Effective Steps to Treat Cat Bites: Quick Guide

It might be that you're not holding the cat correctly, especially when you lift it and its back legs are dangling without a solid point of support. This can lead to the cat losing control of its movements. To prevent falling, the cat may instinctively grab onto anything within reach, including parts of your body. This could also happen if the cat was startled during a bath and you tried to hold it back, resulting in scratches.

Many cat owners enjoy carrying their pets on their shoulders. In such cases, it's crucial to hold onto the cat's bottom to provide it with a sense of security. Some also feed their cats by hand, which can lead to being bitten. If you happen to be scratched or bitten by a cat, it's important to properly care for the wound to prevent complications.

When a scratch or bite occurs, the first step is to assess the situation.

Identify the cat: Is it your own pet, a friend's, or a stray?

Is the cat up to date on its vaccinations?

Does the cat primarily stay indoors?

Was the cat in good health at the time?

This information is necessary to confirm that the cat is not a carrier of rabies. It's important to note that not every scratch or bite from a cat or dog will lead to rabies. If the pet itself does not carry the virus, the risk of transmission is negligible. Many pet owners overreact and rush to get rabies shots after being bitten by their own pets, but this is unnecessary when relying on scientific evidence.

After making these assessments, you can treat the scratch or bite as a common wound.

1. Rinse the wound with clean water or alcohol, then apply an antibacterial and antiseptic ointment to the scratch.

2. Stop the bleeding. Most scratch or bite wounds do not bleed heavily, so take appropriate measures to stop the bleeding.

3. You can use triple antibiotic ointments like Neomycin, which contain Neomycin to effectively promote wound healing.

Shallow wounds do not require special treatment, and leaving them exposed can actually help them heal faster. For deeper wounds with significant bleeding, it's best to seek medical attention from a doctor, who may prescribe antibiotics.

When should you get a rabies vaccine?

Get vaccinated if you are bitten by a strange cat whose identity and rabies vaccination status are unknown.

Get vaccinated if you are bitten by a stray cat (or dog), even though the risk of rabies is low, as a precautionary measure.

Because the fatality rate of rabies is almost 100%, many people panic and get vaccinated after being bitten by their pets, lacking scientific and rational judgment. However, if you are 100% certain that your cat cannot carry rabies, there is no need to worry about transmission. Especially if your cat is an indoor pet and has never had the opportunity to come into contact with rabies.

Even if you are bitten by a cat or dog with rabies, the probability of infection is not 100%. If you are truly afraid, you can get vaccinated at the health department, which is not a big deal; it's just a matter of spending money and enduring a few shots.

In summary:

Cats cannot transmit diseases out of thin air. Get a rabies vaccine if you are bitten by a stray animal whose safety you cannot guarantee.

Q: I adopted a stray cat, and I was scratched by it. Is everything alright?

A: The incubation period for rabies in animals is very short. If the cat carries rabies, it won't survive more than a week. If you've been taking care of it for a while and it's been healthy, it's highly unlikely to carry rabies. If you were just brought home and bitten, it's best to get vaccinated at the health department as a precaution. However, if it's just a scratch, there's no need to worry about transmission.