UPDATE IN OP - Denver's cat cafe faces lawsuit over cat bite

[pixy0stix]

www.9news.com/story/news/local/2015/05/22/lawsuit-against-denvers-cat-cafe-dismissed/27782003/

The lawsuit was dismissed.

__________________________________

www.9news.com/story/news/local/2015/05/11/denvers-cat-caf-faces-lawsuit-over-cat-bite/27157575/

DENVER – A customer is suing the Denver Cat Company after she says a cat bit her hand, and the bite got infected.

Amanda Jamrogiewicz filed the lawsuit on behalf of her mother, Sue Hodges. The two claim they visited the cat cafe back in February and a cat named "Morpheus" bit Hodges.

"[Morpheus] flipped onto his back when my mom still had her hand out," Jamrogiewicz told 9NEWS. "When she was going down to continue petting him, he bit her on her hand rather aggressively and wouldn't let go for at least 15-20 seconds."

"When she finally got her hand away it was bleeding in about 7 or 8 different spots," she said.

Jamrogiewicz said her mother was treated for the bite at the counter. But after she got home, she realized it was infected.

She went to an urgent care clinic for treatment and was charged $305. She asked the café to pay the medical bill, but the owner, Sana Hamelin, wouldn't agree to it.

The suit demands $5,920 for the $305 in medical bills plus missed work and the emotional toll for the entire endeavor.

"We wouldn't be able to survive as a business model if we were opening ourselves up to taking responsibility for a cat's behavior, because we can't guarantee that a cat won't bite or scratch," Hamelin said.

Hamelin said she did offer to pay part of the bill, but admits people get adequate warning about how unpredictable cats are with signs warning people to "pet at their own risk."

"We just let everyone know [petting] is a risk. If they're not willing to take that risk, then they shouldn't pet cats that don't belong to them," she said. "I don't think there's a cat in existence that hasn't bitten or scratched."

More than a bite

Jamrogiewicz said her mother missed a week of work because of the infected bite and complications from an antibiotic she was prescribed. She said her mother is the sole provider for the household after her father went on disability because of a brain tumor.

"They're under a lot of financial stress," Jamrogiewicz said. She claims the missed work hurt her parents' finances even more.

She said the day of the bite, Hamelin asked if it was Morpheus who bit her mother. Jamrogiewicz claims Hamelin knew he was a dangerous cat and should have been removed from the café.

However, Hamelin told 9NEWS Morpheus was one of the most popular cats in her shop.

"He was here for a long time and was very popular with our customers and managed to interact with a lot of people," Hamelin said.

Hamelin says after Jamrogiewicz and her mother started asking for compensation for the bite, she told the rescue that provided the cats for the café. That rescue then decided to pull all of their felines from the café for risk.

"Because of your claim, the shelter has terminated its relationship with the café," Hamelin wrote in an email to Hodges on March 11.

Jamrogiewicz said Hamelin is blaming her mother for losing that rescue, and the accusation is causing emotional stress.

Failed settlements

Hamelin said she agreed to pay more than half of Hodges' medical bills in the beginning, but the family refused to agree to that settlement demanding the entire total.

Jamrogiewicz offered another settlement to Hamelin: if the shop paid her mother's medical bills, Jamrogiewicz would make a donation to a cat rescue for the same amount.

Hamelin turned that settlement down and instead offered to make the donation herself in lieu of paying the medical bills.

Jamrogiewicz and her mother refused and filed the $6,000 lawsuit in early April. Hamelin was served last week.

"I guess a lot of people think this is frivolous, and to us, to be honest, it is too," Jamrogiewicz said. "She should have just paid the $300."

Hamelin said she could have just submitted the claim to her insurance, but it was already close enough to the deductible. Also, she worried about her insurance rates going up.

She also said she didn't want to create a precedent for others to sue over an issue she clearly warns people about before they walk in.

"I'm just a solitary person trying to do this by myself so it's tough to be sued when you're not a big corporation," she said "We're not rolling in money here."

The case is due for a hearing in early June.

[pixy0stix]

I think you have to know going into it that cats are bastards and will flip a switch to kill mode at any minute. The lady who was bit is being ridiculous.

[meshaliuknits]

She told Morpheus she wanted to see the world as it is. Cats don't carry red pills.

[taratru]

Jesus. What a load of shit this is.

[downtoearth]

Um, there is a café where cats just go where they want and walk everywhere and you eat food there?

As to the actual story, suing is crazy, but paying $305 to avoid a lawsuit would have been my plan. I'm not a business owner, so maybe that's not the right plan, but I wouldn't want this negative publicity either.

[mbcdefg]

May 12, 2015 10:46:13 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

"[Morpheus] flipped onto his back when my mom still had her hand out" 

I also found this and laughed. I'm an evil person:

[Deleted]

So much of the story doesn't make sense. How did the bite become infected that fast? And she didn't want to use insurance because the rates would go up? She missed work for a week over a cat bite? I hope the owner doesn't lose her business of this BS.

[pixy0stix]

May 12, 2015 10:58:43 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Um, there is a café where cats just go where they want and walk everywhere and you eat food there?

There are so many on this board that would refuse to go there.

[Deleted]

I feel like anyone that knows anything about cats should know better than to pet its stomach. Most cats hate that.

[downtoearth]

May 12, 2015 11:01:26 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

May 12, 2015 10:58:43 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Um, there is a café where cats just go where they want and walk everywhere and you eat food there?

There are so many on this board that would refuse to go there.

I'm just surprised that the health department is ok with this. I learned here on CEP that even cooking food for sale at home can't be sanctioned by the health department if you have a dog in the house in some states.

[Deleted]

May 12, 2015 11:00:16 GMT -5 @slayerkate said:

So much of the story doesn't make sense. How did the bite become infected that fast? And she didn't want to use insurance because the rates would go up? She missed work for a week over a cat bite? I hope the owner doesn't lose her business of this BS.

Not BS.

I got bit by a cat when I volunteered with the SPCA to socialize cats (so the whole gig was petting and cuddling cats). It just barely broke skin - 4 little perfect fang marks on the back of my hand.

At their direction, I went directly to my doctor. He gave me the "cheap" antibiotics to start right away.

The next morning, my hand was a fucking balloon. I missed work because it was my mouse hand and I work on a computer all day. Then I went directly back to the doctor and got the "expensive" antibiotics. It was okay in another day or two, but I still have a scar. Well, 4 little perfect fang mark scars on the back of my hand.

Not bullshit, but at the same time, I didn't sue anyone BECAUSE IT WAS MY OWN CHOICE TO TAKE THAT RISK of picking up an asshole cat. I should have gone with my instincts that kitty didn't want to be picked up. 

[pixy0stix]

Yeah, cat bites are "go to the doctor immediately" things. You don't mess around.

[Deleted]

Cats play the long game. The bites are poison so you'll die in a few days and then they can feast on your corpse.

[orangeblossom]

May 12, 2015 11:00:16 GMT -5 @slayerkate said:

So much of the story doesn't make sense. How did the bite become infected that fast? And she didn't want to use insurance because the rates would go up? She missed work for a week over a cat bite? I hope the owner doesn't lose her business of this BS.

Cat bites are very dangerous, and not to be messed around with.

www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/wounds-cat-bite-injuries-to-humans/63


Why do cat bites get infected so easily?

When a cat bites, its sharp canine teeth easily puncture the skin, leaving small, but deep, wounds in the skin.



"These punctures rapidly seal over, trapping bacteria from the cat's mouth under the skin of the victim."

These punctures rapidly seal over, trapping bacteria from the cat's mouth under the skin of the victim, where they can readily multiply. A similar type of injury happens with cat scratches - the extremely sharp, curved nails penetrate deep into the skin, essentially injecting bacteria deep into the puncture wound. Depending on the location and depth of the wound, the bacteria can spread in the surrounding tissues causing a condition called cellulitis.



Are cat bites dangerous?

wounds_-_cat_bite_injuries_to_humansCat bites can be dangerous both to other animals and to humans. In their mouths, all cats carry a large number of bacteria that are capable of causing tissue infections in bite wounds. One of the more common is highly pathogenic bacterium known as Pasteurella multocida. An infected cat bite wound will be red, swollen and painful, and the infection can spread through the surrounding tissues, causing a condition called cellulitis, or through the blood to other areas of the body, causing a condition called septicemia (often called "blood poisoning"). Infected people may suffer from fever and flu-like symptoms and, rarely, may die if proper medical treatment is not sought. Children, the elderly, ill and immunosuppressed individuals are particularly vulnerable to developing severe infections if bitten by a cat.



If your pet is showing these symptoms do not wait for symptoms to get worse. It's better to contact your local VCA Veterinarian. We offer a free first exam* for new clients.



Do I really need to see a doctor?

Yes. It is advisable to see a physician as soon as possible in order to have the injury properly treated. Your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics in order to reduce the risk of infection developing at the site of the bite or elsewhere in the body. Some wounds may need to be sutured ("stitched") while others will be left open to heal. A tetanus booster may also be recommended.



Depending on the severity of the bite and the circumstances surrounding the bite, your doctor may also recommend that you receive a rabies prophylaxis treatment.



What will happen to the cat in this case?

In many jurisdictions, your physician will be required to file a report to the local department of health. If the cat's rabies vaccine status is known and is current, the cat will usually be placed under a short quarantine, ranging from 10-14 days. If the cat's rabies vaccination has lapsed, the quarantine will last longer.



This client information sheet is based on material written by: Ernest Ward, DVM

[Deleted]

May 12, 2015 11:05:31 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

May 12, 2015 11:00:16 GMT -5 @slayerkate said:

So much of the story doesn't make sense. How did the bite become infected that fast? And she didn't want to use insurance because the rates would go up? She missed work for a week over a cat bite? I hope the owner doesn't lose her business of this BS.

Not BS.

I got bit by a cat when I volunteered with the SPCA to socialize cats (so the whole gig was petting and cuddling cats). It just barely broke skin - 4 little perfect fang marks on the back of my hand.

At their direction, I went directly to my doctor. He gave me the "cheap" antibiotics to start right away.

The next morning, my hand was a fucking balloon. I missed work because it was my mouse hand and I work on a computer all day. Then I went directly back to the doctor and got the "expensive" antibiotics. It was okay in another day or two, but I still have a scar. Well, 4 little perfect fang mark scars on the back of my hand.

Not bullshit, but at the same time, I didn't sue anyone BECAUSE IT WAS MY OWN CHOICE TO TAKE THAT RISK of picking up an asshole cat. I should have gone with my instincts that kitty didn't want to be picked up. 

I was saying the lawsuit was BS.  I have plenty of cat scars on my hands and arms because I grew up in the country and besides our cats we had feral cats that would show up on our property from time to time. I'm lucky that I've never had a reaction like that.  I still think it is weird that she didn't go through her insurance.

[fortnightlily]

Even though it's called a cafe, a lot of cat cafes don't serve food, or only serve food that has been prepped off-site, like wrapped sandwiches.

[ladybug2002]

I know that when my cat rolls on his back, I have about three seconds to remove my hand from his reach or he will grab it and bite. If you're going to a cat cafe, learn something about cats before you touch them.

It sounds like these two were in a bit of a pissing match though, with the bickering over the donation/medical bill.

[Deleted]

May 12, 2015 11:11:34 GMT -5 @slayerkate said:

May 12, 2015 11:05:31 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Not BS.

I got bit by a cat when I volunteered with the SPCA to socialize cats (so the whole gig was petting and cuddling cats). It just barely broke skin - 4 little perfect fang marks on the back of my hand.

At their direction, I went directly to my doctor. He gave me the "cheap" antibiotics to start right away.

The next morning, my hand was a fucking balloon. I missed work because it was my mouse hand and I work on a computer all day. Then I went directly back to the doctor and got the "expensive" antibiotics. It was okay in another day or two, but I still have a scar. Well, 4 little perfect fang mark scars on the back of my hand.

Not bullshit, but at the same time, I didn't sue anyone BECAUSE IT WAS MY OWN CHOICE TO TAKE THAT RISK of picking up an asshole cat. I should have gone with my instincts that kitty didn't want to be picked up. 

I was saying the lawsuit was BS.  I have plenty of cat scars on my hands and arms because I grew up in the country and besides our cats we had feral cats that would show up on our property from time to time. I've never had a reaction like that.  

bites are very different than scratches. I also grew up on a farm with a herd of feral cats and got scratched plenty of times without getting infected.

I think the lawsuit is a bit much, but her story is likely entirely true. 

[meshaliuknits]

May 12, 2015 11:09:38 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Cats play the long game. The bites are poison so you'll die in a few days and then they can feast on your corpse.

That's not our long game.

[josieposy]

May 12, 2015 11:14:06 GMT -5 meshaliuknits said:

May 12, 2015 11:09:38 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Cats play the long game. The bites are poison so you'll die in a few days and then they can feast on your corpse.

That's not our long game.

Nope. World domination is the long game.

[msmerymac]

May 12, 2015 10:58:43 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Um, there is a café where cats just go where they want and walk everywhere and you eat food there?

As to the actual story, suing is crazy, but paying $305 to avoid a lawsuit would have been my plan. I'm not a business owner, so maybe that's not the right plan, but I wouldn't want this negative publicity either.

There are a LOT of them actually. I think they started in Tokyo? I actually walked by the one in Paris when I was there, but they were full when I walked in and told me I could make a reservation to come back!

Anyway, yeah, cat bites and scratched are, like, full of histamines or something, because they always get kind of puffy, you know?

[ajj]

The whole description of what the cat did is exactly what cats do. That grip with all their paws and the bite, ugh. The second my cat flips on her back I am out of there. I mean, it's all worth it for her awesomeness, but yeah, you need to know the warning signs.

I don't think it's too unreasonable for her to be paid medical expenses, but I think she is going a bit overboard.

[glinda]

Cats are assholes. I mean, I love mine but I have only ever had one cat that tolerated his belly being rubbed, and you were still at like a 50/50 chance of being bitten.

It's a strange cat, you are risking your limbs to pet it.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Is anyone else humming "cat scratch fever" with me?

[ajj]

May 12, 2015 11:42:58 GMT -5 ChillyMcFreeze said:

Is anyone else humming "cat scratch fever" with me?

Well, I am now.

[Deleted]

I'm sorry but this woman HAS FUCKING INSURANCE but didn't want to submit a claim?

The cafe offered to pay half. That's seems pretty fair to me. Yes, their cafe has cats but you know cats are assholes and you pet its belly anyway.

And yeah, I've had cat scratch disease from a cat bite before. The hilarious thing is when you go to the doctor and he feels up your swollen lymph nodes, he's all, well, let's hope it's cat scratch fever because otherwise, it's probably cancer. HAVE FUN!

I love military doctors.

[notsocreepylurker]

If I was the business owner I might have paid the $300 just to settle it but it sounds like there are signs saying not responsible for cat behavior. I think that lets the owner off the hook.

And what the heck with the victim saying pay my $300 bill and I'll donate $300 to a charity - ummmmm just pay your own bill then.

[notsocreepylurker]

I read it as the owner of the cafe didn't want to submit it to her insurance.

[polarbearfans]

There is always a risk to petting animals. When a cat rolls on it's back, it's a no touch moment. They are preparing for attack. With posted signs, I wouldn't even think of suing. The cafe isn't negligent. The cat did want cats do, and warnings were posted.

I have one cat that thinks he is a dog... Plays fetch, loves belly rubs. He is odd. The other cats will be hard to get off you if you dare touch their beautiful bellies.

[laurenpetro]

i wonder if cats are allowed on the counters?