My cat bit or scratched me and drew blood. What are the risks?

The rabies virus is transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva, so there would be a higher chance of contracting it from a bite. But any wound which comes into contact with saliva would be a risk.

If your rabies vaccine is current then you have very little risk. Rabies is transferred via saliva so if there was no bite then highly unlikely. It does have potential risk to get infected if deep enough. Make sure to keep it clean though until it heals

No - cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection and rabies is a viral infection spread primarily from by bites from an infected animal and is quite rare from cats. You must contact your human doctor/physician for your own healthcare advice - your local doctor should be aware of the potential risks in your area and what, if any treatment is recommended.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Anyone who is bit by a cat should be evaluated by a physician. A cat's mouth is usually full of bacteria that can result in severe infections and cellulitis in humans that get bit. You should check with a local physician as soon as possible. You are welcome to check with a physician (as I am a veterinarian) for any more specific information. Good luck! Sorry that this happened to you! I have been through this many times and I have gone to the hospital to be looked at every time and everything has turned out ok after.

You should contact the health department or animal control in your area regarding your bite - they might recommend a quarantine for your cat to be sure there is no concern for rabies. No vaccine is 100% effective so while it is unlikely that the unvaccinated cat could transmit rabies to your cat it is possible. You should also probably contact your physician - cat bites often get infected!

There could be many things wrong with the cat to make her so skinny, including intestinal parasites, malnutrition, infection, cancer, etc. However, I am more concerned that she bit you and drew blood. Cats can have some very nasty bacteria in their mouths, and I recommend that you see a doctor as soon as possible for the appropriate treatment. Also, since we do not know her vaccine status, we cannot be certain that she does not have Rabies, which is 100% fatal in humans. I recommend that you contact your local Animal Control office or law enforcement so that the appropriate quarantine or diagnostics can be done on the cat or you.

Hello. I am so sorry for Minkah's run-in with the other cat. You are right on target watching for any redness, swelling or discharge from the scratches that might indicate some infection. You might just lightly dab the scratches with a little peroxide just to keep things clean. It is very unlikely that you have to worry about anything significant, especially rabies, since this was just a scratch & the other cat is primarily an indoor cat. So, if the scratches begin to look worrisome, or Minkah acts painful or uncomfortable ( which is pretty unlikely ), do contact your veterinarian for further treatment. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.