Is tetanus really a common problem from cat scratches? I thought of that as environmental and commonly introduced by cuts from things like nails that were contaminated. Not that getting the vaccine isn't a good thing. It is. But cat scratches are known for the possibility of contracting bartonella. Which, sadly, does not mean that Hawkeye comes to visit. Mores the pity because Jeremy Renner has fabulous arms.

Which, sadly, does not mean that Hawkeye comes to visit

"Coulson, you've got to find out why I'm being fucking drawn to all these women with cat scratches! And stop them from annoying their cats into scratching them! Or make Ted Nugent show up instead of me!"

"Don't worry, Barton, I'll take care of it. I don't share."

Cat scratches often cause infections, but not so much tetanus. While it can enter the body through a scratch, tetanus is an anaerobic bacteria, so it's happiest in a puncture wound or dead tissue.

I keep my tetanus shots up to date because of my uneasy relationship with gravity and inanimate objects.

The non-latex use an adhesive that jacks my skin up worse than latex usually. Good times.

Cass, yes, that seems to be my skin also. Good times.

WS, having it uncovered for a few hours has been enough to stop the painful itching. I'll probably take a Benadryl when I finally go to bed. I'll ask for T-DAP, thanks for the info.

Zen, I was going to apologizing for bringing up Corpse Bride so soon after you were worried about your arm becoming all zombiefied and rotting

I didn't mind! It seemed an appropriate segue.

aurelia, I want to Like your post about the young essayist.

What is bartonella, if not a case of Hawkeye?

Ginger knows more about tetanus than I do, which is comforting. All I know is that the first time I got a really deep scratch from a cat, the doctor told me to get a tetanus shot.

What is bartonella, if not a case of Hawkeye?

Cat scratch fever. Which is a real thing.

I just figured that because we are discussing an actual cat scratch and those really do lead to nasty infections sometimes, we should focus on what is likely.

But staying up-to-date on tetanus is really a good idea anyway.

The last time a doctor told me to get a tetanus shot, it was because of cat related injuries, but those were bites, not just scratches.

I have band-aid-itis.

Cat scratch fever.

My dad got this when I was little. His hand swelled up to the size of a football. I was just old enough to learn how to cut my own food and I got to get extra practice cutting his for a while.

Went to sports bar! Did not kill anyone! Ate fish tacos. Ears still kinda ringing. Assholes who come into packed sports bar halfway through second period and don't seem to notice they're blocking your view of a play probably deserve some kind of dire punishment.

But hey, HAWKS WIN.

Ugh, I hate that the wind up to a vacation in our house is always massive anxiety. I've been stressed to the gills for days just because everyone else is stressed out, throwing tantrums, etc. And doing kooky things.