Cats have always been the representative of well-behaved and docile. Many men, women, young and old are willing to become "cat suckers", "cat suckers" and "cat shovelers".
But! Whether it is domestic or wandering, once the "meat star" is in a bad mood or has fun, it is easy to give you a mouthful or a paw.
Many people have questions: Are you really going to get vaccinated if you are scratched or bitten by a cat?
1. Is it common to be bitten or scratched by a cat?
Among the patients in my country who "seek for treatment due to animal injuries", about 80%-90% are caused by dogs, 7%-15% are caused by cats, and about 4% are caused by various rats, followed by pigs, bats and other animals.
According to the National Health Commission's "Code for Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Animal Injuries", tens of thousands of people can be scratched and bitten by cats every year in my country.
2. Is it serious if you are bitten or scratched by a cat?
Cats usually cause small but deep wounds, which are more likely to cause local and deep infections than dogs.
Some pathogens may lead to wound abscess, suppurative arthritis, osteomyelitis, tenosynovitis, bacteremia or necrotizing soft tissue infections, etc.
3. Can cats cause rabies?
In most parts of the world, 99% of rabies are caused by dog bites. In my country, about 5% of people suffer from rabies cases caused by cat bites or scratches. However, it must be clarified: cats will not produce or carry rabies virus in nature. But cats are the most typical and common "invested" animals! Bites or scratches by dogs carrying rabies virus are the main causes of cat infection and spreading rabies.
At the same time, few cats have been vaccinated with rabies, and their history of activity and whether they have been bitten or scratched by animals of unknown origin are difficult to grasp.
4. What does a cat with rabies attack look like?
Early stage of onset: Very uneasy, likes to hide in the dark, keep making loud screams, which is very easy to be excited.
Manic period: It will actively attack people, chase and bite other animals, or bite yourself.
Later stage (paralysis period): open your mouth, lower your tongue, drool, and your voice is hoarse, and you often lie on the ground. In the end, he died of respiratory failure, usually no more than 5 days.
Note that cats who are not in the onset of rabies will scratch or bite people and will not cause rabies. But this is difficult to identify in time and accurately.
5. Under what circumstances should I get vaccinated?
If the cat who hurts people: the origin is unknown, the history of activity is unknown, and there is a possibility of being bitten or scratched by stray animals, then the risk of carrying and spreading rabies is higher and needs to be handled in a standardized manner.
If the cat who hurts people: has a clear origin, a clear history of activity on the last 10 days, and has clearly stated that it has not been scratched or bitten by other cats and dogs of unknown origin, then the risk of carrying and spreading rabies is low and generally no treatment is required.
6. What should I do if I am scratched or bitten by a "high-risk cat"?
If there are scratches or obvious bleeding on the skin surface after being bitten by a cat, you need to go to the hospital for vaccination in time, namely rabies vaccine and tetanus vaccine, which can inhibit the replication of the virus in the body and prevent the occurrence of rabies and tetanus. In addition, before going to the hospital for vaccination, you should also use flowing water and soapy water to clean the local skin, which can remove dirt and damage the skin on the surface of the skin and reduce the chance of wound infection.