First Aid for a Cat Scratch
One of the most common domestic pets is a cat. One may think they are harmless and while most domesticated species of cats are extremely docile and serene, there is always a chance of getting scratched. Smaller scratches can be taken care of by washing out the wound and using antibiotic ointment. For more severe wounds, first aid for a cat scratch is imperative in preventing the wound from getting infected.
The first thing you should do is move the person away from the cat. If the cat is yours, move them to a secure and quiet place and observe your cat to make sure that their temperament is back to normal and has not shown any other aggressive behaviors. If the cat belongs to someone else, find out if the cat has been vaccinated with the rabies shot and still keep the cat contained to ensure the person’s safety. Usually, healthy cats will attack someone when they are hurt, sick, inured, scared, or annoyed. They will also attack if they feel their kittens are being threatened by harm in any way. Since the cause of why the cat attacked the person is unknown, keep it contained and under observation to ensure that it won’t attack again.
If you don’t have any First Aid Training this information will help you. When administering first aid for cat scratches, make sure you wear protective gloves to prevent yourself from coming into contact with any bodily fluids that may be infected. Reassure the person who was scratched that they are out of danger and tell them what you plan to do to treat the wound before you begin. You must stop the wound from bleeding. To do this, firmly place a clean cloth over the wound to stop the bleeding for approximately five to ten minutes. A tourniquet is not needed unless the bleeding is so severe that it cannot be stopped. Once the bleeding has slowed down or has stopped, wash the wound with soap under running water for approximately five minutes. It is important to attempt to clean the wound as deep in as possible as a cat’s claws can carry a lot of bacteria which can cause infection. When cleaning the wound, make sure you rub the area gently as rubbing more briskly could damage any tissue that surrounds the wound. Rinse off all the soap to prevent irritation and infection from occurring later. Once you have washed out the wound, dry it and apply antibacterial cream to it if available and cover it with a sterile bandage.
After the wound has been treated, keep an eye on it for several days for any signs of infection. Some of those signs include drainage, swelling, an increase in pain or redness, and heat emanating from the wound. If these symptoms become evident or worse notify a physician immediately as a serious infection could have developed. It is also important to contact a physician to find out if any follow-up treatment is necessary such as antibiotics, stitches, a series of rabies shots, or a tetanus shot. Since cat scratches usually result in deep wounds, any scratches to the hands or face should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible as it could cause loss of function, loss of sensation, or extreme scarring. If the wounded person develops flu-like symptoms such as headache, fatigue, fever, loss in appetite, or swollen glands within two weeks of the wound occurring, it is imperative that a physician is notified as the person may have developed cat-scratch fever.
Even though domestic cats are docile pets, they too can become agitated and aggressive if they feel they are being threatened, harmed, or abused as well as if they have developed a serious illness. Take heed when your cat’s behavior changes to avoid this type of injury. But follow the first aid for a cat scratch steps very carefully and precisely as it could prevent seriously complications.