Perhaps a more basic explanation for the way the scratches swell up is that said person is allergic to cats.
I had a cat as a child, and only after we got it did I realize I was allergic (how convenient). Whenever I’d play with the cat (which of course would result in me becoming shredded), my scratches would swell up and itch like you couldn’t believe.
This is exactly what I thought when I read the question. My cat used to welt me up very easily, but eventually the allergy faded. Just having “cat” material dug into your skin, however slightly, irritates it. I wondered why this wasn’t mentioned in the article.
Very good point. I didn’t think of it. Will try to come up with some info. to add. Thanks.
One other tidbit I heard in the context of the big cats was that the retractable claws are partly to blame; i.e., cat kills critter or scratcehs in litter box ==> cat retracts claws covered in dead meat/cat doots ==> bacteria have nice, safe, warm environment in which to grow.
You may feel that this analysis is lacking in scientific rigor. You would be correct. Still, I toss it out there to get shredded or not.
RR
I happened to see a doctor today and I actually brought up the subject of Cat Scratch Fever (since I own a cat.) I was told that: (a) you can’t get it more than once from the same cat; and (b) having swollen scratch marks by no means indicates you have C.S.F. Also was told that healthy adults probably wouldn’t notice having it in most cases. Just in case anyone cares…
As I said in the column, the most characteristic symptom of CSD is swollen lymph nodes, but inflammation at the site also usually occurs("…a cat scratch, lick or bite that produces a red papular lesion…" - Control of Communicable Diseases Manual on Cat Scratch Disease). I did say that this was an uncommon disease and most likely not the culprit in this case. I see nothing in my literature that says infection confers immunity, although this could be true.
Thanks to a member of the TM who pointed out the obvious, I’ve added a line that most likely the questioner is simply allergic to cats. Not that I won’t always add info. about another possible disease if it’s interesting.