How To Clean A Cat Scratch

Bandaging A Cat Wound

The best thing to use to bandage a cat wound is Vet Wrap.;

Vet Wrap is a self-adhesive bandage that you can cut to size to fit over the wound. There are many different colors and sizes available. There is also a no chew version that has a bitter taste so that your cat wont try to chew the bandage off. Dont use regular adhesive bandages because they will stick to the cats fur and can rip fur out upon removal.

Wrap the bandage firmly around the wound but dont make it too tight. Make sure that the cat can move freely and comfortably. Cut the bandage to make sure it fits well. The bandage should be changed daily until the wound is healed.

Why Do Cat Bites Get Infected So Easily

When a cat bites, its sharp canine teeth easily puncture the skin, leaving small, but deep, wounds in the skin.

These punctures rapidly seal over, trapping bacteria from the cat’s mouth under the skin of the bite victim, where they can easily multiply. A similar type of injury happens with cat scratches: the extremely sharp, curved nails penetrate deep into the skin, essentially injecting bacteria deep into the puncture wound. Depending on the location and depth of the wound, the bacteria can spread in the surrounding tissues causing a condition called cellulitis.

How To Clean Your Cat’s Ears

Last Updated: April 8, 2021Approved

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 22 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 373,585 times.

Most cats do a great job of keeping their own ears clean. Their grooming habits are so meticulous that they will even clean behind and in the inner flap of the ears. However, cats will sometimes need help cleaning their ears. It’s also a good idea to frequently check your cat’s ears to look for problems lurking inside the ears that could become more serious.

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Part 1 Of 2: Inspecting Your Cat’s Ears

Vitamins A D And E Can Ease The Pain Of A Cat Scratch

Vitamins A, D and E are also excellent in terms of cat scratch treatment. Topical vitamin A produces an inflammatory response, which is critical in getting wounds to heal. Vitamin D acts similarly and helps promote healing of the wound, while vitamin E is a known antioxidant and soothes the wound, allowing it extra time to heal. You can crack open a gel caplet of each vitamin or buy them pre-prepared as ointments. Oral administration of the vitamins is also helpful in wound healing but may be overkill for a simple cat scratch. Since vitamins have an effect on the body regardless of whether applied topically or taken orally, its a good idea to speak to your doctor before using this home remedy.

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Are Cat Bites Dangerous

Cat bites can be dangerous both to other animals and to humans. In their mouths, all cats carry a large number of bacteria that are capable of causing tissue infections in bite wounds. One of the more common is highly pathogenic bacteria known as Pasteurella multocida. An infected cat bite wound will be red, swollen, and painful, and the infection can spread through the surrounding tissues, causing a condition called cellulitis, or through the blood to other areas of the body, causing a condition called .

Infected people may suffer from fever and flu-like symptoms and, rarely, may die if proper medical treatment is not sought. Children, the elderly, ill, and immunosuppressed individuals are particularly vulnerable to developing severe infections if bitten by a cat.

What Are The Symptoms Of Cat Scratch Disease

These are the most common symptoms of cat scratch disease:

• A cat bite or scratch that becomes reddened or swollen within a few days and does not heal or worsens over time
• Painful or swollen glands, especially under the arms , or in the groin
• Flu-like symptoms including headache, decreased appetite, fatigue, joint pain, or fever
• Body rash

The symptoms of cat scratch disease may look like other conditions or medical problems. Always see;your;healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

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Tips For Bathing A Cat

• Have all bathing equipment ready before putting kitty into the tub.
• Only use a cat-friendly, tearless shampoo and follow the instructions on the bottle.
• Check the water temperature before putting kitty into the tub.
• If possible, have a friend help you.
• Be sure to wash away all of the soap on your cat’s body.
• Wash your cat’s face with a warm washcloth. Do not use soap.
• Never dunk your cat’s head underwater.
• Talk to your cat throughout the bathing process. Use a calm, soothing voice.
• Allow your cat to dry off in a warm, draft-free room. Only blow-dry if your cat is not afraid.
• Patience is key to a successful bath!
• The earlier you introduce your cat to the bathing process, the better! Older cats that have never been bathed will not be happy and will present a challenge.

One angry cat!

Part 2 Of 2: Cleaning The Ears

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Cat Scratches On A Leather Couch

There are several ways to repair the couch. It will depend on the amount of leather that has been damaged. Here are a few solutions for restoring your couch or other leather furniture to its former beauty.

Solution 1: Purchase a cat scratch repair kit and follow the specific directions for that particular leather repair system. The kit will show you the various steps to take and in what order. You may also need to purchase another leather repair kit that will have a coloring device to finish the job by filling in the proper color to match the leather.

Solution 2: For repair of extensive cat scratches on a leather couch, the last resort will be to find a leather furniture repair vendor in your area.

Reduce The Itch Of A Cat Scratch With Baking Soda

When it comes to cat scratch treatment, one of the big things to consider is the itching. Some cat scratches have an itch that just makes you want to go out of your mind. Instead of hurting or stinging, the itch is a result of your bodys defenses, a mixture of histamine and other inflammatory substances trying to jump start the wound-healing process. An old home remedy to help with the cat scratch itch is baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate. Typically used to remove the sting from mosquito bites, this stuff can also take the sting out of a mild cat scratch.

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Take Your Cat Out Of The Tub

Once you are done rinsing your feline friend, it is time to take him out of the tub. Wrap your cat in a clean, warm towel and put him in a warm, draft-free room in which he can safely dry off. You can blow dry your cat; however, it should be noted that many cats are afraid of the sounds that blow dryers tend to make.

If your cat is already in a stressed-out, panicked state, it’s best to skip the blow dryer altogether. However, if your cat is a bath pro and doesn’t mind the blow dryer, then, by all means, use it . Remember to test the blow-dryer first. Thermal burns can easily occur if the blow dryer is too close to the animal. They can’t tell us if it’s too hot! Once your feline friend is completely dry, brush or comb out his fur.

When it comes to bathing your cat, the key is patience! The calmer you are, the calmer your cat will be. It is also important that you talk to your cat throughout the entire process . It is very important that you don’t lose your temper and yell at your cat. After all, he or she is already in 100% panic mode. It is important that you don’t rush the bathing process. Therefore, you should only bathe your cat when you have plenty of time.

It should also be noted that the earlier you introduce bathing to your cat, the better. Cats that were bathed as kittens tend to be easier to bathe than older cats who are new to the process.

Caution

Avoid wetting the ear or ear canals as water can cause infection.

Wild Theras Cuts/scrapes Balm

Combining the run-of-the-mill ointments with this balm will help you take extra special care of your wound. Wild Theras balm is an all-natural product that has ingredients such as lavender, chickweed, comfrey and shea butter that will speed up the wound healing and make sure your skin is left with no scars after curating. It doesnt have any major side effects, but it has to be stressed that this is not a medication. This means that it is not to be used for burning, itching and deep wounds which are why it is supposed to be applied along with medications such as Neosporin.

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How Can I Prevent Cat Scratch Disease From Affecting My Family

• Do not interact with stray cats.
• Be gentle with cats and dont play roughly.
• Wash cat bites and scratches with soap and water immediately.
• Dont let cats lick skin.
• Consult your veterinarian about trimming your cats claws and safe flea control.

Cat scratch disease can happen to anyone and knowing the information in this blog post will help you to safely enjoy your cat and seek medical attention early if your child or anyone in your family develops symptoms. I encourage you to share this blog post with your friends, family and colleagues that are cat owners. Are you also a dog owner? Here are tips on how to safety interact with dogs and information about dog bite injuries.

Never Neglect To Visit A Doctor

No matter how trivial the wound looks, youre urged to ask your doctor to take a look at it. He/She will determine whether youre at risk of infection on the grounds of the depth of your wound, bleeding as well as information about your cat. If he/she deems it necessary, hell prescribe you some medicines to stop the bacteria from growing and speed up the healing. Therefore, dont take it for granted if a cat scratches you, and do all the suggested procedures in order to block further complications and save yourself from being forced to put extra time into treatment.

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How To Treat Cat Scratches At Home

Getting scratched by a cat can be more than just painfulthe wounds can bleed, sting, swell, become infected, and, in some cases, make us sick. Minor cat scratches usually can be treated at home, but certain wounds may require special care and attention.

Like many animal doctors, Los Angeles-based holistic veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney has dealt with his share of aggressive cats and is well acquainted with the damage they can cause with a swipe of the paw. A cats claws are generally sharper than those of a dog and are more likely to cause significant trauma, Mahaney explains. The greater the trauma, the greater the potential for swelling, exposure to the blood supply, and chance of infection, he adds.

According to Dr. Matthew Levy, an associate professor of emergency medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, there are factors to consider immediately following a cat scratch. Some things to consider include wound location, wound depth, considerations regarding the cat itself, and medical factors about the person who was scratched, he advises.

Home Remedies For Cats With Scrapes And Scratches

By: Shanna Freeman& Dr. H. Ellen Whiteley;|;Updated: Mar 31, 2021

Although they’re more common in outdoor cats, even your indoor cat may suffer the occasional scrape or scratch — especially if he or she plays rough, has a “spat” or gets into an out-and-out fight with another member of your furry family. The most common cause of abrasions in cats is, well, other cats.

If you discover that things have gotten out of hand, make sure that you find all of the wounds. Your cat’s fur can sometimes hide serious scrapes, so ruffle through it to be sure that you don’t miss anything. If there are just minor scratches, clean them up with soap and water just as you would your own. Don’t try to keep the cat from licking the scrape, either. Keep an eye on it, but the abrasion should heal up fine on its own.

Anything that bleeds noticeably needs more attention than a simple scratch. First, stop the bleeding with direct pressure, using a cotton ball or gauze. Trim the hair around the wound, and wash thoroughly with soap and water. Most abrasions heal better in the open air, and your cat would just pull off a bandage anyway. Keep the wound area clean and watch it closely. If the wound won’t stop bleeding with pressure, or there’s a lot of blood, get your cat to the vet immediately.

Hopefully, you’ll never have to deal with a serious cat scrape or scratch, but if it does happen, take it seriously to avoid complications.

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How Do You Make Cat Deterrent Spray

• Fill the spray bottle ¾ the way up with water.
• Add a few drops of dish liquid.
• Now, add 10 drops of rosemary essential oil.
• Replace the lid and shake well.

Macy got a little nosy and wanted to check it out…she didn’t stay long…I don’t think she was too pleased with me.

Simply spray a bit wherever you want to keep the cats away. I only used it on the corners and arms of our sofa and the area behind Matt’s chair where Pearl has been frequenting. We’ve been using it for a week and it works great. They don’t seem bothered by it, they just avoid the areas where we sprayed it. They still jump up on our laps on the couch and are happy go lucky as usual…lots of purring and loving going on around here, and now mom is happy too! It’s all natural, so there is no worry about hurting your cats at all!