Why does it itch right after a cat scratches you?

Question

Whenever one of my cats scratches me when we're playing, it immediatly begins to itch...does that reflect a minor allergy, or is that a typical symptom?

Answer 1

I think partly its a normal reaction to any skin wound. I know that when I get scratches from anything, it does itch sometimes. If I remember correctly from high school bio, something about antihistimes being released and white blood cells rushing to the wound site.

Though, you could very well be having a reaction. Cats nails are NOT clean, which is ironic considering they are extremely fastidious groomers. There is actually a disease called Cat Scratch Fever for this very reason. And no, it's not just a song.

Answer 2

Itchy After Cat Scratch

Answer 3

I'd say it's just your skin doing what it does as it heals. When you have surgery, after a while, the area around your stitches start to itch as the skin heals itself up. The same thing happens with scratches too.

Answer 4

they walk around in cat litter, then lick their claws...you have lots of things there to be allergic to. It's typical to itch under those circumstances. I don't recommend getting scratched too much, those are not clean claws no matter how much the cat licks them, he licks every other spare part he has too!
if it itches a whole lot clean it and consider an over the counter antihistamine with your Doctors OK.

Answer 5

The same happens to me. I always thought it is a minor allergy because I am allergic to cats, they make my eyes itch and my nose itch. My guess is it is a minor allergy.

Answer 6

Typical, It's irritated from a dirty scratch across nerve endings, if you spill a light acid on your skin like "Muriatic", it itches, and tickles because, it is slightly irritated.