Outdoor cat scratched my finger and drew blood - pls advise!

[randall]

Hello,

A cat that I have been feeding took a whack at me and connected on my left index finger. It was a claw stab. I washed it and flushed it with hot soapy water and peroxide immediately. It bled for 2 or 3 minutes, and has now stopped. Put neosporin on it.

Should I be concerned? Cat is an undomesticated cat in Italy, lives on a farm. I can't remember getting a tentanus shot for a long time.

[Lilith]

Hi Randall - sounds like you took care of the first aid and ought to be fine - I agree it's a worry though.

I've had loads of scratches and bites from ferals and housecats (and bites from my pet snakes too; the cat bites were worse lol) and just from my own experience I'd say that if the injury is going to go badly septic, there is this horrible sort of achey feeling about it and it starts to swell up very soon, so paws crossed that you've escaped; it's an additional worry about the farm surroundings of course.

I too have let a tetanus jab lapse (I used to have an allotment and hens) but I don't go near doctors unless I'm desperate and when I looked it up found that tetanus is generally caused by contact with rusty metal...but don't know how accurate that is.

Of course any swelling or unusual pain or if you see redness beginning to travel up your hand/wrist, do get help. But hope it won't come to that. Take care

[randall]

Thanks so much Lillith. After a bout of frantic googling, I have reassured myself of same. Glad to know that most symptoms of anything serious will show up fairly immediately -- and thus far, it's a non-event.

I don't mind running to doctors except, on an Italian weekend in high summer, pickings are pretty slim!

Thanks again.

[bobbys girl]

As a Gardener I make sure I'm up to date with my Tetanus shots. The recommended time for boosters is 10 years.

As you quickly cleaned the wound and got a good flow of blood from it, it should be OK.

They really hurt those cat claw jags!

[randall]

thanks. Good advice! Especially in a country where we walk around half the year in sandals as well.