tech-receptionist switched places. So, I worked...but I just answered the phone and let people take one look at my hands and say "OHMYGOSH! WHAT HAPPENED!" I think I've heard enough of that to last the rest of my life. : )

[NewfieGrl]

OMG that looks horrible. Just curious, have you noticed, with your occupation, that cats that are declawed tend to be just as effective with their teeth?
I ask because my cat Spicey, that my mom got from a shelter years ago and was declawed at the time, seems to be able to do just as much damage with her teeth.
Michele
owned by 2 Newfies, a cocker spaniel and 2 cats
RIP Bootsie-March ? 1988-April 22, 2007

[TIFFERS]

The ONLY scratches I recieved were the two down my arm, everything else is a bite. I think regardless of claws or not, teeth do the most damage.

And yes, if they know they don't have claws, I'd imagine they'd start by using teeth where as others with claws would start with their claws.

[PatchO'Pits]

Oh my gosh that is awful! It also looks extremely painful. I hope you are feeling better soon.

[dlaura]

Well at least you were able to switch with someone else and still work.

I wonder what the personality of this cat is when not scared. We boarded our 15 year old cat only once in her life. She was about 6 or 7 and when my hubby went to pick her up the attendent came back out front and told my husband what a terror she was being, hissing/growling and attacking him. He couldn't get her out of the cage so he told hubby to go back and get her.
Attendent followed and was astonished when April looked like Bob had come back from the dead and jumped into his arms, snuggling and purring like a kitten. She has always been like that with us.

[Goldfishlove]

och !!! that looks like its going to hurt for awhile

[ferJenna]

Just curious, have you noticed, with your occupation, that cats that are declawed tend to be just as effective with their teeth?

I got my oldest kitty declawed when he was young (my other two are not). I do find that he DOES use his teeth more than Phifer and Napoleon. He's VERY fast too. I think they learn to adapt to not having claws extremely well. I can tell you for certain he has no idea they aren't there anymore. He still uses the scratching pad and everything else like a clawed kitty would.

[TIFFERS]

I wonder what the personality of this cat is when not scared. We boarded our 15 year old cat only once in her life. She was about 6 or 7 and when my hubby went to pick her up the attendent came back out front and told my husband what a terror she was being, hissing/growling and attacking him. He couldn't get her out of the cage so he told hubby to go back and get her.
Attendent followed and was astonished when April looked like Bob had come back from the dead and jumped into his arms, snuggling and purring like a kitten. She has always been like that with us.

It's crazy how animals change like that! There are some cats, even dogs, that do this very same thing. Or, dogs that know we won't let them be boss, but their mommy and daddy does, and they owners are amazed at how well behaved the pet is at the clinic. The scenario goes all sorts of ways, and thus proves my point that pets are just like children. : )