Hi. Ok i know yall will be mad and say im dumb because this happend but i need some advice my veiled chameleon and my 1 yr old cat have never had issues like she hasnt payed any attention to him bfor but today i had my chameleon on my lap while cleaning the cage and my cat just out of know where attackd him theres two black spots but no punctures where her teeth must have been she didnt seem to bite down just hold him. Hes been very tired and light green he normally is very vivid green should i be worried that he will die bc i am im very new to chameleons or does he just need some alone time to regroup and sleep from shock ?
very worried
- Thread starter blondie12
- Start date
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
He needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. Cats have a couple of nasty bacteria in their saliva that also ends up on their claws. A tiny scratch is often fatal to birds, and I would not think a reptile would be any different. Any bit/scratch to a bird is life threatening. By the way, my son almost died from a bacterial infection throughout his body that they believbe was caused by bacteria the cat carries. He was never bitten or scratched that I know of.
MsCham
New Member
On Cat Saliva...
Okay... not to be that person or anything, but I need to clarify the above mentioned subject on cat saliva before someone starts freaking out and kicks their poor cat out on the street. I'm no pro with chams, but I certainly know my cats.
"The mouth and the intestines of pets can harbor bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted to humans." That doesn't mean that they WILL. Only INFECTED cats possess this bacteria that can be passed on. It is a bacterium that is transmitted to cats from fleas, which is then transmitted through the cats mouth. This is often found in FERAL cats - meaning cats who were born in the wild, and will often never become socialized enough to enter into a human home.
That said, if an infected cat does come into the house hold, "most human infection is generally due to oral contact of hands contaminated by the pet’s feces or fecal residue." And this is only a cause for concern with those with "compromised immune systems (such as those with AIDS or those taking drugs to ward off rejection after receiving an organ transplant) and kids". Due to the above quote about the animal feces, it's important to note that "women infected with toxoplasma during pregnancy can transmit the parasite to their developing fetus." This is why there are always warnings on the cat litter bags/boxes/cartons that pregnant women should not come into contact with the litter as many types of litter do not safely ward against these bacterias.
In case someone is freaking out reading this, here are some steps published by Hardvard Health Publications for precautions you can take to avoid such infections:
-Make sure your pet gets an annual veterinary physical
-If your pet develops diarrhea, treat it promptly.
-Wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning up dog or cat feces and after gardening or exposure to soil that may harbor canine or feline fecal matter.
-If you’re pregnant, have someone else clean out Felix’s litter box.
I'll post all sources to the above info below. Sorry for the intrusion on the post, but I wouldn't want someone later on down the road freaking out and not doing their own research, as some people do. I encourage anyone to continue research at their own leisure on the subject, and please confirm that your sources are legitimate. Do your own research. Make your own opinion. University style!
With all that said, I'm no pro with chams, but yeah. Get him to the vet - always the safest option!
Cheers~
Sources:
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ktudor/2014/jan/are-dog-licks-unhealthy-for-people-31207
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/...ng-infections-from-dogs-and-cats-201204064577
Okay... not to be that person or anything, but I need to clarify the above mentioned subject on cat saliva before someone starts freaking out and kicks their poor cat out on the street. I'm no pro with chams, but I certainly know my cats.
"The mouth and the intestines of pets can harbor bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted to humans." That doesn't mean that they WILL. Only INFECTED cats possess this bacteria that can be passed on. It is a bacterium that is transmitted to cats from fleas, which is then transmitted through the cats mouth. This is often found in FERAL cats - meaning cats who were born in the wild, and will often never become socialized enough to enter into a human home.
That said, if an infected cat does come into the house hold, "most human infection is generally due to oral contact of hands contaminated by the pet’s feces or fecal residue." And this is only a cause for concern with those with "compromised immune systems (such as those with AIDS or those taking drugs to ward off rejection after receiving an organ transplant) and kids". Due to the above quote about the animal feces, it's important to note that "women infected with toxoplasma during pregnancy can transmit the parasite to their developing fetus." This is why there are always warnings on the cat litter bags/boxes/cartons that pregnant women should not come into contact with the litter as many types of litter do not safely ward against these bacterias.
In case someone is freaking out reading this, here are some steps published by Hardvard Health Publications for precautions you can take to avoid such infections:
-Make sure your pet gets an annual veterinary physical
-If your pet develops diarrhea, treat it promptly.
-Wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning up dog or cat feces and after gardening or exposure to soil that may harbor canine or feline fecal matter.
-If you’re pregnant, have someone else clean out Felix’s litter box.
I'll post all sources to the above info below. Sorry for the intrusion on the post, but I wouldn't want someone later on down the road freaking out and not doing their own research, as some people do. I encourage anyone to continue research at their own leisure on the subject, and please confirm that your sources are legitimate. Do your own research. Make your own opinion. University style!
With all that said, I'm no pro with chams, but yeah. Get him to the vet - always the safest option!
Cheers~
Sources:
http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/ktudor/2014/jan/are-dog-licks-unhealthy-for-people-31207
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/...ng-infections-from-dogs-and-cats-201204064577
jajeanpierre
Chameleon Enthusiast
I think most cats carry the two bacteria that cause "cat scratch fever" at some point in their lives. Most people who are bitten or scratched by a cat do not have much of a problem. You are correct, it is rare for a person to become as sick as my son became. Very rare.
And I agree--it is not a reason to get rid of pet cats. They have always carried the diseases they carry. I most certainly didn't get rid of my cats, and yes, they sleep on beds.
As a parrot person, I do know that cats pose a particular risk to birds, much greater than any risk to people. Birds are more similar to reptiles than I think they are to mammals. Since birds are so susceptible to a deadly infection from a slight nick from a cat, I am extrapolating that it might apply to a chameleon.
The OP stated that the chameleon was doing poorly since it was attacked by the cat. If it were my chameleon, knowing the problems birds have with cat wounds, I would be treating it as an emergency and be on the phone to the vet to find out if chameleons are as vulnerable as birds are and get an antibiotic. It is standard treatment to give birds prophylactic antibiotics with any encounter with a cat.
Yes, I have birds, chameleons and cats.
I should have recommended that the OP apply original formul Polysporin or Neosporin (WITHOUT any pain relief) to anything that might be a wound or break in the skin.
