Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

I was scratched by a stray cat. Should I worry about disease?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Asian | Male | unneutered

I got a scratch from this stray cat which I care..should I take injection..? And he recently recovered from mange and tapeworms..is this an additional worry..? Please guide..thanks.

This question includes photos that may contain sensitive content. Click to view.

View more to consider that the photos may include sensitive content.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

Veterinarian

Published on April 30th, 2019

Cat scratches can transmit many infections, the most serious being 'cat scratch disease' from the bartonella bacteria. You should speak to your doctor/physician about your own wounds and although this scratch appears to be minor you should bathe it thoroughly with antiseptic and monitor for any redness, fever, swelling or leg pain

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 19th, 2017

    Unfortunately as vets, we cannot offer human medical advice because we are not trained to do so. You did the right thing by cleaning the scratches and applying Neosporin, but I would follow up with your human doctor with any concerns you may have about it.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Image profile

    Answered By Dr. Dayna, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on December 14th, 2017

    The pictures are not coming out well, I can’t really see the wounds. We are not physicians and can not give human health advice. However cats can certainly have bacteria under their claws that can get into wounds and cause infections. A disorder called cat scratch fever exists which is a bacteria called bartonella. This causes fever and swollen lymph nodes as well. In general if you have any concerns a visit with your physician is very appropriate. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

    Vote icon

    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

See More Answers

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I got this scratch from a stray cat which recently recovered from mange and tapeworms..what vaccine should I take..? Are "cat scratch disease" and "rabies" same..? Which treatment should I go for..?
No - cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection and rabies is a viral infection spread primarily from by bites from an infected animal and is quite rare from cats. You must contact your human doctor/physician for your own healthcare advice - your local doctor should be aware of the potential risks in your area and what, if any treatment is recommended.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
I live in a apartment and there's so many stray cats living in the complex. The neighbors and I feed them. And one of them scratched me. Can I get tabbies from a scratch ?
No you cannot get rabies from a scratch unless 1) the cat had rabies and 2) the cat's saliva entered the scratch wound. However potentially you could get infected with a disease called cat scratch fever or just get a general wound infection. I would have the scratch examined by your health provider, especially if it looks infected or red. Should you develop a fever or get ill, you need to see your doctor as well.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Savannah scratched me yesterday on accident with back feet and it dug deep is there anything she can transfer to me its kinda hard to bend and stiff
The pictures are not coming out well, I can’t really see the wounds. We are not physicians and can not give human health advice. However cats can certainly have bacteria under their claws that can get into wounds and cause infections. A disorder called cat scratch fever exists which is a bacteria called bartonella. This causes fever and swollen lymph nodes as well. In general if you have any concerns a visit with your physician is very appropriate. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Training & Behavior
My cat likes to play rough and despite my attempts to prevent him from playing with my hands, I still end up receiving scratch marks, none of which are serious, some I do not even notice for a long while. As a male in my mid-20s, how concerned should
Hello. There is a very small chance that you could get a bacterial infection from a cat scratch & it is actually called Cat Scratch Fever, so just wash your hands & arms after every play session. There are no vaccinations that will prevent this disease, but it is pretty rare & if your immune system is normal & you just wash after playing with Bosbos, you have little to worry about. It is good that you are trimming his nails, but you might look into buying a product called Softpaws ( https://www.softpaws.com ) that you glue on to the nails & really help with scratching. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello so my friend gave me a cat and I had it for about a day little did I know the cat did not have any of its shots! It’s about a year old very friendly and cute not at all aggressive toward anyone just very friendly and likes rubbing itself on peo
It is very unlikely a healthy, 1 year old cat would have rabies and transmission through scratches is also extremely rare; but there are numerous other infections which can be spread by deep scratch wounds from cats. I recommend you get the wound checked by a physician and also that you encourage your friend to get the cat vaccinated also!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
hi-I have been feeding a stray cat that has already gone to animal care and control and got the rabies vaccination and been neutered. i just got a small puncture wound on my knee about the size of a freckle or less, from him being friendly. It didn't
If the wound on your knee is from a bite, then I would recommend seeking medical attention if it broke the skin into deeper tissues. Cat bites are notorious for getting severely infected even with proper treatment immediatey after the bite, so I would recommend contacting your doctor about antibiotics. If the puncture wound was a scratch, it can still get infected, but they are much less likely to be severe. Cat Scratch disease does exist, but is not common in people with a normal immune system. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1581 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a found a stray kitten and it is about one month old I think, it is very friendly and carried it home on my shoulder like a baby and its claws keeps on poking my neck, I was wondering if I could get rabies from cat scratches.
Rabies is primarily transmitted via saliva. While the virus could be present on the kittens claws from grooming, rabies is typically transmitted via bite wounds. I would recommend that you take the kitten to a veterinarian for thorough examination. If the kitten is healthy, acting normally and has no bite wounds on his body, rabies is less of a concern. Kittens can, however, carry parasites and scratches can lead to infections such as cat scratch fever. I would clean the scratches well and consult with your doctor if you have concerns.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi...I live in a neighborhood where we have a lot of stray cats. One cat in particular frequents my home often...as I carried her, as I often do, something spooked her and she jumped off me scratching me multiple times. She did cause slight bleeding
Unfortunately as vets, we cannot offer human medical advice because we are not trained to do so. You did the right thing by cleaning the scratches and applying Neosporin, but I would follow up with your human doctor with any concerns you may have about it.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, I just adopted a feral Siamese kitten (5 months old) from a shelter. She had all her shots administered 2 days ago. She is very afraid right now and she happened to scratch me. The scratch is mostly superficial but there is a tiny bit of blood.
Congrats on your new cat, but I'm sorry you got scratched! Rabies is primarily transmitted though bites and saliva, so you wouldn't get it from Molly via a scratch. Cat scratches can get infected, but this scratch is mostly superficial. I would just wash it with warm water and antiseptic soap, put an antibiotic ointment on your scratch, and cover it with a bandage. You should be fine. Give her some time to get used to your new home, it's a hard adjustment for a kitten. Good luck, I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My cat scratch me accidentally 1 month ago but the cat is still alive right now does it mean that hes not carriying rabies the time that he scratches me ? He is not afraid of water and always eating and drinking. (He is not vaccinated)
The good news is that rabies is transmitted through bites/saliva and not scratches. If Ming was infected and shedding the rabies virus a month ago, then he would have died from the disease by now. Considering all of this, I think you should be safe, but it's best to consult with your physician if you have any further concerns. Below is a link to more information about rabies. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html I hope that helps and all is well.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored