My cat scratched my hand the other day… is it infected?

I was holding my sisters cat to put down into her room when she climbed down my hand and scratched me. I thought it was ok but its been a couple of days now and there is a red lining around it. In the one open spot that actually cut down into my skin it looks a bit puffer then the other parts of the scar. I would put a band-aid on it but its to massive. Is this normal, or could it be infected, and if it is infected what do i do? Please help!

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Answer:
You know if it is infected if you see puss coming from it (yellow, green goop). The redness is just the irritation from the scratch. You should wash the cut daily with antibiotic soap and warm water. Pad it dry with a clean towel and put antibiotic ointment on it (Neosporin). Cover the cut with some gauze pads (sterile white square patches that can be bought at any grocery store).

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Answer:
Feline claws contain all manner of nasty bacteria.

Itching and minor swelling is pretty much unavoidable.

This is why so many heartless SOBs declaw immediately, instead of as a last resort.