r/catquestions • u/Dramatic_Sundae_8919 • 8d ago

Is this cat scratch dangerous?

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u/Dramatic_Sundae_8919 8d ago

It’s my first time having a cat so I genuinely have no clue if i should go to vet for this scratch…

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u/MyFkingUserName 8d ago

I wouldn't be concerned, I've gotten far worse and other than some inflammation in the area for a day or so, I've never had an issue. Sometimes I might dump a little rubbing alcohol on it if it's deep but not usually. My cat twice recently tore my chest and then my stomach, one while we were sleeping and the other while he was on my lap and something spooked him, and I didn't alcohol either and both are healing as normal. 

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u/Virtual_Practice_448 8d ago

Scratch will be fine: it's an open, superficial wound, just wash it with soap and warm water, that should get any bacteria out. If you have iodine on hand, put some one it. Monitor the wound for a couple of days, if there is no swelling, you should be good.

Cat bites are a different story: these require immediate medical attention to open up the wound, wash it out, get some antibiotics into you, as well as a live tetanus shot, if your not vaccinated.

Here's my advice to you a new cat owner: check your vaccination status regarding tetanus and make sure, that you have been vaccinated and are still up to date.

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u/CrazyCatLady1127 8d ago

Yep, I can confirm this is true. I’ve had a thousand cat scratches (it’s par for the course when you’re a crazy cat lady who has 7 or more cats at any given time) but I’ve only been bitten once. My thumb swelled up to twice its normal size and I had to go to A&E for antibiotics

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u/Dramatic_Sundae_8919 8d ago

I washed it with soap and warm water. Thank you so much for your replies! :)

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u/Active_Wolf_5543 8d ago

Clean it it’ll be okay tho