Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae): Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
- Vet. Ali Kemal DÖNMEZ
- 2 hours ago
- 18 min read
What Is Cat Scratch Disease?
Cat scratch disease (CSD), also called cat scratch fever, is a bacterial infection that can develop after contact with a cat carrying Bartonella henselae. People are most commonly exposed through a scratch—particularly from a kitten—but transmission may also occur when an infected cat bites a person or licks an open wound.
The infection usually begins with a small raised bump, blister or pustule near the site of exposure. Within approximately one to three weeks, nearby lymph nodes may become enlarged and tender. A scratch on the hand or arm, for example, may be followed by swollen lymph nodes around the elbow, armpit or neck. Low-grade fever, fatigue, headache and reduced appetite may also occur.
Most healthy people recover without serious complications, and many cases resolve without antibiotic treatment. However, cat scratch disease can occasionally affect the eyes, nervous system, bones, liver, spleen or heart valves. Severe or unusual disease is more likely in people with weakened immune systems, although complications can occur in otherwise healthy individuals.
Cat scratch disease should not be confused with every infection that follows a scratch or bite. Cat wounds can introduce several different bacteria into the skin, and redness, warmth, increasing pain or pus appearing soon after an injury may indicate a conventional wound infection rather than CSD. Medical assessment may be required in either situation.
Key fact | Explanation |
Medical name | Cat scratch disease |
Alternative name | Cat scratch fever |
Main cause | Bartonella henselae |
Most common exposure | A scratch from a cat or kitten |
Characteristic finding | Enlarged, tender lymph nodes |
Typical severity | Usually mild and self-limiting in healthy people |
Higher-risk group | People with weakened immune systems |
What Causes Cat Scratch Disease?
Cat scratch disease is caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. Cats—especially kittens and young cats—can carry the bacteria in their bloodstream without appearing ill. Therefore, it is generally impossible to determine whether a cat carries B. henselae simply by observing its behaviour or physical condition.
Fleas play a central role in maintaining the infection among cats. A cat may acquire the bacteria through exposure to infected fleas, and flea faeces containing B. henselae can contaminate the cat’s claws or coat. When contaminated claws break a person’s skin, the bacteria may enter the wound. This means the scratch itself does not create the disease; it provides a route through which the bacteria can enter the body.
A person may also be exposed if an infected cat bites deeply enough to break the skin or licks an existing open wound. However, most scratches do not cause cat scratch disease, and casual contact such as touching, feeding or sitting beside a cat is not normally enough to transmit the infection.
The risk may be greater when:
The scratch comes from a kitten or young cat
The cat has fleas or lives in a flea-infested environment
The scratch breaks the skin
The wound is not cleaned promptly
A cat licks an open wound
The exposed person has a weakened immune system
Cats carrying Bartonella henselae are usually asymptomatic. A small number may develop a temporary fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, red eyes or enlarged lymph nodes. Routine testing or antibiotic treatment of a healthy cat is generally not recommended solely because someone in the household has been scratched. Veterinary examination is more appropriate when the cat itself shows signs of illness.
What Is Cat Scratch Disease?
Cat scratch disease (CSD), also called cat scratch fever, is a bacterial infection that can develop after contact with a cat carrying Bartonella henselae. People are most commonly exposed through a scratch—particularly from a kitten—but transmission may also occur when an infected cat bites a person or licks an open wound.
The infection usually begins with a small raised bump, blister or pustule near the site of exposure. Within approximately one to three weeks, nearby lymph nodes may become enlarged and tender. A scratch on the hand or arm, for example, may be followed by swollen lymph nodes around the elbow, armpit or neck. Low-grade fever, fatigue, headache and reduced appetite may also occur.
Most healthy people recover without serious complications, and many cases resolve without antibiotic treatment. However, cat scratch disease can occasionally affect the eyes, nervous system, bones, liver, spleen or heart valves. Severe or unusual disease is more likely in people with weakened immune systems, although complications can occur in otherwise healthy individuals.
Cat scratch disease should not be confused with every infection that follows a scratch or bite. Cat wounds can introduce several different bacteria into the skin, and redness, warmth, increasing pain or pus appearing soon after an injury may indicate a conventional wound infection rather than CSD. Medical assessment may be required in either situation.
Key fact | Explanation |
Medical name | Cat scratch disease |
Alternative name | Cat scratch fever |
Main cause | Bartonella henselae |
Most common exposure | A scratch from a cat or kitten |
Characteristic finding | Enlarged, tender lymph nodes |
Typical severity | Usually mild and self-limiting in healthy people |
Higher-risk group | People with weakened immune systems |
What Causes Cat Scratch Disease?
Cat scratch disease is caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. Cats—especially kittens and young cats—can carry the bacteria in their bloodstream without appearing ill. Therefore, it is generally impossible to determine whether a cat carries B. henselae simply by observing its behaviour or physical condition.
Fleas play a central role in maintaining the infection among cats. A cat may acquire the bacteria through exposure to infected fleas, and flea faeces containing B. henselae can contaminate the cat’s claws or coat. When contaminated claws break a person’s skin, the bacteria may enter the wound. This means the scratch itself does not create the disease; it provides a route through which the bacteria can enter the body.
A person may also be exposed if an infected cat bites deeply enough to break the skin or licks an existing open wound. However, most scratches do not cause cat scratch disease, and casual contact such as touching, feeding or sitting beside a cat is not normally enough to transmit the infection.
The risk may be greater when:
The scratch comes from a kitten or young cat
The cat has fleas or lives in a flea-infested environment
The scratch breaks the skin
The wound is not cleaned promptly
A cat licks an open wound
The exposed person has a weakened immune system
Cats carrying Bartonella henselae are usually asymptomatic. A small number may develop a temporary fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, red eyes or enlarged lymph nodes. Routine testing or antibiotic treatment of a healthy cat is generally not recommended solely because someone in the household has been scratched. Veterinary examination is more appropriate when the cat itself shows signs of illness.
How Soon Do Symptoms Appear After a Cat Scratch?
Cat scratch disease does not usually cause all its symptoms immediately. A small papule, blister or pustule may appear at the site of the scratch or bite within several days. This early lesion may be painless and can begin healing before other symptoms develop.
Enlarged and tender lymph nodes typically appear approximately one to three weeks after exposure. The delay is important because a person may no longer associate the swelling or fever with a scratch that appeared minor and has already healed.
A typical progression may look like this:
Time after exposure | Possible findings |
Immediately | A visible scratch, bite or minor bleeding |
Within several days | A small red bump, blister or pustule at the wound |
Approximately 1–3 weeks | Swollen and tender lymph nodes near the affected area |
Following weeks | Fatigue, low-grade fever, headache or reduced appetite |
Several weeks or longer | Lymph-node swelling may gradually resolve |
Not everyone follows this exact timeline. Symptoms may develop earlier or later, and some people remember playing with a kitten but cannot recall a specific scratch. The location of the swollen lymph nodes often provides a clue about where the bacteria entered the body.
Redness, heat, increasing pain, swelling or pus that develops rapidly around a fresh wound may indicate a conventional bacterial wound infection rather than the delayed lymph-node pattern associated with cat scratch disease. Rapidly worsening wounds require medical assessment, particularly when the injury involves the hand, face, eye, foot or a joint.
Is Every Cat Scratch a Risk for Bartonella Infection?
No. Most cat scratches do not result in cat scratch disease. Infection requires exposure to Bartonella henselae, damage to the skin that allows the bacteria to enter and conditions that permit the infection to become established.
Risk is influenced by the cat, the wound and the health of the exposed person.
Factor | Potential effect on risk |
Kitten or young cat | Greater likelihood of carrying B. henselae |
Increases circulation of the bacteria among cats | |
Scratch that breaks the skin | Provides an entry point for bacteria |
Deep bite or puncture | Increases the risk of several bacterial infections |
Cat licking an open wound | May expose damaged tissue to bacteria |
Delayed wound cleaning | Allows contamination to remain on the skin |
Increases the possibility of severe or disseminated disease |
A superficial scratch that does not break the skin is considerably less concerning for cat scratch disease. Nevertheless, any visibly damaged skin should be washed promptly with soap and running water.
It is also important to distinguish cat scratch disease from other complications of cat-related injuries. A scratch or bite may cause:
A local skin or soft-tissue infection
An abscess
Infection of a tendon, joint or bone
Tetanus risk, depending on the wound and vaccination status
Rabies exposure in regions where rabies occurs, particularly after contact with an unvaccinated, stray or unusually behaving animal
The appearance of the cat cannot reliably exclude Bartonella exposure because most infected cats appear healthy. At the same time, a scratch from a healthy-looking cat does not automatically mean that infection will occur. The appropriate response is prompt wound cleaning, observation and medical evaluation when warning signs or important risk factors are present.
How Is Cat Scratch Disease Diagnosed?
Cat scratch disease is often diagnosed from a combination of symptoms, physical examination and a history of recent contact with a cat or kitten. A typical case may involve a small lesion at the exposure site followed by tender lymph-node swelling one to three weeks later.
The healthcare provider may ask about:
Recent cat scratches, bites or wound licking
Contact with kittens, stray cats or flea-infested cats
When the skin lesion and lymph-node swelling appeared
Fever, fatigue, headache or reduced appetite
Eye, neurological, abdominal or bone symptoms
Conditions or medications that weaken the immune system
Laboratory testing is not always necessary in an otherwise healthy person with a typical presentation. When the diagnosis is uncertain, symptoms are severe or the illness is atypical, blood tests may be used to look for antibodies against Bartonella henselae. However, antibody tests have limitations: cross-reactions can occur, and a positive result may reflect previous exposure rather than an active infection.
PCR testing may detect bacterial DNA in blood or tissue, although its sensitivity can vary. Bartonella henselae is difficult and slow to grow in routine culture, so a negative culture does not reliably exclude infection.
Ultrasound or other imaging may be considered when a lymph node is unusually large, painful or suspected to contain pus. Lymph-node aspiration or biopsy is not routinely required but may be performed to relieve severe pressure or rule out conditions such as tuberculosis, lymphoma or another bacterial infection.
How Is Cat Scratch Disease Treated?
Most uncomplicated cases in otherwise healthy people resolve without specific antibiotic treatment. Supportive care may be used to control discomfort while the immune system clears the infection. Enlarged lymph nodes can remain noticeable for weeks or occasionally months, even when the person is otherwise improving.
Supportive measures may include:
Rest and adequate fluid intake
Pain or fever medication recommended by a healthcare professional
A warm compress over a tender lymph node
Monitoring the size and discomfort of swollen lymph nodes
Avoiding squeezing, cutting or attempting to drain a lymph node at home
Antibiotics may be considered when lymph-node swelling is severe, recovery is prolonged or the patient has a greater risk of complications. Azithromycin is sometimes prescribed because evidence suggests that it may reduce lymph-node size more quickly in uncomplicated disease. The decision should be made by a healthcare professional rather than through self-treatment.
People with weakened immune systems and those with infection involving the eye, nervous system, liver, spleen, bones or heart generally require antibiotic treatment. These complicated presentations may need longer treatment, more than one medication and management by an infectious-disease specialist.
Any separate infection at the scratch or bite wound may require different treatment because cat injuries can introduce bacteria other than Bartonella henselae. Antibiotics prescribed for an ordinary wound infection are not automatically the same as those selected for cat scratch disease. Treatment must therefore be based on the clinical condition rather than the fact that a cat caused the injury.
When Are Antibiotics Needed for Cat Scratch Disease?
Antibiotics are not automatically required for every case of cat scratch disease. In otherwise healthy people with mild, uncomplicated symptoms, the infection is usually self-limiting and may resolve with supportive care alone.
A healthcare provider may consider antibiotics when:
Lymph nodes are severely enlarged or painful
Symptoms are persistent or worsening
Fever is prolonged
Recovery is unusually slow
The infection involves the eyes, brain, bones, liver, spleen or heart
The patient has a weakened immune system
The clinical presentation suggests disseminated infection
There is also a bacterial infection of the scratch or bite wound
Azithromycin is sometimes used in uncomplicated cases because it may reduce lymph-node swelling more rapidly. However, it does not necessarily change the overall outcome in every otherwise healthy patient. Complicated infections may require medications such as doxycycline, rifampin, macrolides or aminoglycosides, sometimes in combination and for a longer period.
The appropriate antibiotic, dose and treatment duration depend on the patient’s age, immune status, symptoms, affected organs and other medical conditions. Pregnant patients and children may also require different medication choices. Antibiotics should therefore only be taken following assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
A leftover antibiotic or medication prescribed to another person should never be used. An unsuitable antibiotic could fail to treat the infection, cause side effects and contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
Can Cat Scratch Disease Cause Serious Complications?
Most people recover completely, but Bartonella henselae can occasionally spread beyond the lymph nodes or produce an unusual inflammatory response. Complications are uncommon, yet they may be serious and sometimes require hospital treatment.
Possible complications include:
Complication | Possible signs |
Ocular disease | Eye redness, pain, swollen lymph nodes near the ear or changes in vision |
Neuroretinitis | Sudden or progressive visual disturbance caused by inflammation of the optic nerve and retina |
Encephalopathy | Severe headache, confusion, altered consciousness or seizures |
Hepatosplenic disease | Persistent fever, abdominal pain and lesions involving the liver or spleen |
Osteomyelitis | Localised, persistent bone pain |
Endocarditis | Prolonged fever, fatigue, shortness of breath or heart-related symptoms |
Suppurative lymphadenitis | A severely painful lymph node containing pus |
Bacillary angiomatosis | Red or purple skin lesions, primarily in severely immunocompromised people |
Endocarditis caused by Bartonella can be particularly difficult to diagnose because routine blood cultures may remain negative. Eye, neurological or organ involvement may also occur without the classic pattern of prominent lymph-node swelling.
Prompt medical care is important if a person develops vision changes, confusion, seizures, severe headache, breathing difficulty, persistent high fever, significant abdominal pain or rapidly worsening weakness following contact with a cat. These signs should not be monitored at home while waiting for them to resolve.
Children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems deserve particular attention, but serious complications are not limited exclusively to these groups. Any unexpected deterioration warrants reassessment.
Who Is at Higher Risk of Severe Infection?
Cat scratch disease can affect people of any age, but exposure and disease are reported more frequently in children, particularly those under 15 years old. Children are more likely to play closely with kittens and may be scratched during energetic or rough play.
The greatest risk of severe or disseminated disease occurs in people whose immune systems cannot control Bartonella henselae effectively. Higher-risk groups include people:
Living with advanced or untreated HIV
Receiving chemotherapy or certain cancer treatments
Taking immunosuppressive medicines after an organ transplant
Using long-term or high-dose corticosteroids
Receiving biologic medications that suppress immune function
Living with certain congenital or acquired immune disorders
Without a functioning spleen or with significantly reduced splenic function
People with existing heart-valve disease may also require careful assessment because Bartonella species can cause endocarditis. Pregnancy, very young age, advanced age or a chronic medical condition do not automatically mean that severe disease will occur, but they may influence how a healthcare professional evaluates symptoms and selects treatment.
People with weakened immune systems do not necessarily need to give up their cats. Risk can be reduced by avoiding scratches, bites and wound licking; choosing an adult cat rather than a kitten when appropriate; maintaining effective flea control; keeping the cat indoors; and obtaining prompt medical advice after a significant exposure.
Routine testing or preventive antibiotic treatment of a healthy cat is generally not recommended simply because an immunocompromised person lives in the household. The most useful protective measures are flea prevention, safe handling and rapid wound care.
What Should You Do Immediately After a Cat Scratch or Bite?
Wash the affected area promptly with soap and running water. Thorough cleaning helps remove contaminants from the wound and may reduce the risk of cat scratch disease as well as other bacterial infections.
After a scratch or bite:
Wash your hands before handling the wound.
Rinse the area under clean running water.
Gently wash it with soap without aggressively scrubbing damaged tissue.
Control bleeding with light pressure using clean gauze.
Apply a clean dressing if the wound requires protection.
Monitor the area for increasing redness, warmth, pain, swelling, discharge or red streaks.
Do not allow the cat to lick the wound. Avoid closing a deep puncture with household adhesive or attempting to drain a swollen area yourself.
Medical evaluation should be considered promptly when:
The wound is deep, crushed, heavily contaminated or will not stop bleeding
A bite punctures the hand, face, foot, genital area or skin over a joint
Movement, sensation or circulation is affected
The injured person has diabetes or a weakened immune system
Redness, pain, swelling or discharge is increasing
Fever or swollen lymph nodes develop
The cat is stray, unvaccinated, unavailable for observation or behaving abnormally
Tetanus vaccination may not be current
Rabies risk depends on the country, the animal’s vaccination status, its behaviour and the circumstances of the incident. Potential rabies exposure requires urgent guidance from local health authorities or a healthcare provider; symptoms should never be awaited before seeking advice. A tetanus booster may also be recommended according to the wound type and vaccination history.
When Should You See a Doctor After a Cat Scratch?
A minor superficial scratch can usually be cleaned and monitored at home. Medical assessment becomes important when the wound itself is concerning, the person has a higher risk of infection or symptoms develop during the following days or weeks.
Seek medical advice if:
The scratch or bite is deep or caused significant tissue damage
The wound affects the hand, face, eye, foot or a joint
Bleeding does not stop with gentle pressure
Redness, warmth, swelling or pain is increasing
Pus, an unpleasant odour or red streaks appear
A small bump or pustule develops at the exposure site
Tender lymph nodes appear within one to three weeks
Fever, fatigue, headache or reduced appetite develops
The patient has diabetes or a weakened immune system
Tetanus vaccination is incomplete or may not be current
Urgent evaluation is appropriate if there is difficulty breathing, confusion, seizures, severe headache, sudden vision changes, rapidly spreading redness, extreme weakness or a high and persistent fever. These findings may indicate a serious wound infection, disseminated Bartonella infection or another medical emergency.
Any possible rabies exposure must be assessed promptly. Contact a healthcare provider or local public health authority when the cat is stray, unavailable for observation, behaving abnormally or has an uncertain rabies vaccination history. Whether rabies prophylaxis is needed depends on local disease prevalence, the type of exposure and the animal’s condition. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.
When attending the appointment, explain when the injury occurred, whether the cat was a kitten or stray, whether fleas were present and when each symptom began. This timeline can help distinguish cat scratch disease from a rapidly developing wound infection or another cause of lymph-node enlargement.
Should a Cat Be Tested or Treated for Bartonella henselae?
Routine Bartonella henselae testing is generally not recommended for a healthy cat, even when someone in the household has been diagnosed with cat scratch disease. Many infected cats show no signs, and currently available tests cannot always determine whether a particular cat poses an active transmission risk.
Antibody testing may show that a cat has encountered Bartonella at some point, but it does not reliably prove that bacteria are currently present in the bloodstream. PCR and blood culture may be considered in symptomatic animals, although intermittent bacteraemia and testing limitations can complicate interpretation.
Testing may be appropriate when a veterinarian suspects feline bartonellosis because the cat has signs such as:
Persistent or recurrent fever
Enlarged lymph nodes
Red or inflamed eyes
Other unexplained systemic illness
Antibiotic treatment is normally reserved for cats showing compatible clinical disease. Treating a healthy carrier is not routinely recommended because eliminating the bacteria can be difficult, treatment may be prolonged and unnecessary antibiotic use contributes to antimicrobial resistance.
If a household member develops cat scratch disease, the cat should not be abandoned or automatically removed from the home. Instead, owners should focus on effective veterinary-approved flea prevention, keeping the cat indoors where practical, preventing rough play and discouraging licking of broken skin.
Never use a flea product containing permethrin on a cat. Permethrin is found in some products intended for dogs and can cause severe, potentially fatal poisoning in cats. Flea prevention should always be selected according to the cat’s species, age, weight and veterinary guidance.
How Can Cat Scratch Disease Be Prevented?
Preventing cat scratch disease does not require avoiding cats. The most effective strategy is to reduce flea exposure, prevent scratches and bites, and clean any skin injury promptly.
Maintain Effective Flea Control
Fleas are central to the spread of Bartonella henselae among cats. Use a veterinarian-approved flea preventive appropriate for your cat’s age, weight and health. All cats and dogs in the household may need coordinated parasite control to prevent reinfestation.
Wash pet bedding regularly, vacuum areas where pets rest and address environmental flea infestations when necessary. Indoor cats can also develop fleas, so living exclusively indoors does not eliminate the need for risk assessment.
Never apply a dog flea product containing permethrin to a cat. Even a small exposure can cause severe neurological poisoning.
Avoid Rough Play With Cats and Kittens
Do not use hands or feet as toys. Interactive toys such as wand toys, balls and food puzzles allow cats to express hunting and play behaviours without directing claws or teeth towards human skin.
Children should be taught to:
Handle cats gently
Avoid chasing, grabbing or restraining them
Leave cats alone while they are eating or sleeping
Stop interacting when a cat shows signs of stress
Report every scratch or bite to an adult
Kittens may present a higher risk because they scratch more frequently during play and are more likely to carry B. henselae.
Clean Scratches and Bites Immediately
Wash broken skin promptly with soap and running water. Do not allow a cat to lick an open wound, surgical incision or damaged area of skin. Monitor the site for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pain or discharge.
Keeping a cat’s nails appropriately trimmed may reduce the severity of accidental scratches, but declawing is not recommended as a method of preventing cat scratch disease.
Take Additional Precautions if Immunocompromised
People with weakened immune systems can usually continue living safely with cats, but additional precautions are advisable:
Avoid scratches, bites and wound licking
Avoid rough play, especially with kittens
Consider adopting a healthy adult cat rather than a kitten
Keep cats indoors and away from stray animals
Maintain consistent flea prevention
Wash hands after handling cats
Seek medical advice promptly after a significant exposure
Routine testing or preventive antibiotic treatment of a healthy cat is not recommended solely because an immunocompromised person lives in the home. Practical exposure prevention is more useful than attempting to identify every asymptomatic carrier.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cat Scratch Disease
Is cat scratch disease the same as cat scratch fever?
Yes. Cat scratch disease and cat scratch fever are two names for the same bacterial infection, most commonly caused by Bartonella henselae. “Cat scratch disease” is the term more commonly used in medical guidance.
Can an indoor cat cause cat scratch disease?
Yes. Indoor cats may carry Bartonella henselae, particularly if they currently have fleas or were previously exposed to them. Keeping a cat indoors reduces contact with fleas and stray cats but does not guarantee that the cat is free from the bacteria.
Can you get cat scratch disease without being scratched?
Yes, although scratching is the most recognised route. Infection may also occur after a bite or when an infected cat licks an open wound. Casual contact with a cat when the skin remains intact is not considered a typical transmission route.
Can a cat scratch cause swollen lymph nodes?
Yes. Enlarged and tender lymph nodes near the exposure site are among the most characteristic signs of cat scratch disease. They commonly develop approximately one to three weeks after the scratch or bite.
How long does cat scratch disease last?
Mild illness often improves gradually over several weeks, but enlarged lymph nodes may remain noticeable for weeks or occasionally months. Persistent, worsening or unusual symptoms should be reassessed by a healthcare professional.
Does cat scratch disease always require antibiotics?
No. Many uncomplicated cases in otherwise healthy people resolve without antibiotics. Treatment may be considered when symptoms are severe or prolonged and is generally required for immunocompromised patients or infections involving organs beyond the lymph nodes.
Can cat scratch disease come back?
Most people recover completely and do not experience recurrent disease. However, persistent lymph-node swelling can make the illness appear to have returned. New or recurring symptoms require medical evaluation because they may have another cause.
Is cat scratch disease contagious between people?
Cat scratch disease is not generally transmitted directly from one person to another. Infection is primarily associated with exposure to cats carrying Bartonella henselae, particularly through scratches contaminated by flea faeces.
Can a healthy-looking cat carry Bartonella henselae?
Yes. Most cats carrying Bartonella henselae show no visible signs of illness. A cat’s normal appearance and behaviour therefore cannot reliably confirm that it is free from the bacteria.
Should I test my cat after someone develops cat scratch disease?
Routine testing of a healthy cat is generally not recommended. Available tests may show previous exposure without proving current transmission risk. A veterinarian may consider testing when the cat has compatible signs of illness.
Can cat scratch disease be fatal?
Fatal disease is extremely uncommon, especially in otherwise healthy people. Nevertheless, infection involving the heart, brain or other organs can become serious. People with weakened immune systems have a greater risk of severe or disseminated disease.
Can I keep my cat if I have a weakened immune system?
In most cases, yes. People with weakened immune systems can often continue living with cats by maintaining strict flea control, avoiding rough play, preventing wound licking, cleaning scratches immediately and seeking prompt medical advice after concerning exposure. An adult cat may present a lower exposure risk than a kitten.
Sources
Official source | Open link |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — About Cat Scratch Disease | |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Clinical Overview of Cat Scratch Disease | |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — About Bartonella | |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Veterinary Guidance for Bartonellosis | |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Cats: Healthy Pets, Healthy People | |
U.S. National Library of Medicine — MedlinePlus: Cat Scratch Disease | |
Mersin Vetlife Veterinary Clinic |
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