How Long After a Cat Scratch Can You Be Confident You're Okay?
If you haven't developed any symptoms three months after being scratched by a cat, it's generally a good indication that you're likely fine. However, it's important to remember that this doesn't guarantee you'll never develop an issue. While a three-month period without symptoms after a cat scratch suggests a lower risk, complete safety can't be assured. This is because in some rare cases, the incubation period for certain illnesses can be as long as ten years or more. If you experience typical symptoms such as fear of water (hydrophobia), sensitivity to wind, throat spasms, or sensitivity to light and sound, excessive sweating, drooling, or numbness and unusual sensations at the scratch site, a clinical diagnosis can be made. Once these symptoms appear, the illness can be fatal within six days. Therefore, it's crucial to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water or a 0.1% benzalkonium bromide solution for at least 30 minutes immediately after a cat ...