Bitten by cat, initial encounter

This code signifies an injury sustained from a cat bite, specifically for the initial medical evaluation and treatment of the wound. It indicates direct physical trauma caused by the animal's teeth breaking the skin.

Apply this code when a patient presents for the first time following a cat bite, regardless of the severity of the wound. This includes initial wound cleaning, assessment for infection, and prescribing antibiotics or tetanus prophylaxis.

• Always assign an additional code for the specific bite wound(s) (e.g., S61.02XA for cat bite of hand).
• Ensure the "A" for initial encounter is correctly appended for the first visit related to this injury.
• Do not use this code for subsequent encounters related to the same bite; use W55.01XD or W55.01XS accordingly.