Do I need medical help?

[TyotyaKlava]

My cat scratched me quite badly on Monday, when I tried to clean her bottom and accidentally pulled her fur. The scratch is quite bad and still quite painful despite it being five days since this happened.
my husband thinks I might need stitches as the scratch looks so bad. What do you recon?

Get it seen. Cat scratches can be really serious as they harbour bacteria in their claws.

Yes

And you mightneed a tetanus shot

Ouch! Bit late for stitches I’d have thought as it’s started to heal. Antibiotics would be useful though.

I believe I had a tetanus jab in my childhood. Our cat doesn’t go beyond our garden as she is mostly indoor cat. I strap her on extra long lead so she doesn’t escape. Do you think she will still carry bacteria

If you haven't had one in the last 5 years you would need another

Yes, even indoor cats have bacteria in their claws.

Cats mouths and claws are full of bacteria, I'd get another tetanus jab and ask if you need antibiotics and never clean a cats bottom without wearing gloves, is she not able to clean herself.

If you haven’t had a tetanus for a while and it needs cleaning. So yes. Minor injuries

Ah it makes sense.can it wait til Monday or do I go to minor injuries x

There are no signs of infection or inflammation on the photo, that’s a good sign. Keep an eye out for redness, hotness and swelling. But seeing as it’s been since Monday….. just keep it clean and try not to move it too much over the weekend to let it heal

Go to minor injuries or phone nhs 111 (or you could have seen a pharmacist)

If you go to minor injuries they will probably wrap it up, tetanus. Probably not anti biotics as on the photo it doesn’t look infected

Wash it with saline or just salty water. If it gets red and/or hot it’s infected. Looks ok currently

Get the tetanus shot today.

I think it will do you for 10 years then. Ouch.

Will they give me the shot if I go to minor injuries? The potential wait kind of puts me off

Well yes you can see there’s infection. And of course your cat has bacteria - presumably your garden and her litter tray aren’t bleached every day?

There is never much of a wait at our MI. 111 may be able to book you a time to go.

Oh ouch that looks sore.
I would only get it looked at if it starts to show signs of infection.
But then I’m not a doctor!

I’m more interested to know why you were cleaning your cats bottom 🤣 that does look so painful OP! Hope it heals quickly 🤞🏻

Hahah yeah she did a messy runny poo and she still had some of it on her fur. So I tried to wipe it but she was wriggling and I was trying to restrain her with one hand and with another clean the fur. But because she was struggling I accidentally pulled her fur and she scratched me as a result 😭

the culprit