Cat scratch disease???

Question

Has anyone ever heard of cat scratch disease? How harmful is it to a person? And what about the cat, does it mean my cat is sick if someone got it from her?

My best friend and I live together, and I have a cat she has 2 dogs. My cat is 14yrs old. Anyhow, my friend has this lump on her neck that she went to a dr about and they told her it was from cat scratch disease. I had never heard of it and it was kind of weird that in all the years I have had her I never had such a problem. So I wan't sure if she was sick now or if it was something that just can happen at anytime. I have been scratched by her before in the past and I never had those symptoms.

sorry to hear about your incident ruby, but first my cat does not attack,s he is old and mild mannered unless someone bothers her. and the info I recently read says that it is rare for humans to get very sick, so yours is a rare case according to what i've read. I would like more info if anyone has heard of or gone thru this. thanx. Not to downplay ruby's experience because i'm sure it was serious but I am concerned for my cat which I have NEVER had a problem with EVER !!

also to mention, if it makes a difference. My cat is an indoor cat, she does not go outside. She lives with me in my best friends house and her 2 kids and 2 dogs.

Answer 1

I had it years ago, its actually caused by the dirt or anything they get on their claws. The lymphnoids swell up is a sign. I had it removed and that was that, no side affects. I'm sure there are exceptions to this for others, but for me it was no big deal. If you get scratched my your cat the best thing to do is clean the area and sanitize like with any other wound. It can get infected and that's where the problem starts. Will you get it every time from every cat? No, I have three cats and have owned several over the years and have only had this once. Its nothing to be afraid of. As for the cat, Ive never heard of it affecting them, but again there are exceptions to every rule. Don't live in fear over this, it isn't worth the worry.

Answer 2

I'm just now recovering from cat scratch fever or cat scratch disease as you call it. Yes, it is dangerous to humans and certain other animals..

I was severly attacked by a cat on Christmas. I had to go to the emergency room. I have five deep puncture wounds to the bone and numerous scratches on my right hand, wrist and arm. All this happened in a matter of seconds while petting a supposed ''tame'' cat.

The fever is very debilitating. The pain was outrageous. It gave me serious headaches; caused my joints to hurt so bad I could hardly move; I have swelling in my ankles and hands; there were small abcesses where the puncture wounds are. The fever comes and goes. Overall, it makes you very sick and feel that you have absolutely no energy.

The doctors put me on an antibiotic and pain medications, and told me how to keep the wounds clean. It's taken me off work for over a week.

I've never heard of a "soft" poison and would vary to differ with another poster on this subject. There is no such thing as a soft poison.

Cats can carry "cat scratch" but do not ever actually get it themselves. The bacteria can be present in their saliva and / or on their claws and is usually caused by fleas present on the cat. You do not know that a cat is or is not a carrier of the disease. You will only know after you receive the bites and / or scratches.

Best option? Just don't handle a cat that may bite or cause serious deep scratching, and you won't have to worry about getting the disease.

.

Answer 3

It's very rare to get it because the cat would have to be a carrier, and to be infected prior to this by the fleas that carry it. It's normally called Bartonella in cats and it's not very common. Wash the scratch out good with soap and water. Put some hydrogen peroxide on it to fizz out anything that might be in there, that stuff kills a lot of bacteria and is good for cleaning wounds like this. If the scratch feels hot tomorrow, it may have a slight infection. Soak it a bit and take aspirin (and I'd take a vitamin too, it wouldn't hurt to have your body supplied with what it needs). Most scratches are just scratches. We all get them.

Answer 4

My oldest son was bitten by our cat and ended up in the hospital years ago with a form of encephalitis. My cat was quarantined for 10 days and my son was hospitalized for 2 weeks. At that time they were unable to do anything except give him antibiotics and I did a lot if praying. Fast forward 25 years and a different son was bitten by a different cat. He used an OTC antibiotic which he turned out to be allergic to and was in pain for weeks.

Moral of this story.....
If bitten or scratched by a cat clean the injury up with soap and water followed by peroxide and keep it clean and dry as possible. Beware of cats and realize that all cats can and will hurt you, usually not on purpose. Some people are more affected than others and there is no way of knowing how you might react until it happens.

Answer 5

Cat scratch disease is real. I've known a couple of people who caught it and one ended up in hospital with it! I think cats can catch it even if they live indoors and it passes to humans when people are scratched or bitten and sometimes if the cat licks them and they have a cut on their skin, so it's possible your cat has passed it on even if she didn't attack anyone. Cat's don't always show symptoms of the disease, so you won't know if a cat has it. You can find more info here. http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/catscratch.htm

Answer 6

I had a friend who actually had Cat Scratch Fever. Yes, it's a real thing that can happen, but it's not very common. My friend's doctor told him it likely is due to the cat scratching in the litter box.

Answer 7

I know cats have a kind of soft poison in their claws, and they use it to hunt, its why when u get scratch by a cat it not only hurts it also itch, but its safe for humans, Ive been scratch over and over again and im still here.

are u asking for the virus found in cat poop that can affect human fetus?