Cat scratched me and drew blood – what to do next

While not as dangerous as cat bites, cat scratches shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially if it draws blood. Here’s what you should do next if you get scratched by a cat.

Wash with soap and water

At minimum, immediately wash the scratched area with soap and warm water.

Apply gentle pressure

Pat the scratched area dry then apply gentle pressure using a clean gauze pad. This may help reduce the bleeding. If you have it, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin cream, to the affected area.

Monitor the wound

Keep a close eye on the wound for next few days. Go to the doctor if more redness or swelling develops around the scratched area, or if you start to develop flu-like symptoms such as a fever. You may need prescribed medication to get the wound properly treated, especially if it was a deep scratch.

Preventing scarring from cat scratches

Deep scratches could leave behind unwanted scars on your skin. If it involves your face, then we would strongly recommend visit the dermatologist given how fragile and sensitive the facial skin is compared to skin in the rest of the body. Applying petroleum jelly like Vaseline may help reduce the likelihood of permanent scarring as the barrier effect it offers prevents wounds from drying out and may also help prevent harmful bacteria from causing further infection around the scratched area.