Contents:
- Medical Video: How to Care for Injured Cats
- What you should do immediately after being scratched by a cat
- Important to note
- How to prevent the cat from scratching
Medical Video: How to Care for Injured Cats
Cats are indeed adorable animals. But if you are not careful, you can be scratched by it. If you have this, you must be vigilant. Because cat scratch can transmit harmful bacterial infections that cause certain diseases to you. Check out the first aid steps if you are scratched by a cat in this article.
What you should do immediately after being scratched by a cat
If the scratch wound is only a small incision and tends not to be deep, it is usually not dangerous and you can do self-medication at home. Following are the steps that you must immediately do:
- Clean the wound with running water and soap. Let the water wash the bite marks for several minutes to remove bacteria or other debris from the cat's nails.
- Press the cat scratch scratches gently and carefully so as to facilitate dirt or bacteria coming out of the skin.
- Dry your skin using a soft towel.
- Sterilize the wound immediately using alcohol or an antiseptic liquid. You may feel a little pain or pain. Hold the pain because it is usually only temporary and will soon disappear.
- Apply antibiotic cream to the area of the skin that the cat scratches to prevent further infection. You can buy this antibiotic cream at the pharmacy. Before using it, pay close attention to the usage rules printed on the packaging.
- Let the scratches get exposed to fresh air so you don't need to bandage the area. However, it is important for you to ensure that the wound is clean.
- Even though the incision is fairly light, you are still advised to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that the cat scratched you infected with rabies or other infectious diseases.
While if the scratch is a deep wound so that your skin is severely torn and emits a lot of blood, immediately wash the wound with running water and stop bleeding by pressing the wound using a clean and dry cloth.
After that, immediately take it to the doctor for further treatment. You may need several stitches and oral antibiotics to speed up recovery.
Important to note
You should seek medical attention immediately if you are bitten by a wild cat. Even if the cat looks healthy and not illness. Because, cats can carry certain dangerous diseases but do not show any symptoms.
How to prevent the cat from scratching
There are a number of things you can do as a preventative measure to avoid being scratched by cats, including:
- Avoid treating cats roughly. Especially for your own pet cat. Treating cats harshly can cause them to be more aggressive.
- Avoid playing with cats if you feel unwell.
- Make a special cat area in your home so that he is not free to roam inside the house.
- If you are sensitive to cat scratch or have a weak immune system, you should consider adopting an older cat as a pet rather than a kitten. Because most cats more often bite and scratch aggressively at the age of 1 to 2 years.
- Cat bites or scratches risk transmitting dangerous diseases such as rabies and tetanus. So as an effort to prevent transmission of this dangerous disease, it is better for your cat to be vaccinated.
- Make sure your cat is always clean and avoid fleas by regularly bathing it and cleaning the cage.
- Routinely cut your cat's nails using ordinary nail clippers. Cutting a cat's nails at least once a week can reduce your risk of getting deep wounds when bitten by a cat.
- Wash hands with soap before and after you play, caress, or carry a cat.
- If you have open wounds, don't let the cat lick the wound.
