I just got scratched pretty bad from an unknown neighborhood cat. Little bleeding. What should I do?

Question

I put neosporin on and have ice.
Do I need to get a rabies shot?
Tetanus shot?
What should I do?
Do I need to go to the emergency room?

Thanks in advance.

skin around scratches are raised

Answer 1

I raise cats and have years of experience! Clean the wound FIRST with peroxide, (rubbing alcohol if you can stand the burn)! Then use a little neosporin ointment. Depending on how deep the wound is, you probably don't need to be seen. However, if the area is red, a little swollen or stiff by tomorrow morning, then you would need to be seen. Rabies would be from a bite wound, if the animal is a carrier. Realise though, that cats will bite when very frightened and feel threatened. You might not have intended to make the cat feel this way, but he did cause he doesn't know you. Even when it's our own cat, if they're frightened and are in pain, they will instintivly to what ever they feel they need to do to get away. If you haven't had a tetnus shot in a long time, you shoud get one anyway.

Answer 2

Yes, neosporin is fine after you clean it well with soap and water, and maybe a little bit of hydrogen peroxide. No you do not need a rabies shot. Rabies is usually transmitted through saliva through a bite. There have been few rabies cases throughout the years and the liklihood that you would contract it by a scratch would be pretty astronomical. Sounds like the scratch is not that bad or you would be bleeding A LOT. Keep an eye on the scratch for the next few days to make sure it does not get infected. Watch it for any unusual redness or swelling or any kind of discharge.

Answer 3

You can't get rabies from a scratch that is from being bitten. You might have an allergy to cats. Wash it with warm water and use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean it. Then put neosporin on it and cover it. It will take a few days to heal but you will be ok.

Answer 4

If you can catch the cat it would be a good idea. If the skin in broken (and it is or you wouldn't be bleeding) then you are at risk for a couple of things -- mostly infection or tetanus.

Keep an eye on the area. If the skin is raised and it feels "warm" to the touch, and if the red area gets ANY bigger, GET TO THE DOCTOR!!!

Bites are usually worse than scratches, but you still need to keep an eye on it.

Answer 5

Clean the scratch really well with soap and water. Apply a bandage if bleeding.

The odds of getting rabies is extremely low from a paw slash.

You don't need a tetanus shot for this but you ought to have one in general.

Answer 6

CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN IT OUT!!! You did the right thing as far as the neosporin and all that but you need to clean it really well, and often. Watch for a fever to develop. You thought it was just a song but Cat Scratch Fever is real. Since cats use their claws from everything from fighting to burying their feces in a litter box or outside, it is possible that you can have that bacteria in the cut. Just clean it really well and if you notice a fever or really excessive swelling in the next few days, I'd call a doctor.

I love kitties but they sure can get ya.

Take care.

Answer 7

Nina is right. You can get cat scratch disease because I've had it. Basically had a low grade fever and some lumps under my armpit. When I went to the Dr. that was the first thing he asked was what happened to my hand. Clean(scrub) very well and keep an eye on it

Answer 8

You did the right thing. Keep putting neosporin on it and keeping it clean. If you see any red lines moving away from the bite area you need to seek medical help immediately, but you should be fine as long as you take care of it, as you have been doing.

Answer 9

ok i would contact animal control there is a chance that this cat could have rabies also go to the hospitial and get a rabies shot better safe then sorry

Answer 10

It's just a cat scratch for crying out loud. Pour some hydrogen peroxide on it and go on about your day.