How to Report Cat Bites

Whether it's at the hands of your neighbor's adorable tabby, or a stray cat whose history is unknown, there are two things you need to do without delay following a cat bite. The first is to get the bite treated by a physician -- cat bites are notorious for leading to serious infection and even hospitalization. The second is to report the incident to your local county public health office or animal control facility. Legally speaking, you are obligated to do so and a bite report is necessary in order for local authorities to investigate.

Instructions

Instructions

• 1

  Write down the details as soon as possible after the bite.

  You or the victim are likely to be at least a little shaken by the incident, especially if the animal is a stray. Gather as much information as you can, on the spot.

• 2

  Be prepared to report the date, time and location of the incident and as much information as you can gather about the cat.

  Get the name of the owner, contact information, as well as the name of their veterinarian, and the pet's vaccination information.

• 3

  Contact your local health department or animal control agency, if the owner of the cat is unknown or the cat is feral.

  Be prepared to report the date, time and location, as well as the circumstances of the bite, the cat's breed, color, markings, etc. This allows animal control to attempt to locate and capture the feline to observe for signs of rabies. Reporting also allows local public health authorities to track data and trends in animal bites to people within the community.