What Should You Do If You Are Scratched by a Cat?

With the improvement of living standards, an increasing number of households now keep pets. Cat scratches are a very common occurrence in daily life; however, many people are uncertain whether vaccination is necessary after being scratched by a cat, nor do they know how to properly manage such injuries. So, what should you do if scratched by a cat? The following section addresses this question.

What to Do After Being Scratched by a Cat

In general, immediate wound management is essential following a cat scratch. First, assess the depth and length of the wound. Then, thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water for at least 20 minutes. After washing, rinse the wound with clean water. Next, disinfect the wound with iodine tincture, followed by wiping off the iodine with alcohol. Importantly, avoid further contact between the exposed wound and the cat. Additionally, regardless of wound depth, seek prompt medical attention if bleeding occurs. Follow your physician’s recommendations regarding tetanus or rabies vaccination. In cases of severe bleeding, tetanus immunoglobulin may also be required—this helps better prevent rabies.

Knowledge Extension: Symptoms of Rabies

1. Neuropsychiatric Abnormalities

After the rabies virus invades the nervous system, it not only affects respiration but also impairs speech function. Patients may exhibit disorganized speech (logorrhea) and become extremely sensitive to any external stimuli, potentially leading to aggressive behavior toward others. Other manifestations include psychosis, visual hallucinations, and auditory hallucinations.

2. Pharyngeal Muscle Spasms

Viral invasion of the nervous system triggers pharyngeal muscle spasms. These spasms may extend to respiratory muscles, resulting in dyspnea. Due to excessive sympathetic nervous system activation, patients may experience profuse sweating and hypersalivation. Swallowing fluids or food becomes extremely difficult, leading to dehydration and fever.

3. Systemic Symptoms

Rabies patients may also present with systemic symptoms including low-grade fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting—typically occurring early in the disease course. As the illness progresses, additional manifestations may include high fever, hypersalivation, diaphoresis, tachycardia, and hypertension.

The above outlines appropriate management steps following a cat scratch. We hope this information proves helpful.