What To Do When Your Pet Scratches You?

Accidents happen in life and in pet parenting. Whether you have a cat or a dog, you might get an occasional scratch when your pet is scared or overly excited. In case this happens to you, we’ve gathered some tips for what to do! 

1. Stay calm 

When your pet scratches you, the very first thing you should do is stay calm. Panicking, getting angry at your pet could rattle you and your pet more—and possibly elevate the situation. 

2. Clean the wound 

Any type of dog or cat scratch should be immediately cleaned with soap and warm water. If the scratch is bleeding, put pressure on it with a clean gauze or bandage and apply an antiseptic. 

3. Monitor for infection 

While scratches may not look serious, they still carry a risk of infection if some skin is broken. For the next 72 hours, watch for signs of infection like: swelling, pain, or redness around the scratch. Seek medical attention right away if any of these signs happen or if the wound gets worse. 

4. Investigate your pet’s behavior 

Understanding why your cat or dog scratched can help you prevent the behavior from happening again in the future. A cat could scratch because they’re overstimulated or marking their territory. A dog can also be excited or asking for attention. 

5. Make changes 

Pets can sometimes resort to scratching if they’re bored or under-stimulated. If that’s the case, there are some adjustments you can do!

For a cat that has a habit of scratching, consider adding more scratching posts around the home. This could be a possible way to redirect their attention and channel their instinct to scratch somewhere else. 

When your dog scratches, make sure you’re not encouraging the behavior. Ignore them when they scratch or call them out with commands like “No.” 

6. Talk to your vet 

If your pet starts scratching unprovoked and out of nowhere, it’s best to check with your vet on what’s going on. It can be stressful to deal with a situation and always remember that you and your pet don’t have to go through this alone.

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