What to do if you are scratched by a cat

As our living standards are getting better and better, more and more friends like to raise some lively and cute animals at home to add joy and fun to the family. Pet cats have sharp claws, and their personalities and temperaments are not gentle. Many friends are easily scratched and their skin is broken by kittens when playing with them, causing bleeding. So what should you do if you get scratched by a cat?

In fact, cats’ claws are very sharp, and some kittens don’t like to be teased, so when cats are angry, they will use their claws to scratch and claw us. Many people do not deal with and treat cat scratches in a timely manner, resulting in heavy bleeding. Here I will tell you what to do if you are scratched by a cat.

What to do if you are scratched by a cat

1. First rinse the wound with water to wash away the virus and squeeze out the blood as much as possible, then disinfect the wound with iodine, and then wash off the iodine with alcohol.

2. Go to the local epidemic prevention department immediately to get vaccinated. The incubation period of rabies can be as short as 10 days or as long as several years.

3. If the scratch is severe, antiviral serum must be injected and used at the same time as the vaccine. However, antiviral serum may cause allergies, so a trial injection must be given under the guidance of a doctor.

Kind tips

1. When bleeding occurs after being scratched by a cat, do not rush to stop the bleeding as long as it is not severe. Allow the blood to flow out appropriately. Because the pathogens that enter the wound can be brought out through bleeding;

2. If the wound is not large but superficial, you can apply 75% alcohol or 2% iodine tincture and disinfect it 2 to 3 times, and wait for it to stop bleeding naturally; if the wound is deep and covers a large area, you can use sterile saline or 0.1% chlorhexidine to rinse the wound repeatedly and thoroughly. To prevent rabies, rinse the wound for at least half an hour and then apply 75% alcohol or 2% iodine tincture. Wounds are generally not suitable for bandaging and suturing.

What to do if you are scratched by a cat? First of all, you must remain calm. If there is not a lot of bleeding, don't rush to stop the bleeding. It is better to let some blood flow out. It is also best to rinse the wound repeatedly with saline solution, but if the scratch is really serious, it is best to seek medical attention in time, which is safer and more reassuring.