Cat Attack

No thanks to Cheeky the naughty cat, I spent almost 2 hours at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) Trauma and Emergency Department seeking treatment for injuries to my left arm. He was agitated by a neighbourhood cat that came into the compound. When I closed the door, he pounced on my elbow.

Cat claw injuries
Cat claw injuries.

He sank his fangs into my elbow and clung on to my arm with his claws. I tried to shake him off but he held on fast. When he finally let go, he ran into the bedroom and left me bleeding profusely from a deep puncture wound. It was still bleeding 2 hours later at the hospital. My blood pressure was elevated. The doctor who attended to me said it could be caused by the trauma. I was given a tetanus toxoid injection and had the wound dressed.

Dressed cat bites
Dressed cat bite.

The agony from that attack was not the superficial wounds but the aching muscles which I suspect was sustained when I tried to shake him off. 24 hours later now, it is still tender to the touch and swollen. Luckily, it is not my dominant arm. If not, I would not be able to drive and perform many of my activities of daily living.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

2 thoughts on “Cat Attack”

  1. I have 3 cats and been in the middle of cat fights. I had a few scratches when I intervened. I learnt not approached them with my hands but a stick.

    1. He was not even quarreling. Cheeky is aggresive by nature, even after he was neutered. Now, he turns and runs away every time I point to the scars.

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