Leo Gillick
Cats might look cute, but they can be dangerous. A woman who suffered a seemingly small cat scratch has ended up in hospital after the event.
Videos by Rare
The TikTok video explaining the situation is a short and simple one. After a cat scratch, she was admitted to the hospital with a nasty infection. She had to spend multiple days in there, at one point being told she may lose the finger.
Most of the time, a cat scratch is nothing to worry about. But, there is always a risk of infection, which is why there are a few important things to note if you’ve been the victim of a feline flail.
@imkaramarie I love my life!!!!! #er #emergencyroom #catsoftiktok #adayinmylife ♬ original sound – Kara Marie
1. S**t Mittens
Those little paws on your pet are used for all sorts of gross activities. Cats may seem like they’re super clean animals, but their claws are their do-it-all tools. They dig holes, scrape their poop, bury them in rodents, and scratch themselves. So, when their claws dig into skin, all that filth is coming with it.
A cat scratch is basically a transmission of all the diseases their nasty claws have been involved in. Even if you think your pretty little princess is a cute, clean, feline, it’s not. Make sure that if you’re scratched by a cat, the wound gets disinfected.
2. Cat Scratch Disease
A scratch can inflict a multitude of diseases, but the most common is known as CSD. This is caused by the transmission of Bartonella henselae. The disease can be transmitted through a cat bite, scratch, and contact with their fleas and droppings.
The main symptoms of CSD are a bump or pustule at the site of the scratch. It can lead to swollen lymph nodes and eventually a fever, too. Typically, it will pass on its own, but in some cases it can become more serious. If the symptoms of the cat scratch don’t pass quickly, it’s advisable to get to a doctor.
3. Domestic and Feral
Just because your cat lives inside and has had all its jabs doesn’t mean that a cat scratch can’t be infectious. Feral cats, of course, are more prone to carrying disease, but even your lovely housecat is a nasty little bacteria bag.
