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Original poster

Cat scratch - when to get it looked at?

34 replies

Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 10/04/2019 09:08

Ds had his face scratched by dcat earlier. I’ve cleaned it and put a layer of germoline on but it looks v sore. Is there anything else I can do?

Cat scratch - when to get it looked at?
OP posts:
Original poster
Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 10/04/2019 09:14

?

OP posts:
Palominoo · 10/04/2019 09:24

Fresh air and a little sunshine.

Should heal quickly.

Broken11Girl · 10/04/2019 09:30

Ouch, poor lad but he won't do whatever he did to annoy the cat again, will he? Grin
Cat scratches can get nastily infected. Look out for discharge, extreme redness that spreads, and/ or him feeling unwell. Call 111 if in doubt. He should be fine though.

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AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 10/04/2019 09:34

If it starts looking worse eg redder I'd get it seen to.

If this was a dog MN would be up in arms saying it was dangerous and should be put down! Not suggesting that your cat is dangerous, but there are some double standards.

avocadochocolate · 10/04/2019 09:36

Keep a close eye on him.

Original poster
Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 10/04/2019 09:36

I see what you mean avocados but it really wasn’t the cats fault. Ds1 threw the cat at ds2, so cat reacted as you would expect him to.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 10/04/2019 09:37

I will keep a very close eye on it. I know they can be dangerous

OP posts:
mrsm43s · 10/04/2019 09:48

If this was a dog MN would be up in arms saying it was dangerous and should be put down! Not suggesting that your cat is dangerous, but there are some double standards.

To be fair, if all a dog did when being attacked in the way this cat was was a scratch like the one pictured, then no -one would be up in arms or saying he needed to be put down. The problem with dogs is that they can cause serious injury and even death.

That scratch looks fine. It doesn't look particularly deep. As long as it doesn't become infected, then it will heal in a few days. As a child I tended to be a bit overly cuddly with the cat, and had a fair few scratches as a result. Not one of them ever needed any treatment or left any scarring.

ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 10/04/2019 09:56

In the meantime, maybe you could clip the cat's claws? V easy if you use normal nail clippers and are careful not to catch the quick of the claw bed.

I always do mine when I am on the loo - might be just my cat but he has no boundaries and is always at his most affectionate when I'm on the loo (probably because I'm sitting down for 2 mins). He never resists being hauled onto my lap and de-clawed at that moment.

LittleChristmasMouse · 10/04/2019 09:59

You're lucky that didn't get his eye.

Maybe the children and cat should be kept apart until they learn not to throw the cat!

I would get him seen by someone - cat scratches get infected very quickly.

CherryBlossom23 · 10/04/2019 10:04

Brulidine cream is excellent, it's an antiseptic and mild antibacterial and helps to speed up healing. I always use it on cat scratches and haven't had any get infected yet. It's available online.

CherryBlossom23 · 10/04/2019 10:07

Also, cat scratches don't get infected half as easily as cat bites. If your cat isn't outdoors 24/7 and is up to date with vaccines it will likely heal just fine.

Original poster
Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 10/04/2019 10:40

They are indoor cats apart from playing in the garden. Seems to be healing ok so far, think I just panicked!

I do usually supervise but I was in the shower while it happened. Ds1 has SN and struggles with impulse control. The poor cat is stil a bit nervous but I’m sure it’s mothing some dreamies and quiet time with stroking won’t cure.

OP posts:
TheoriginalLEM · 10/04/2019 10:43

Google cat scratch fever then take hom to a walk in. Im a vet nurse and if i got a scratch like that id be seeking medical attention

AlpacaPicnicc · 10/04/2019 10:53

Looks absolutely fine to me. Just a superficial scratch. Let air get to it and that's about it. I doubt his face will drop off anytime soon. I certainly wouldn't dream of seeking medical attention for that - total waste of NHS time. You'll know over the next few days if it becomes infected

Bethan369 · 10/04/2019 12:34

DS has one twice as long as that and very close to his eye (he was lying on the floor, the cat jumped over his head and misjudged the landing). It looked really angry to start with but soon went, it’s a superficial scratch-looks far more dramatic than it is.

Cats don’t need their claws clipping.

Bethan369 · 10/04/2019 12:38

Soon healed.

Original poster
Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 10/04/2019 12:59

Ouch! Your poor ds! Did it leave a scar?
I’m not keen on clipping. I’d be too nervous about hurting them and apart from now their claws have never been a problem.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 10/04/2019 13:01

Bites are generally more of an issue as cat’s mouths are full of nasty bacteria. I would want to clean the surface and then let the air get to it.
But I would be furious if one of my kids threw a cat. You need to ensure that never happens again. Angry

Original poster
Chancewouldbeafinethlng · 10/04/2019 13:03

Oh don’t worry, he’s not got away with it! My cats mean the world to me, it wasn’t fair on the poor cat to be put in that situation.

OP posts:
BiscuitDrama · 10/04/2019 13:06

Given that you’ve cleaned it, and it’s a scratch not a bite, I think a walk in type place would just tell you to keep an eye on it. IME anyway.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 10/04/2019 13:07

Cats don’t need their claws clipping I must tell my vet that 😉

Scratch looks fine!

PoliticalBiscuit · 10/04/2019 13:15

We have an indoor cat, he does need his nails clipping - he doesn't get the same wearing down that he might get spending a lot of time outdoors and climbing etc. We also have looped carpets and you can hear him struggling to get round when they're too long as they hook into the floor.

The scratch looks ok to me, as others have said if it starts to look redder, gets warm or weeps get him checked out.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 10/04/2019 13:18

I have a very active out door cat and he definitely needs his nails clipping once a month, he loves having it done and holds out his paw to me 😊 his claws really grow quickly and don't seem to wear down despite all the hunting and scratching he does.

It's bites that need antibiotics, keep an eye on the scratch OP any change and get it seen.

LittleChristmasMouse · 10/04/2019 13:20

It can't just be bites that need antibiotics. My friend caught cat scratch disease and she was really unwell.