Vaccination is recommended unless the possibility of the cat having rabies can be ruled out.
However, there's no need to be overly anxious. Generally speaking, the risk of contracting rabies from an animal scratch is extremely low, and cats are not high-risk animals for rabies.
In theory, the virus can only be found in the saliva of a cat that has developed rabies, and rabies virus is not present on a cat's paws unless it has just licked its paws and there is fresh saliva on them.
If you are scratched by a cat, you need to treat the wound properly. Here's some initial first aid:
● As soon as possible after the injury, wash each scratch with soapy water (or other mild alkaline detergent) and running water under pressure for at least 15 minutes.
● After rinsing thoroughly, disinfect the wound by applying diluted povidone-iodine (0.025%–0.05% concentration), benzalkonium chloride (0.005%–0.01% concentration), or other skin and mucous membrane disinfectants with virus inactivation efficacy, and then disinfect the wound with povidone-iodine.
Immediate wound cleaning and disinfection are crucial. Then, seek medical attention promptly so a professional doctor can assess the wound and determine the appropriate treatment plan.
If bitten or scratched by a domestic cat or a cat whose health is being monitored, post-exposure prophylaxis should be administered according to the prescribed protocol while its health is being observed.
If the animal is still healthy and alive after ten days, the remaining vaccinations can be discontinued. This method, also known as the "ten-day observation method," is an effective method recognized by the World Health Organization.
In life, we inevitably encounter various health accidents, which can range from minor injuries to life-threatening situations.
Therefore, understanding first aid knowledge is very important. It can save yourself and others in critical moments, so that you are no longer helpless when you encounter danger.
