What should you know about tetanus for cat scratch?

Tetanus bacteria enter through breaks in the skin, so the relevant question is whether the scratch caused a wound and what contaminated it. A superficial, clean scratch is assessed differently from a deep wound with soil or damaged tissue. Tetanus is separate from other illnesses that can follow animal scratches, and a clinician may consider several possibilities based on the cat, the wound, and your symptoms. Tetanus does not pass from the cat to you as an ordinary contagious infection; prevention is based on wound care and immunisation.

Rinse the scratch thoroughly with clean running water and soap, then pat it dry and cover it with a clean dressing. Do not let the cat lick the wound. Contact a healthcare professional if the scratch is deep, contaminated, near the eye or a joint, or if you cannot confirm your tetanus vaccination history. Describe whether the cat is known, healthy, and available for observation, because animal exposure advice may also be relevant. A clinician can clean the wound and decide whether a booster or other protection is needed.

Arrange prompt review for spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, worsening pain, fever, or swollen glands. Seek emergency help for jaw tightness, difficulty swallowing, muscle spasms, marked stiffness, or breathing problems. A scratch near the eye or a wound that keeps bleeding also needs urgent attention.

Ask whether the scratch needs antibiotics, whether your tetanus protection is current, and whether the animal exposure needs additional follow-up. Tell the clinician when the scratch happened, whether it broke the skin, and what cleaning you have already done.