Sigh. We have battled that security door to a near standstill but cannot get the locking mechanism to go on square, and I am thinking it’s because we disassembled the door and grid to paint it, and the 30-odd-year-old door is now in a disrupted configuration, the sort of thing you’d measure with calipers, because of paint layers, because of gravity, because of tightened screws. Jane’s trying various things to adjust it. If peeling the paint off the latch-guard doesn’t work, then the other theory applies, and I say just let the damn thing hang and let gravity do it.
Jane is bruised and sore: the front door is 36 wide solid maple about 2″ thick, and very heavy. Up and down steps, up and down from sawhorses, etc.
We’ve boiled the paint off the very nice solid brass hinges and screws, but the baked on enamel of the latch-guard is another matter.
Meanwhile Ysabel is getting just a little prone to revisit her youth, ie, the irritable bit, and when I clipped an overgrown dew claw that was causing her pain WITHOUT using the muzzle, as a stress on the kitteh—she nailed me on the knuckle, a really hard bite that got her fangs into the joint.
Well, that’s a problem: it clearly penetrated membranes, probably hit bone or cartilage, and could have gotten into the joint. I forgive her: she’s just old, and hurts a bit. So do I, kitteh. Especially my hand. It puffed up like a pigeon egg, and turned red. I soaked it in Epsom salts, but that was too little to solve this one. I know there’s a Pasturella issue—or I know the name of it after getting hold of OSG late on a sleep-in Saturday and getting a prescription; but I already knew it was an antibiotic type problem of serious nature. Or as she said, ER at 3am if I hadn’t gotten the prescription. So I’m on horse pills (Amphi- or Amoxi-cillin or some such). It was serious enough that 20 or so minutes after I took the pill, I got this rush of heat in the arm on that side, clear up to the top of the biceps. Which was where the warzone of bacteria had gotten to since getting bit that morning (it was suppertime). The swelling that had spread to the second knuckle diminished, it’s gotten better today, and I’ll be fine.
Ysabel…butter wouldn’t melt in that needle-sharp mouth. She’s an old lady, but her canines and jaw muscles are in top form. She’s being so sweet today.
You want to see sincere cute, catch the pix of Shu and Sei sharing a nap on Jane’s site.
Augmentin. In other words: turbo-charged amoxicillin. It’s the drug of choice for cat bites and Pasturella. Yes, it can kill. Yes, call me anytime! We aren’t 100% in the clear yet.
Doing a lot better today: it’s hit them germs like a ton-o-bricks. Swelling and redness diminishing, pain only when I touch it. Mobility of the whole joint painless.
Oh ack on the bite. Russ got a bite on the thumb quite a few years ago when we were trying to get a usually calm, tame, but not very frightened cat out of the garage and into the house. He’d slipped out a window.
Russ did NOT have it looked at. He ended up in surgery and lost part of the bone in the thumb. Kitty bites like that have to be taken seriously.
And don’t forget your probiotics. Yeah yeah….I’m paranoid seeing my father suffer from kidney failure due to an overgrowth of Clostridium difficile following turbo-charged antibiotics.
Yoghurt when I get any hint of difficulties.
One nice thing about our youngest kittehs: neither really bites. Ysabel goes for the bone. Shu only bites in an advisory way (“Let me down!”) and doesn’t break the skin, and Sei, though gifted with amazing fangs, just does not bite: he is the gentlest, most mannerly cat I’ve ever dealt with.
At least I haven’t had any antibiotic in a longish while. I think it’s going to have the added bennie of clearing up a minor sinus inflamation (summer allergies). Nothing like 2 for the price of one.
I am glad you have OSG to hand. I am reminded of the time our Py’s brother Koki put the spouse in the hospital for a few days for intervenous antibiotics, following a bite to the webbing between the thumb and forefinger. (it was after that when our Koki left to live with sister in law in Tacoma. We couldn’t have his unpredictability around two small children). As OSG says, these bites can kill, and failing that can require amputation. One knows you will take care.
Oh my, I never realized I was living on the edge with 3 potential killers in my house. It’s a good thing I don’t go out of my way to make life difficult for them, I’d hate to get bitten in earnest. Birdie won’t bite, Sadie nips a little, and Sydney is probably the worst, when she gets ticklish, she tends to bite, but more kitten bites and not hard enough to cause any damage.
Guess I’ll have to walk softly from now on….
I know the sense of accomplishment on a DIY job that’s well done, but if it’s causing you pain as in sore back, bruises, aggravation, perhaps it’s not too much to ask for help. Unfortunately, for both of you, family is not just down the street or across town, and OSGuy isn’t always available to help, either because of his schedule. I know you wanted that door on NOW, and I don’t blame you. As for the screws, think of the silliest place you can that you might have put them, then work backwards. Heck, I’ve been known to check the oven and the refrigerator when looking for something that has no business being in either of those places.
Good luck with the door, but be careful with your back, too!
Ack! So glad you acted quickly and it is healing well! Ack again!
We have been very lucky. Over the years, I’ve had mostly superficial scratches or nips, and always have gotten to them with hot water and soap and disinfectants fast. But two or three instances have been more serious. Even so, I’ve done fine, and think I’m very fortunate. Don’t want to find out what it can be like, bad.
My grandmother has a bad tendency to irritate her cat, who has become quick to nip in objection, understandably. But he remains otherwise a loyal guard and companion, and top cat and hunter par excellence of the neighborhood. Darn cat mooches off several neighbors, the shameless con. It looks like, if it gets to the point where it’s a choice between him and her, her neighbor will take him as an outside cat, which is zero change, IMHO. I’d gladly take him, but Goober is the most non-assertive cat in the universe, and Smokey is inexperienced and outclassed, very out massed, though I’m sure he’d give it his all, and get banged up for it. I am hoping we will dodge that issue entirely. Her cat (Flash) nipped her last week, heard and fully understood he was being talked about by me, and the poor fellow was contrite and worried for his place (and our love, esp. mine) for the whole week. I saw and made sure to tell him he was loved and safe and has a home here, but I felt both like a heel and yet justified. Possibly it will have gotten across the message he should be more careful. He understood exactly the emotional content, if only a few words.
So, great sympathies for you and for a well-loved kitty who only reacted.
On the door, have you already tried a heavy duty chemical paint stripper, which you wipe or brush on, let sit, and scrape and scrub off? It works on wood or metal with really good results, used it to strip a front door to bare wood and reseal and repaint.– Otherwise, gravity, yes.
Part of the concern with a cat bite is the literal inoculation of pathogens deep into the tissue. Several issues raise the risk of CJ’s bite, incl. that it involved a digit — and a joint. Bad, bad things can happen, as Zette’s anecdote showed.
Also make sure your tetanus shot is current. Take it from someone who witnessed a horrific case: “lockjaw” is a very ugly way to die.
Ooh, ow! Sympathy for the bite and I hope it continues to get better. I also hope the door gets sorted – so nearly done, it must be frustrating! I enjoyed the kitty-pix too – very cute:).
eeeek and ouch and so lucky to have OSG near! I am glad old dogs have very blunt teeth – not that he has ever bitten me or threatened to …
OSG to the rescue! Thank goodness. I once received three deep cat-bites on my left hand and needed antibiotics and tetnus shot. It was really painful, but being bitten in the joint has to be so much worse. I hope it heals quickly.
I must say, you two are amazingly brave with your DIY – I just know I cannot manage taking a door off its hinges ….. feeling for poor Jane’s back, hands and all sore bits …
Famous last words uttered by Someone exactly 64 hours before: “Ysabel doesn’t bite any more.”
What we go through for love! Take care of yourselves. Ummm…..kitty muzzle?
Thanks for the reminder, OSG, I think I need to update tetanus.
Smartcat, when you update your tetanus please be sure to ask about the one-time only pertussis (whooping cough) booster that is now recommended for adults (at least here in the USA by the CDC). Some tetanus shots contain it, others not. Best to ask.
Don’t know status of the tetanus. How long do they last? Meanwhile the swelling and redness are greatly diminished—can almost see first finger tendon defined in the back of hand. Doing fine. The gut however is less happy.
The door is being painted, and some veneer damage at the base is now puttied and patched. It will be red like the bridge, behind the sparkly dark brown of the wave-grid of the security door. We had no front door last night, but we did have the security screen. We will have one more night with no door. We plan to loose Ysabel on any intruder.
Ysabel, poor girl, is oblivious. She just had a Moment, and is sweetness and light now. She lets Seishi within 6 inches of her before she makes a swat at him, but never connects.
I’m glad to hear the hand is getting so much better at least!
In the world of Zette and New Kitten, Edmond finally figured out that the kitten plays! They started racing back and forth through the house. Then Zaphod decided to join. So two HUGE black cats racing along with this little bitty mostly white thing, back and forth, back and forth. Then the kitten suddenly stopped and I saw the two black cats tripping over each other in an attempt not to trample her. It was pretty funny.
She and Edmond are back at it again today.
If you don’t know the status of your tetanus shot, get one. I’m sure OSG would recommend the same. Typically they recommend a booster every 10 years unless you experience an ‘event’. When my rooster jumped me from behind while I was wearing shorts, put 8 puncture wounds along the back of my leg, and put me on crutches due to involvement of the collateral ligament (knee), I got a new booster even though it was only 6 years since my last one. Group Health also did offer the tetanus-pertussis booster combo. And I can always check on my innoculations records on-line as can my doctors (Group Health ++). I tend to swell up/have medium bad pain from tetanus shots so tend to take naproxen before hand.
This topic has reinforced my dog-only status (weak grin).
Dog bite’s just as nice. 😉 Most cats won’t bite that way. Ysabel had a rough kittenhood and has a mouth, for sure: we’re not talking about a nip—this is an all out grip and hold bite.
Re tetanus, I think the last Ysabel incident was about 4-5 years ago, so I probably am still protected.
Dog bite’s just as nice. 😉 Most cats won’t bite that way. Ysabel had a rough kittenhood and has a mouth, for sure: we’re not talking about a nip—this is an all out grip-and-hold-hard bite that went as deep as it can go.
Re tetanus, I think the last Ysabel incident was about 4-5 years ago, so I probably am still protected. I’ve had cats for more than 60 years and I’ve only gotten 3 bites worth medical attention, including one who was stone deaf and startled; and two from Ysabel, bless her little furry heart. We call her Miss Cuisinart for a reason, and it’s *why* we caution cat-loving company not to pick her up.
Yeah, but….I’ve been around dogs for 40+ years (got a late start) and have NEVER had a bite that required medical attention.
Lol—I had a dog once, for two years, one of those ‘get the kid a puppy’ theories. He bit me weekly, twice in the face, got the mailman, and finally my dad found him a home with a nice wealthy and elderly lady who would never (one hopes) attempt to play with him. I do not know whether she was eventually murdered in her bed on one of Tony’s off days, but I do know I have never been bitten as badly by any cat as by that dog. It was just a day and age (the ’40’s) when you didn’t go in to the doctor as long as you had the bleeding stopped, and if it was under an inch long; you just dosed it with merthiolate and put a cold compress on it. At one point, had it not healed, I could have sincerely had a nose ring, courtesy of Tony the Wonder Dog. 😉 I bear Tony and his kind no ill will, nor to any animal expressing an opinion. His was perhaps that he did not like me. Or postmen. Or children. I’ll never know.
I’m firmly of the belief that there are people who are psychologically better tuned to dogs, and those on a feline wave length. Dogs—I just can’t read. Nada. Zip communication.
I knew Ysabel was absolutely going to bite if I pushed it too far. I just thought I could get that second claw before she got mad, and not use the muzzle sitting right by my chair, and she informed me that that paw was really sore and that I was on her last nerve. 😉 Now my paw is sore, and we are even. She is now perfectly amiable.
I have to laugh….I had a cat….once. Snipper seemed to enjoy leaping out of tall grass to rake my legs with his claws. I was in grade school (begging for a dog every single day) and never understood why ambush was a good thing. That lasted for 13 years while I struggled to learn how to share my life with a cat. It was never nice. Now I have dogs because I get to make the choices and I know what works for me.
Is that where Chanur gets her aggression? I would start to worry when Ysabel attacks your neck – cats kill big game by breaking necks.
Headline – Famous Author killed and eaten by household pet.
Good luck with the door.