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Short answer How cat scratch disease is treated Common questions Related questions SourcesNo, cat scratch disease does not spread from person to person; it spreads from cats to people through scratches, bites, and licks on broken skin.
The bacteria behind it, Bartonella henselae, live in the blood of infected cats and travel between cats through flea bites and flea dirt. Kittens under a year old are the most likely to carry it, and most infected cats look completely healthy. A bump or blister often shows up at the scratch site within a few weeks, followed by a swollen, tender lymph node near the injury. Washing scratches and bites with soap and running water right away, keeping cats on year-round flea control, and not letting a cat lick open cuts all lower the odds of infection. People with weakened immune systems, including those on chemotherapy or living with HIV, can get more serious illness and should talk with a clinician after any cat scratch or bite.
How cat scratch disease is treated
Common questions
Is cat scratch disease contagious?
Cat scratch disease does not pass from person to person. You get it from Bartonella henselae bacteria carried by cats, usually through a scratch or bite that breaks the skin, or when a cat licks an open wound. Kittens and cats with fleas are the most common carriers, and flea control is what keeps the bacteria out of a household. Most people notice a small bump at the scratch site within a few weeks, then a swollen, tender lymph node nearby, and mild cases settle on their own. Contact a clinician if the swollen node lasts more than two to three weeks, you develop a fever, the wound looks infected, or your immune system is weakened.