My cat scratched me, and I'm pregnant?

Question

My cat has stomatitis, an autoimmune disorder that is NOT contagious.
Since I have administered antibiotics to other cats in the past -- without any problems -- I tried to give my cat her first dose of antibiotics. Unfortunately, she got totally hysterical and scratched my arms up pretty badly.
Now I am worried...

But not about toxoplasmosis. I have lived with cats most of my life, and I should be immune to toxoplasmosis. Being pregnant, I know not to get anywhere near her litter box -- just in case!

I am much more worried about cat scratch disease. What would be the signs, if my cat is carrying it? What would happen to a pregnant woman if she got it? Worse than for a non-pregnant person?

Note that my cat is 100% an indoor cat (if it makes any difference).

Answer 1

You will be fine, if you've ever been scratched before and haven't had cat scratch disease, it's highly unlikely that you will now. If you did get it, a dose of antibiotics will fix it up and the placental barrier will protect your baby.

Make sure you keep it clean and dry and you will be fine.

Answer 2

Cat Scratch While Pregnant

Answer 3

Since you have cared for cats before, I don't need to tell you to cleanse the area completely and apply a good antibiotic.
I've been pregnant and scratched by an out door cat that loves to play and I have had the scratches look pretty bad but I kept cleansing the area and they go away. I think if your cats had cat scratch fever they would have displayed symptoms before now. If you think they do have csf then take them to the vet for testing and make sure. while you are there ask about a way to administer the cats meds more easily.

Answer 4

"Cat Scratch Fever" is not a common occurence. The nuts-and-bolts of it is that a cat scratch can leave bacteria in the skin of a person/animal that is scratched - in essence, it's a bacterial infection. It's usually found in children because their immune systems aren't fully developed. The risk to you isn't great, but regardless, you should talk to your doctor about information needed for diagnosis and treatment.

Toxoplasmosis is a risk, especially to pregnant women - but although it is true that it can be contracted from cat feces, you're more likely to contract it from one of the other two main sources - eating undercooked meat and working in soil, such as gardening.

"Toxo" can cause birth defects in developing fetus', so you should be tested. Your ob/gyn can run the blood test to see if you've been exposed before. Once you've been exposed, you're ok - the risk comes from being exposed for the first time while you're pregnant. The doctor can run a titer to see if you've got the antibodies to it already.

Don't assume that since you've been around cats for years that you're automatically immune. I've been a vet tech for 5 years and have worked with cats for a total of 28 years, and have been scratched, bitten, cleaned litterboxes, fostered numerous cats, etc. I was tested a year ago, and I have not been exposed, which surprised me greatly.

As for your cat - cats don't commonly show symptoms of either condition you spoke about. Toxo is only contagious in the oocyst stage for the first week or two they have it. Cat scratch is bacteria, which all animals and humans have, regardless of how often you bathe or wash your hands.

The best thing to do:
1. Talk to your doctors office.
2. Get a toxo titer done.
3. Don't garden, clean the litterbox, or handle uncooked meat without washing your hands thoroughly after.
4. Make sure your meat is thoroughly cooked before consumption.

Answer 5

If the cat that scratched you or bit you is carrying the bacteria that brings on cat scratch fever or disease, then yu may come down with anyting from a mild temperature to fever and swollen lymph glands. Cat-scratch disease is not a severe illness in people who are healthy. But it can be a problem in people with weak immune systems. People with weak immune systems include those who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer, those who have diabetes or those who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

What are the signs of cat-scratch disease?
A sore may develop where a cat has bitten or scratched you. The sore might not happen right away. It may take 3 to 10 days for the sore to appear after the bite or scratch.
The sore may take a long time to heal. An infection of the lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) also develops, most often in the glands that are near the place where you got the cat scratch or cat bite. For example, if the infection is from a cat scratch on your arm, the glands in your armpit may become tender and swollen. The lymph nodes may swell to an inch or more in size.

Should I call my doctor if I am bitten or scratched by a cat?
Call your family doctor if you notice any of the following problems:

A cat scratch or bite that does not heal in the usual length of time.
An area of redness around a cat scratch or bite that continues to get bigger for more than 2 days after the injury.
Fever that lasts for several days after a cat scratch or bite.
Painful and swollen lymph nodes for more than 2 or 3 weeks.
Bone or joint pain, abdominal pain (without fever, vomiting or diarrhea) or an unusual degree of tiredness for more than 2 or 3 weeks.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
My cat scratched me, and I'm pregnant?
My cat has stomatitis, an autoimmune disorder that is NOT contagious.
Since I have administered antibiotics to other cats in the past -- without any problems -- I tried to give my cat her first dose of antibiotics. Unfortunately, she got totally hysterical and scratched my arms up pretty badly....

Answer 7

I had cat scratch disease, and my cat was always indoors. i had a hip surgery and my inmune system was weak, and the dr called it cat scratch fever, as a joke , but there was no joke about it, and you are going to have a baby, and need to make sure your are okay. , you need to see your dr. as maybe you do not get around the litter box, but the cat does, and after he goes, his claws run thru his waste, and he jumps out and away he goes, and what is under his claws and on his feet pads, could cause an infection, after i got the infection in my arm, i got a
litter box, he could not have time to claw thru his waste to cover it up, it was a automatic one! or have it declawed. good luck to you ,and remember your cat will still love you, when he is jumping in and out of that automatic littler box, and cannot spent time scratching his waste. and carry it to you.

Answer 8

So, are you having kittens? Just kidding. Clean w/ peroxide and keep checking for infection until the scratches heal. If a red line forms on your forearm { a sign of infection } waste no time in seeing your Dr. as this would be dangerous for you and your baby. Good Luck to You..

Answer 9

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Answer 10

hummm? idont know about being pregnant...but my sister got cat scratch fever once ...she got scratched on her arm and the scratch never really healed and it was there for like two months and it got infected and swelled up and it was making her arm and upper arm all the way up to her arm pit hurt...she went to the doctor and he gave her some anitboictics and she was fine. but you probably should call you doctor and let him know