2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code W55.01XD

Bitten by cat, subsequent encounter

ICD-10-CM Code:
W55.01XD
ICD-10 Code for:
Bitten by cat, subsequent encounter
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • External causes of morbidity and mortality
    (V01–Y99)
    • Exposure to animate mechanical forces
      (W50-W64)
      • Contact with other mammals
        (W55)

W55.01XD is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of bitten by cat, subsequent encounter. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024. The code is exempt from present on admission (POA) reporting for inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals.

W55.01XD is a subsequent encounter code, includes a 7th character and should be used after the patient has completed active treatment for a condition like bitten by cat. According to ICD-10-CM Guidelines a "subsequent encounter" occurs when the patient is receiving routine care for the condition during the healing or recovery phase of treatment. Subsequent diagnosis codes are appropriate during the recovery phase, no matter how many times the patient has seen the provider for this condition. If the provider needs to adjust the patient's care plan due to a setback or other complication, the encounter becomes active again.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Animal bite of ankle
  • Animal bite of ankle
  • Animal bite of upper arm
  • Animal bite of upper arm
  • Bite of domestic pet
  • Cat bite
  • Cat bite - wound
  • Localized septic infection by cat AND/OR dog bite due to Pasteurella multocida
  • Open bite of ankle
  • Open bite of ankle
  • Open bite of forearm
  • Open bite of forearm
  • Open bite of forearm
  • Open bite of upper arm
  • Open bite of upper arm
  • Open wound of face due to animal bite
  • Open wound of face due to bite
  • Open wound of face due to cat bite
  • Open wound of finger of left hand due to animal bite
  • Open wound of finger of left hand due to bite
  • Open wound of finger of left hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of finger of right hand due to animal bite
  • Open wound of finger of right hand due to bite
  • Open wound of finger of right hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of forearm due to cat bite
  • Open wound of forearm due to cat bite
  • Open wound of forearm due to cat bite
  • Open wound of hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left ankle
  • Open wound of left ankle due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left foot due to animal bite
  • Open wound of left foot due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left forearm due to animal bite
  • Open wound of left forearm due to bite
  • Open wound of left forearm due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left hand due to animal bite
  • Open wound of left hand due to animal bite
  • Open wound of left hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left index finger due to animal bite
  • Open wound of left index finger due to bite
  • Open wound of left index finger due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left little finger due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left lower leg due to animal bite
  • Open wound of left lower leg due to bite
  • Open wound of left lower leg due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left middle finger due to animal bite
  • Open wound of left middle finger due to bite
  • Open wound of left middle finger due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left ring finger due to animal bite
  • Open wound of left ring finger due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left thumb due to bite
  • Open wound of left thumb due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left upper arm due to bite
  • Open wound of left upper arm due to cat bite
  • Open wound of left wrist due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right ankle
  • Open wound of right ankle due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right foot due to animal bite
  • Open wound of right foot due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right forearm due to animal bite
  • Open wound of right forearm due to bite
  • Open wound of right forearm due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right hand due to animal bite
  • Open wound of right hand due to animal bite
  • Open wound of right hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right hand due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right index finger due to animal bite
  • Open wound of right index finger due to bite
  • Open wound of right index finger due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right little finger due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right lower leg due to animal bite
  • Open wound of right lower leg due to bite
  • Open wound of right lower leg due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right middle finger due to animal bite
  • Open wound of right middle finger due to bite
  • Open wound of right middle finger due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right ring finger due to animal bite
  • Open wound of right ring finger due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right thumb due to bite
  • Open wound of right thumb due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right upper arm due to bite
  • Open wound of right upper arm due to cat bite
  • Open wound of right wrist due to cat bite

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Cat Bite

    a wound received from the teeth of a cat.

Present on Admission (POA)

W55.01XD is exempt from POA reporting - The Present on Admission (POA) indicator is used for diagnosis codes included in claims involving inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals. POA indicators must be reported to CMS on each claim to facilitate the grouping of diagnoses codes into the proper Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG). CMS publishes a listing of specific diagnosis codes that are exempt from the POA reporting requirement. Review other POA exempt codes here.

CMS POA Indicator Options and Definitions

POA IndicatorReason for CodeCMS will pay the CC/MCC DRG?
YDiagnosis was present at time of inpatient admission.YES
NDiagnosis was not present at time of inpatient admission.NO
UDocumentation insufficient to determine if the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.NO
WClinically undetermined - unable to clinically determine whether the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.YES
1Unreported/Not used - Exempt from POA reporting. NO

Convert W55.01XD to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: E906.3 - Animal bite NEC
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education


Animal Bites

Wild animals usually avoid people. They might attack, however, if they feel threatened, are sick, or are protecting their young or territory. Attacks by pets are more common. Animal bites rarely are life-threatening, but if they become infected, you can develop serious medical problems.

To prevent animal bites and complications from bites:

  • Never pet, handle, or feed unknown animals
  • Leave snakes alone
  • Watch your children closely around animals
  • Vaccinate your cats, ferrets, and dogs against rabies
  • Spay or neuter your dog to make it less aggressive
  • Get a tetanus booster if you have not had one recently
  • Wear boots and long pants when you are in areas with venomous snakes

If an animal bites you, clean the wound with soap and water as soon as possible. Get medical attention if necessary.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.