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Cat scratch
On December 23, 2025, a feral kitten in my backyard, which is of course not vaccinated, scratched me. As a result, I received a tetanus shot and three rabies injections. The last dose was on December 28, 2025.
Yesterday, on February 9, 2026, one of her siblings scratched me and drew a little blood while I was feeding them. I washed the area thoroughly for about 10 minutes and applied Betadine ointment at night since I didn't have it available at the time. It's been 20 hours since then. Do I need any medication to prevent a bacterial infection, considering these kittens hunt and eat bats? Or do I need a booster dose for rabies, even though my last rabies shot was 50 days ago?
Answers (25)
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Sir u need to be vaccinated again because u had another bite and and blood was also sucked by the the kitten and it means it injected it's saliva into ur blood and it is dangerous eventhough u are recently vaccinated.as it hunt and eat bats.
Next Steps
u have to also take the rabies immunoglobulin dose along with the vaccine .please don't suture the bleeding wound and treatment with soap and water and antibiotics local or systemic antibiotics .u need to observe the bitten organism for atleast 10 days .
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Just to be safe. Get booster dose
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Just take a booster and ASD daily till healing
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Heyy, Dr. Anish this side,
No need of rabies vaccine as u have been vaccinated within 6 months. If ARS not taken, pls take it within 7 days of scratch.
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You don't need any booster dose of ARV vaccine,as you were recently completed the vaccine series.Keep applying the betadine ointment on the affected area,watch for signs of infection, like swelling, increase in pain and redness
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If you want to discuss your problem in more detail, feel free to message me on WhatsApp at nine one one nine two five five six nine nine for a detailed free discussion
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Booster dose
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A booster dose of ARV is needed
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Please connect me throgh practo or wattsap nine zero seven two two zero seven zero nine three
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Hello madam,
Don't worry you are absolutely safe .
No need of booster .
So happy to hear you washed your wound for around 10 minutes .
Next Steps
just apply betadine ointment
take tablet Amoxyclavulate 625 twice after lunch and dinner for 5 days
Health Tips
relax and enjoy your day
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Because you completed a rabies post-exposure series only about seven weeks ago, you are generally considered protected. In people who have previously been vaccinated, immune globulin is not repeated, and additional vaccine is often unnecessary when the prior series was very recent and the new exposure is a minor scratch.
For bacterial infection, you did the most important steps: prompt, thorough washing and antiseptic, plus you are up to date on tetanus. For a small superficial scratch, preventive antibiotics are usually not given. Keep the area clean and monitor it; seek care if you develop spreading redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever, or tender lymph nodes.
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Booster dose just to be safe.
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Since you completed a rabies vaccination course on 28 December 2025 and the new scratch occurred on 9 February 2026 (about 50 days later), you are still within the period of active immune protection.
According to standard rabies guidelines:
• If a new exposure happens within 3 months of completing a full rabies vaccination course,
• No booster doses are usually required, because protective antibodies are still present.
Regarding bacterial infection:
• A small superficial scratch that was washed properly usually does not require antibiotics.
• Preventive antibiotics are only needed if:
• The wound is deep
• There is swelling, redness, pus, or increasing pain
• The person is diabetic or immunocompromised
So, in your case, no rabies booster and no antibiotic is needed at this stage.
Next Steps
For the wound
• Continue cleaning once daily with soap and water.
• Apply povidone iodine or antibiotic ointment for 2–3 days.
• Keep the area clean and dry.
Watch for infection signs
• Increasing redness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Pus
• Fever or pain
If any of these appear, consult a doctor for oral antibiotics.
Rabies prevention
• No booster needed since exposure occurred within 3 months of your last dose.
• Just observe the kitten if possible for 10 days. If it remains healthy, the risk is extremely low.
Health Tips
• Always wash animal scratches with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes.
• Avoid handling or feeding feral animals with bare hands.
• Consider using gloves while feeding stray animals to prevent repeat exposures.
If you’d like, you can book a quick online consultation to review the wound and vaccination timeline for complete reassurance and proper documentation.
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U need to go.for two.booster dose. Rest u well.maintain. no oral medicine required.
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Booster dose because blood was there .
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Go for boosters, dont take risk because rabies is 100% fatal disease.
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Dr. Kamal Kumar
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rewari
Dear Patient
Since you completed rabies vaccination recently and this scratch happened within about 50 days you are already protected.
Take two booster rabies doses on day 0 and day 3 for safety. No need for full vaccine course or rabies immunoglobulin. Apply betadine or mupirocin ointment locally for 3 to 5 days. Antibiotic only if redness swelling pus or fever develops.
Text me on Practo if wound worsens fever occurs or for prescription guidance.
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Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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Dr. Gaurav Jaiswal
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhansi
Kindly do connect and consult
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Dr. Vetsa Sri Krishna Chaitanya
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
Need a few more details please consult for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Shaikh Huzaif
General Physician
20 yrs exp
Mumbai
Please consult
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Dr. Suraj Sharma
General Practitioner
4 yrs exp
Jaipur
Need some more details kindly consult
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Needs evaluation
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Dr. Ravi Kumar Nadella
General Physician
18 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Booster fose
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Dr. Ashita Kuruvilla
General Practitioner
8 yrs exp
Kolkata
Booster dose
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