September 8th, 2009
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Even the best of cats go wonky sometimes and decide your hand is a live mouse. Cat scratches need to be treated immediately because they can cause cat scratch disease, a bacterial infection, if left alone. This disease comes from cat saliva which is often on your cat’s paw from grooming.
First, wash with soap and water. Then apply a bit of hydrogen peroxide with a cotton ball until it stops bleeding. Apply an ointment such as Neosporin after that. Bandage the area with a bandaid or gauze secured with an ace bandage. At any sign of infection or flu-like symptoms, see your doctor. If your cat has been scratched by another cat, clean it, apply hydrogen peroxide and press firmly until the bleeding stops. The danger for them is infection so watch it carefully as it heals. Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
This is so true. Fur Face our back yard rescue MONSTER Siamese(Apple Head / Seal Point) got me on the hand with claws and teeth. Sometimes he just goes a little nuts.
I washed and washed with anti bacterial soap, washed some more with peroxide, and put “SSD” cream(Silver & Sulfa) on the wounds. That was about a week ago and I am just starting to be able to use the mouse with some degree of comfort.
Cat scratch fever is more than a rock song
Thanks so much for the info!