Old Lady Killed by Pet Cat

October 1999

AN elderly woman died after being bitten by her pet cat and catching an infection so rare that only four cases have been reported in the world, an inquest was told.

Doctors had been mystified by the 88-year-old woman's illness and the real cause was only discovered under microscopic examination after Florence Silvera died in Wrexham's Maelor Hospital (UK) in May.

Her infection came from a germ in nearly all cats and dogs, though it rarely caused infection, said Tony Burdge, a consultant pathologist. Mrs Silvera, of Glyn Ceiriog, Clwyd, died of septicemia due to septic arthritis.

He said: "Most animal bites usually heal safely within a few days. The infection can come from close contact with cats which normally carry it in their mouths."

He had found a small bite site on Mrs Silvera's knee, though there was no obvious sign of a wound. Her son, David, said his mother had been scratched and bitten regularly by her cat but never talked about it.

Verdict: accident.