HELP

I have been a cat owner all of my adult life and I just turned 60. I got home from a weekend trip and my Minnie was trying to jump in my lap and didn't have a good grip and slipped and clawed my leg pretty deep. A little more than a week later as I was going to bed the scratch started itching and about 2 inches out all around of the scratch has little red bumps that constantly itch. I've never had this happen before. Nothing is helping the rash or the itching. Should I go to the doctor? From the research I've done on cat scratch fever this isn't it.

I know I always react to cat scratches, they get itchy and bumpy, but if you never have I'm not sure.

That sounds concerning as it's not clearing up after a week, and you said it was pretty deep. I think it's worth a doctor visit as you may need an antibiotic. Always better to treat it sooner rather than waiting for it to get really bad.

I strongly suggest you visit your doctor before it gets worse.

The itching at the site is possibly due to inflammation and pressure on the surrounding nerves and/or a result of the actual wound healing. Just because the 'scratch' has scabbed over and healed does not mean that there is no infection.  Cat Scratch Disease  might take between 3 and 14 days to present symptoms depending upon your immune system and the severity of the scratch. Papules and pustules are a symptom of infection and will most likely lead to probable pain and swelling of lymph nodes (neck, underarm, or groin areas).  I would suggest you also get current on your Tetanus shot too.