Mayo Clinic Q&A: Cat scratches, bites can lead to infection

From The Journal Times.com:

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My cat scratched me while I was trimming his claws, and the wound later became infected. Are cat scratches a special concern?

ANSWER: A bite or scratch from a cat carries particular risks, and infection is common. Cat scratch disease (or cat scratch fever) is a specific type of bacterial infection that occurs when a cat bites or scratches hard enough to break the skin's surface or licks an open wound. It's estimated that 40 percent of cats carry this particular bacterium, usually after an exposure to fleas or another animal that was exposed. However, most cats with the infection show no signs of illness.

Symptoms of cat scratch disease appear within two weeks after the contact with an infected animal. Swelling and redness occur around the wound, and you also may experience a fever, headache, poor appetite and fatigue.

Read more:  https://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/mayo-clinic-q-a-cat-scratches-bites-can-lead-to/article_16e41d2d-d6d5-5ff8-b0d0-7719e7a1c518.html

I've been bit and scratched by cats hundreds of times.  I never go an infection.