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Cat scratch
Yesterday, my cat scratched my hand while I was putting a belt around her neck. She is not vaccinated. The wound is not very deep, but the skin was torn and there was no bleeding. Should I take a tetanus and rabies injection?
Answers (23)
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The scratch looks superficial, but since the cat is not vaccinated, you should wash the wound well with soap and water and consult nearby hospital for rabies vaccine advice. Tetanus may also be needed if not taken in last 5 years.
Please consult me so I can guide you properly about further treatment.
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Yes tetanus +Rabies vaccination is recommended.
You will need:
Day 0 (today)
Day 3
Day 7
Day 14
(4-dose schedule as per current guidelines) Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) is NOT required because there was no bleeding and this is not Category III.
Next Steps
the cat remains healthy and normal for 10 days, rabies risk becomes negligible. But vaccination should be started without waiting.
Health Tips
Fever Increasing redness, swelling, pus (secondary bacterial infection) Cat showing abnormal behavior, aggression, excessive salivation
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Yes — in this situation both tetanus and anti-rabies vaccination are recommended.
Because:
✅ The cat is not vaccinated
✅ Skin was broken (skin torn) even though bleeding was minimal
✅ Cat scratches can transmit rabies through saliva on claws
What you should do
1️⃣ Immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for 10–15 minutes (very important step).
2️⃣ Apply povidone-iodine / Betadine or antiseptic.
3️⃣ Take Anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) course
4️⃣ Take Tetanus injection (TT) if not taken in last 5 years.
Next Steps
Observe the cat, If the cat remains healthy for 10 days, risk becomes extremely low — but you should still complete vaccine once started.
When to worry
Go to doctor urgently if:
• Redness spreading
• Pus
• Fever
• Swelling of lymph nodes
Health Tips
If you want, I can tell you exact vaccine schedule used in India (intradermal vs intramuscular
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