Final answer:
The common infective agent in cat bites is Pasteurella multocida, which can cause acute infections of the skin and deeper tissues soon after the bite.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common infective agent in cat bites is Pasteurella multocida. This bacterium is a species that can be transmitted from animals to humans through bites, causing infections of the skin and deeper tissues. In contrast to Bartonella henselae, which causes cat-scratch disease (CSD), Pasteurella multocida can lead to acute infections post-bite. While cat-scratch disease involves a longer timeline for the development of symptoms, typically indicated by a nodule with pus and subsequent lymph node swelling, P. multocida infections tend to present more rapidly after an animal bite.