Almost always yes, and ideally within a few hours. Cat teeth are sharp and narrow, which means they punch bacteria deep into tissue. The wound often closes over the surface, trapping bacteria inside. About 1 in 3 cat bites develop a significant infection without treatment. It's not worth waiting to see how it goes.

→ Walk in to SmartCare UrgentCare - no appointment needed.

Even a small puncture from a cat can be serious. The size of the mark on the surface tells you very little about what happened underneath. Cat teeth deposit bacteria like Pasteurella multocida directly into deep tissue, sometimes into a joint or tendon. These infections can progress within 24–48 hours. A quick assessment now is far easier than dealing with an infection later.

→ Walk in to SmartCare UrgentCare - no appointment needed.

Scratches are generally less risky than bites, but they're not risk-free. Deep scratches can introduce bacteria from claws, and cats that groom themselves carry mouth bacteria on their paws. Cat Scratch Disease (caused by Bartonella henselae) is a real, if uncommon, concern. If your scratch is deep, bleeding, swollen, or near the face or a joint, get it checked.

→ Walk in to SmartCare UrgentCare - no appointment needed.

It depends on your vaccination history. If it's been more than 5 years since your last tetanus booster, or you're not sure, a tetanus shot is recommended after any animal bite. We stock tetanus vaccinations on-site, so you can be assessed and treated in one visit, no referral needed. 

→ Walk in to SmartCare UrgentCare - no appointment needed.

First aid at home is a good start. Flush the wound with running water, apply pressure if it's bleeding, and keep it clean. But home care alone isn't enough to assess the depth of the wound, rule out joint or tendon involvement, or provide the antibiotics that significantly reduce infection risk. Think of it as step one, not the whole plan.

→ Walk in to SmartCare UrgentCare - no appointment needed.

Infection signs to watch for: increasing redness or swelling around the bite, warmth, throbbing pain, pus or discharge, red streaking spreading from the wound, fever, or swollen lymph nodes nearby. If you notice any of these, come in immediately. If you're not sure, come in anyway, that's exactly what we're here for.

→ Walk in to SmartCare UrgentCare - no appointment needed.

For the vast majority of cat bites and scratches, SmartCare UrgentCare is the right call. You'll typically be seen faster. SmartCare UrgentCare is staffed by emergency-led doctors equipped to handle animal bites fully; wound cleaning, antibiotics, tetanus, and imaging if needed. The Emergency Department is better suited for life-threatening emergencies.

→ Walk in to SmartCare UrgentCare - no appointment needed.