Image by Angela Montgomery
By Angela, Contributing Writer
Recently my oldest child was scratched by a cat. My husband jokingly stated to her “I hope you don’t get cat scratch fever.” She didn’t believe that cat scratch fever was a real thing, so I did an internet search to prove to her that it is indeed a real thing.
This led me to wonder… could she really get cat scratch fever? And, if she did, what would I do? Would I take her to the doctor and go the medical route? Being a natural minded Mom, I decided to find out more about the subject, and learn what natural remedies are available for cat scratch fever?
What is Cat Scratch Fever?
According to the CDC website cat-scratch disease (CSD) (AKA cat scratch fever) is a bacterial infection spread by cats. The disease spreads when an infected cat licks a person’s open wound, or bites or scratches a person hard enough to break the surface of the skin.
CSD is caused by a bacterium called Bartonella henselae. About 40% of cats carry B. henselae at some time in their lives, although most cats with this infection show NO signs of illness. Kittens younger than 1 year are more likely to have B. henselae infection and to spread the germ to people. Cats can get infected with B. henselae from flea bites and flea dirt (droppings) getting into their wounds.
What Are The Symptoms?
- Fever
- Enlarged, tender lymph nodes that develop 1–3 weeks after exposure – usually appearing close to the wound area.
- Tiredness/fatigue
- Headache
- Decreased appetite
To test for cat scratch fever, you can ask your doctor for a blood draw to test for the infection.
Image By Angela Montgomery
Is it serious?
Persons with a compromised immune system may have a harder time fighting off the infection. A person who is healthy should have no complications and the infection should clear up on its own within a few weeks.
How To Avoid Cat Scratch Fever?
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after petting and playing with cats/kittens.
If you do get scratched or bitten by a cat, wash the scratch or bite with soap and water. You can also apply peroxide to help kill germs. Another way you can help kill germs and keep new germs from entering the wounded area is to apply a thin layer of honey on the wound. Honey is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.
What Natural Remedies Can I Use To Help Fight Cat Scratch Fever?
A doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection, but there are several natural foods, herbs and oils to strengthen your immune system and fight infection.
As mentioned above, honey can be used to fight off infection at the site. Other options might include-
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
- Immune-enhancing herbs such as Olive Leaf Extract
- Colloidal Silver
- Probiotics
- Goldenseal
- Echinacea
Have You Experienced Cat Scratch Fever? What Natural Remedies Did You Use to Fight the Infection?
My daughter who is 9 has cat scratch fever! Her lymph node in her neck is very hard and swollen, we thought she had the Mumps! She is acting normal and I’m trying to boost her immune system! Thanks for your artical!
I take vitamins with my bf to keep our immune system up but our roommate (who drinks way to much to have a properly functioning immune system) he got cat scratch fever from our cat. What should I do for my kitten, vet test is over $200 & clam he may need expencive antibiotics. What can I do to wholisticly help my kitten.
Hello. Great article thank you, I have cat scratch fever at the moment. Due to having a strong regularly tended immune system, I believe I’m fairing well, the only symptoms thus far is having a few swollen lymph nodes under my jaw. I’ve had these about a week after I got dozens of scratches from a terrified house cat. Once I connected the dots as to the disease or cause. I started taking (ironically) a Cat’s Claw spagyric (extract in vinegar) that I made a few weeks before. About 48 hours after taking 3 tablespoons every 6 hours from a 1:4 extract ratio my lymph nodes have grown tremendously smaller.
Awesome! Thanks Angela.
Today I saved my cat from near death, as she got her collar caught with her face turning purple! Of course, she was extremely stressed and thrashing around not allowing me to get to the collar to pull it off. Once I finally did, I was covered in scratches and some deep wounds from her claws. One of the areas has become swollen and sore, but I don’t want to go to the doctor and get antibiotics. I feel my body can heal on its own, I have a strong immune system. So I’ll put some tea tree oil on the wound and see if it helps.
(I kept checking up on her afterwards and later when she was feeling better (and I was not), she came to where I was sitting and thanked me with a sweet “meow” and happy body language. I’m just so glad I was in earshot at the time of the incident!)
Exactly what proportions did you mix? Did you add water? My friend has cat scratch fever now and I shared this.
Thank you.
I developed a rash of unknown origin, and started trying to resolve it immediately – thinking it was a Herxheimer reaction from the cannabis paste I’d recently incorporated into my wellness program and was unexpectedly resolving my decades long latent candida battle…seemed like the little buggers were making a hasty exit as the mild thrush symptom stopped presenting.
However, after a couple of weeks went by….that seemed to be unlikely – herxheimer’s doesn’t last that long.
Could it be yet another new variety of allergic reaction to cats as I was now suddenly around one again – having once gone as far as bronchitis in the past, maybe this was psoriasis?
The affected areas are both lower leg/ankle areas – and arms, on the curve where the skin hits the sheets
Was it …bed bugs. Uhg! I couldn’t find any…
And I have a preventative for that in place.
Either way, I had to start taking care of myself so I started with coconut oil, and all of these
Colloidal Silver Nano Gel
Betonite Clay Pack
Cannabis Paste
Witch Hazel
I also started back up with my reserved for ’emergencies’ nano silver sublingual, and beefed up the milk thistle for liver support.
All with varying degree’s of ‘success’ but nothing to write home about.
I started playing around with Tea Tree Oil too – I hadn’t tried as it seemed it might have been painful…but I noticed a response I liked.
I added some to a portion of the cannabis paste which already had coconut oil as its base, and started applying.
Then as I was getting ready to take my Epsom Salt bath, it occurred to me to add some baking soda – so I did. And, stayed in the ultra-hot water for over 90minutes – coming out 50% improved.
It was after that, and only a couple of days ago when I remembered Scamper and I playing around right after the holiday’s and he got a little rough with his teeth and broke skin – it just came to me in a flash.
So, I looked that up…and it took me to ‘Cat Scratch Fever’
I swear in my best WKRP Arthur Carlson imitation..
………I thought cat scratch fever was just a song!
Well, here we are now. I’ve just last night taken another very extended long hot bath and yet again applied another round of cannabis pasted with a little extra tea tree oil – and this looks like its just about gone now.
Enjoyed your blog here, and thought I’d share