Cats like to be playful, act weird, or sometimes get aggressive. If you spend a lot of time hanging out with cats, chances are you've been scratched in several places. Cats have sharp claws that they use in self-defense, and can sometimes cause deep claw wounds. Take good care of your cat's scratch so that you avoid complications caused by the wound.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Evaluating a Cat's Claw
Step 1. Get to know the cat
You should get information about the cat that has scratched you. If it's a family or friend's cat, you can consider it a "house cat." You may be able to self-medicate if the wound isn't too severe and you know the following information about the cat:
- The cat has been vaccinated.
- The cat is generally in good health.
- The cat is more likely to stay indoors.
Step 2. Get medical help if you are scratched by an unknown cat
Unknown cats may not be vaccinated, so you should be given preventive medicine in case of a bacterial infection, rabies, or tetanus. You should seek medical help from a doctor especially if the scratch is accompanied by a bite (the probability of infection is about 80%).
Step 3. Check the wound
The severity of the claw wound will determine the appropriate treatment. Any cat scratch can be painful, but the depth of the scratch will determine the severity of the wound.
- A non-deep wound that cuts through the top layer of skin and only bleeds a little can be considered a superficial wound.
- A deep claw wound that penetrates several layers of skin and bleeds moderately should be considered a serious wound.
Step 4. Determine the appropriate treatment
Superficial wounds caused by familiar house cats can be treated at home. However, scratches from unknown cats and severe scratches (deep wounds) from domestic cats should be checked by a doctor.
Method 2 of 5: Treating Shallow Scratches
Step 1. Wash your hands
Before handling the scratched area, make sure your hands are clean and germ-free. Wash your hands with soap and warm (or hot) water for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you've cleaned between your fingers and under your nails. Then rinse your hands using clean water.
Step 2. Rinse the wound
To clean a cat's scratch and the area around it, use clean, running water. Do not use water that is too hot as it can make the bleeding worse.
Step 3. Wash the scratched area
Wash the scratched area carefully with a mild soap. Wash the area near the wound as well as the wound itself (for example, if the scratch occurred on the forearm, you should wash the entire arm, not just where the scratch was. After washing, rinse thoroughly with clean tap water.
Do not rub the injured area when you wash it because it can aggravate the wound (bruising) the tissue affected by the scratch
Step 4. Apply the ointment on the claw wound
Treat the claw wound using an antiseptic ointment. You can use a triple antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin. This ointment contains neomycin, which is an antibiotic that is very effective in healing iris wounds.
- You can apply triple antibiotic ointment to the scratch three times a day.
- For those who are allergic to triple antibiotic ointment, use Bacitracin instead.
- You don't need to take antibiotics in the form of oral medications to treat superficial scratches from a house cat.
Step 5. Leave the claw wound open
The scratch should be superficial if you want to treat it at home, so you don't need to bandage the area. Keep the claw wound clean while the body heals. So you have to leave it exposed to fresh air.
Method 3 of 5: Treating Deep Scratches
Step 1. Seek medical treatment
Deep cuts can cause a lot of bleeding and you may need to take antibiotics to prevent infection, even if the scratch is from a vaccinated cat. Usually you will be given Augment 875/125 mg, which should be taken twice a day for 7 to 10 days.
- Before seeking treatment from a doctor, maybe you can do treatment at home first.
- Go to the doctor after you have done the following steps to treat a scratch wound.
Step 2. Stop the bleeding
If the wound is bleeding profusely, apply pressure to the injured area with a clean towel. Firmly press the injured area with a towel and hold it there until the bleeding subsides. You may also want to elevate the injured body above your head.
Step 3. Wash the scratched area
Wash your hands thoroughly, then wash the injured area gently with soap and rinse with clean water. Do not rub the wound when you wash it because it can cause bleeding again.
Step 4. Dry the wound
Use another clean towel to dry the wound and the area around the scratch.
Step 5. Cover the scratch
Deep wounds should be covered (or bandaged) with an adhesive bandage (wound bandage), butterfly tape, or a clean gauze dressing.
- If you get a large wound, bring the edges of the wound together so that there are no gaps between the wounds and then apply a butterfly tape, so that the wound will stick together because it is pinched. Apply some butterfly tape as needed to seal and seal the edges of the wound, so the wound can heal properly and quickly.
- If an adhesive bandage is not available, cover the injured area with gauze, then secure it with a bandage.
Method 4 of 5: Evaluating Cat Scratches Risk
Step 1. Avoid infection
Some scratches and most bites from cats can get you infected. You can reduce your risk of infection by cleaning the wound and applying an antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin or Bacitracin. You should also take antibiotics for infected wounds. Some signs of an infected wound include:
- Increased pain, redness, swelling, or stinging around the wound
- Red lines appear that extend on the wound
- The wound oozes pus
- Have a high fever
Step 2. Watch out for cat claw disease
Cat's claw disease, a disease commonly spread by cats, is caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. Cats will act as shelters for the disease, and this is common in young cats and cats with lots of fleas. Approximately 40% of cats carry this bacterium at some point in their lives, but there are no signs that cats carry the disease.
- Some cats who have cat's claw disease can develop heart disease, develop sores in the mouth, or develop eye infections.
- The first sign of cat scratch disease in humans is usually a small swelling in the area affected by a cat scratch or bite, followed by enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit, neck, or groin. Furthermore, the person will experience fever, red eyes, fatigue, joint pain, and sore throat.
- Untreated cat's claw disease can cause severe damage to the eyes, liver, brain, or spleen.
- People who have a weak immune system (immuno-compromised) are at high risk of complications or even death when they catch a fever from cat scratch.
- Diagnosis of cat's claw disease is usually made by henselae B serology, but can also be diagnosed by culture, histopathology, or polymerization chain reaction. This disease should be treated with antibiotics such as azithromycin, gentamicin, rifampin, ciprofloxacin, bactrim or clarithromycin.
Step 3. Check if you have ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection characterized by round, swollen, and scaly patches of skin.
- Ringworm is often accompanied by severe itching.
- You can treat ringworm using antifungal ointments such as clotrimazole or miconazole.
Step 4. Check if you are at risk for toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasma is a parasite that is carried by cats and excreted in the feces. There is a possibility that the Toxoplasma parasite (called Toxoplasma gondii) enters the body through a cat's claws, especially if there is cat feces stuck to its paws.
- Infected people may experience fever, body aches, and enlarged lymph nodes. Some severe cases can cause damage to the eyes, brain, or lungs, and the infection can be very dangerous for pregnant women. Therefore, women who are pregnant should not be near the box to defecate the cat.
- Toxoplasma should be treated by taking antiparasitic drugs such as pyrimethamine.
Step 5. Check for other symptoms of the disease
Cats can carry life-threatening diseases. Call your doctor right away if you have a cat scratch and experience any of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Swollen head or neck
- Red, itchy, or scaly patches on the skin
- Mild headache, severe headache, or dizziness
Method 5 of 5: Preventing Cat Scratches
Step 1. Don't punish a cat who has scratched you
Cat scratching is a normal form of self-defense behavior. Punishing a cat for scratching can lead to more aggressive behavior later in life.
Step 2. Cut the cat's claws
You can trim your cat's claws at home using nail clippers. You can minimize future cat scratching by trimming the cat's claws once a week.
Step 3. Don't be rude when playing with the cat
Try not to be rude or aggressive when playing with a cat or kitten. This action can cause the cat to scratch and bite you and other people.
Step 4. Take care of an older cat
Excessive biting and scratching behavior will usually decrease dramatically as the cat moves from adolescence to adulthood. This occurs when the cat is between 1 and 2 years old. If you're sensitive to cat scratches or have a weak immune system, it's a good idea to have an older cat, not a kitten.
Tips
- Get rid of fleas on the cat's body. This may not affect the cat's clawing behavior, but it can minimize the risk of complications such as fever caused by cat scratching. Talk to your vet about the best way to get rid of fleas on your cat.
- It's a good idea to cut or file the cat's claws.
Warning
- Seek medical help if you have been scratched by an unknown cat, the scratch is deep, or you have a weakened immune system.
- If possible, avoid playing with street cats or stray cats.
