Why Are Cat Scratches Itchier Than Normal Scratches?
| Updated: 10 Feb 2026
Why do cat scratches cause an uncomfortable problem for their owners?
Mystery Hour Question
Why are cat scratches itchier than normal scratches?
David, Mersyside
**Definitive**
Name: Hazel, Hammersmith
Qualifications: Nurse
Answer: Cat scratches are a “dirty wound” due to amount of time that cats spend outside. This type of wound results in localised inflammation, and during this process mast cells are released. These release a hormone called histamine which causes itching and sneezing.