7 ways to treat cat scratches on children naturally at home

To be surrounded by a joyous laugh of your child and a purring sound of the cat sleeping on your lap is what makes your home such a lively place. Yet sometimes things go beyond what you can anticipate. Your child may accidentally step on or brush her cat in an upsetting way; and in a blink of the eye, an angry ‘meow’ sound emerges along with the unexpected claws that make it cuts through your kid’s skin.

Although the cuts may be not severe, you just can’t ignore the injury and leave it untreated. Similar to its teeth, cats’ nail is likely to hold a great number of bacteria and they can develop many diseases you may overlook. Some of them are serious diseases such as rabies and tetanus. You have the reason to be worried unless both children and cats had already been given their respective shot. Hence, you may take immediate precautions all on your own.

Your house holds many arsenals to fight the possible infection made from the cat’s stretches or bite. Instead of using antibiotics or other chemical substances that may produce a side effect, there are ways to treat cat scratches on children naturally and they may be stored in your cabinet right now.

First things to do

Before giving natural medication to the child, it is necessary to wash the scratches wound in order to minimalize the development of bacteria inside the wound.

As the person conducting the treatment, you have to clean your hands first and put on rubber gloves to prevent transmission of bacteria between each other. Afterward, wash the child’s wound on the warm water from a faucet and clean it using a regular soap. Continue the cleansing process for five minutes.

If the child suffers a deep puncture from the cat scratch, you may ooze out the blood from the wound to remove and prevent bacteria away from the tissue. Keep it until the bleeding stop. Rinse the remaining soap and dry the wound using a sterile towel or cloth.

1. Honey

When it comes to the skin wound and other health issues, most people will put this gooey substance on their upper list. This ancient medicine possesses myriad benefits that are much better than any antibiotics.

The mineral, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamin, mineral and glucose oxidase contained in honey are capable to eliminate a vast majority of bacteria. Added to that, honey can remove the odor, reduce the pain and, more importantly, prevent infection of the scratch wound and improve tissue growth.

To apply honey effectively on the cat scratch wound, you need to spread the honey over the wound dressing and wrap it around the wound.
You can also rub the honey first onto the scratch wound before setting the dressing if the cat scratch forms a deep puncture.
Make sure you put a proper amount of honey while distributing it to the wound.

You must not use any processed honey sold in stores since they are likely to spread infection. Use only raw honey that is free from any chemical and pesticide.

2. Baking Soda

Besides leaving a nasty wound on your child, cat scratches can cause irritation and pain on her skin. Then an itchy sensation begins to kick the area around her wound as the result of inflammatory substances begins its healing work. Do not worry. You can take a baking soda to ease the pain.

Firstly, combine the baking soda with water, as it will trigger a chemical reaction that will turn the baking soda into an antiseptic.
Apply the mixture gently on the wound and leave it for 20 minutes to reduce the itchy pain.

You can also persuade your child to drink a mix of the equal amount of baking soda and salt added to warm water. Drinking it twice a day will aid the body in disposing of toxins, improving the efficiency of lymph node and removing swelling.

3. Potato

Only few who knows that potato offers a natural way to treat cat scratches and other wounds. Potato, which has become a staple food in many countries, holds many properties that are necessary to overcome the infection that can be caused by cat scratches, namely antioxidant, calcium, fiber, iron, potassium, vitamin and zinc.

You only have to make a potato poultice by placing the grated raw potato (which has been put on a sterile gauze beforehand) onto the scratch wound.
To keep the grated potato in its place, cover it using a plastic wrap. Then, put another layer again using a piece of sterile cloth or a bandage.
For a day, change it and rinse the wound using a warm salty water every four hours.
Leave overnight and reapply it again in the morning. Continue until the wound gradually heals

4. White vinegar

A handy household good with million benefits, vinegar has many functions for cooking and house cleaning. Most importantly, it can be used to treat cat scratches on children in a natural way. Vinegar is composed of 5-10% acetic acid and the remainder of water. This acid is made by a fermentation process and it can cease infection by eliminating the bacteria.

To apply the white vinegar, put a tablespoon of salt in 2-3 cups of warm water.
After the water dissolves the salt, add white vinegar sufficiently to the liquid.
Apply it to the wound using a cotton ball and repeat the process 2-3 times a day.

5. Garlic

Garlic offers a property called allicin. It is basically anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial. It means garlic can remove the source of the infection, along with cleaning the wound and aiding the healing process.

You have to completely wash the garlic first.
Grate 15 cloves of garlic and add some water until it turns into a paste.
Spread the paste to a sterile gauze and apply carefully to the wound.
Use a bandage to keep the paste in its place.
Change it once a day and continue until the wound is gone.

Garlic may harm your child’s skin. It is best for you to discharge the appliance after 20-25 minutes or change it soon to other alternatives.

6. Turmeric

Often used as a spice or natural food coloring, this yellow powder is a great natural antiseptic as it contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, applying turmeric to the scratch wound will prevent the bacteria to access the body through the wound. It also boosts the healing and stops the wound bleeding.

Mix at least 1-2 teaspoon of turmeric with sufficient water to make a thick paste.
Gently apply the paste to the wound.
Cover the wound with a bandage and leave it for 12-24 hours.
Do this for three days.

7. Aloe vera

Aloe vera is known for its ability to treat many skin issues, including the wound that caused by cat scratches. This pointed leaves plant possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. They can improve your healing progress and avoid the infection by eliminating bacteria.