Signs and Symptoms of Cat Scratch: 7 Worst Things I Didn't See Coming
Honestly, if you'd told me a cat scratch could send me into a tailspin of medical visits, pain, and a weird obsession with lymph nodes — I'd have laughed in your face.
Because I love cats. Grew up with four of them. Always been the girl who'd volunteer to pet-sit, foster, or help strays off the street. Cat people? We're a tribe. But there’s a side of this life they don’t talk about.
The dark side of purrs and playful paws.
Yep, I’m talking about Cat Scratch Disease (or CSD if you wanna sound fancy). And the signs and symptoms of cat scratch? Not as cute as the furball who gave 'em to me.
Let me back up…
It Started With a Tiny Scratch — And a Lie I Told Myself
Her name was Pickles. She was a tabby rescue with big eyes and bigger attitude. One afternoon she freaked out during a thunderstorm, clawed at my hand while trying to leap off the counter, and — boom. Scratch right on the inside of my wrist.
It bled a little. Nothing wild. I cleaned it. Slapped on a Band-Aid. Went about my day.
But within 3 days, I wasn’t just dealing with a scratch.
I was googling things like:
- “Why is my lymph node HUGE?”
- “Can a cat scratch cause a fever?”
- “Is it normal to feel exhausted after a scratch?”
Turns out, it’s not just the scratch. It’s what comes with it.
So here are the 7 worst signs and symptoms of cat scratch I experienced — the real stuff no one warns you about.
1. Swollen Lymph Nodes That Feel Like Marbles Under Your Skin
I kid you not — my armpit looked like it was hiding a golf ball.
I had no clue that lymph nodes could swell so dramatically, especially just from a tiny scratch. But the body reacts when Bartonella henselae, the bacteria behind CSD, gets in. My doctor did a quick feel under my arm and gave me the look.
“Classic cat scratch,” she said.
Classic?! Like it’s some kind of rite of passage?
2. Fatigue That Doesn’t Make Sense
I wasn’t just tired. I was done. Could barely sit through a Zoom meeting without zoning out or wanting to curl up and nap on my keyboard.
It didn’t feel like a cold. No runny nose. No sore throat. Just… fatigue. Deep, dragging fatigue that clung to me for a solid week and a half.
If you're thinking “it's just a scratch,” I was too. Until my body basically ghosted me.
3. Fever That Comes and Goes — and Then Comes Back Again
I’d wake up drenched in sweat. Like I’d just run a 10K in my dreams. Then I’d feel fine by lunch. Then bam — chills and burning up by dinnertime.
It was like my body couldn’t decide if it wanted to fight or flee. Spoiler: this bacteria messes with your immune system like a toxic ex.
4. The Actual Scratch Gets Worse Before It Gets Better
At first it looked like a regular scratch.
But then it got redder. Puffier. Itchy. And kinda crusty.
I kept showing my boyfriend like, “Does this look weird?” until he finally said, “Yes. It’s weird. Go to urgent care.”
Turns out, the scratch itself can become a small pustule or blister — mine didn’t ooze, thank goodness, but it looked gnarly for a few days.
5. Headaches That Felt Like Brain Fog Wrapped in Pain
This one threw me off. I kept thinking I was dehydrated or needed more coffee.
But the dull, heavy ache behind my eyes stuck around for days. And paired with the fatigue and fever? My brain felt like it was running on dial-up.
—
6. Low Appetite + Nausea = My Favorite Foods Becoming Gross
I couldn’t even look at tacos. That’s when I knew something was up.
Cat scratch fever (yep, that’s the nickname) can mess with your digestive system too. For me, it wasn’t full-on vomiting, but a gnawing nausea and total lack of appetite.
I legit lost 6 pounds in a week — which sounds great until your body feels like trash.
7. Anxiety Over “What If It’s More Serious?”
Okay, real talk. At one point, I spiraled.
I started reading forums. Saw words like “encephalopathy” and “neuroretinitis.” People talking about hospital stays and permanent damage.
Did I panic? 100%.
Was I being dramatic? Maybe. But when your body’s acting weird and it all started with a cat? The mind goes dark places.
And no one really tells you when it’ll pass — because symptoms can last weeks.
What Helped Me (Besides Panicking in My Shower)
Once I got the official diagnosis, things made way more sense. My doctor put me on a course of azithromycin (a common antibiotic), and told me to:
- Rest (like, really rest — not half-assed couch scrolling)
- Stay hydrated (coconut water was my MVP)
- Keep the scratch clean and dry
- Avoid more scratches — which meant temporary no-snuggle zone with Pickles 😿
Here’s what else I personally found helpful:
- Warm compress under my armpit for the swollen node (weirdly comforting)
- Loose clothing to avoid irritating the scratch area
- Ibuprofen for the fever + body aches
- Avoiding internet forums — seriously, just don’t
How Long Did It Take to Feel Normal Again?
About 2.5 weeks.
That’s how long it took before I felt human again. The scratch faded. The fever stopped. The lymph node took a little longer to go down, but it eventually did.
Would I go through it again? Hell no.
Would I give up cats? Also no.
What If It Doesn’t Go Away?
Here’s the kicker — sometimes, CSD can cause complications. Rare, but it happens.
If your symptoms get worse after antibiotics or if you start experiencing:
- Vision problems
- Numbness or tingling
- Intense neck stiffness
- Confusion or seizures
PLEASE run, don’t walk, to the ER.
Not gonna lie — I became hyperaware of every twitch and ache for weeks. But it passed. And now I know what to watch for.
TL;DR — Read This Before You Laugh Off That Cat Scratch
- Scratches from cats — especially kittens — can carry Bartonella bacteria
- Watch for swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue, headaches, nausea
- Antibiotics help, but rest and hydration matter more than you think
- Don’t doom-scroll yourself into a panic — but don’t ignore it either
So no — signs and symptoms of cat scratch aren’t just some cute quirk of pet ownership. They can suck, hard.
But for me? It was a weird, frustrating wake-up call. I still love cats. Still have scars. But now I keep wound wash next to the treats.
And Pickles? She’s still around. Still spicy. Still my little bacterial landmine.
But at least now I know what I’m dealing with.
And you do too.
Stay safe out there, cat crew. 🐾
