Cat gets rabies, not been outside in 6 years

http://www.kcci.com/news/13574691/detail.html


Anyone ever heard such a thing and how is this possible? scary

Probably some kind of rodent or bat got in without the owners noticing. Rabies vax are required by law for a good reason.

How sad for the owner of the cats. Not to sound mean but this could have all been avoided by a 15 dollar vaccination.

Hmmmmm......wonder what kind of test could tell them what animal gave the cat rabies?? Especially if it hadn't been out or no one had noticed a wound. Interesting...

Originally Posted by taterbug

Hmmmmm......wonder what kind of test could tell them what animal gave the cat rabies?? Especially if it hadn't been out or no one had noticed a wound. Interesting...

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I wondered that too. It's probably similar to the tests they can do on HIV that will determine where the person got it, who gave it to who, etc. Speculating.

Originally Posted by ditka's_mommy

How sad for the owner of the cats. Not to sound mean but this could have all been avoided by a 15 dollar vaccination.

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This post brought up a question to me in regards to something that happened here. I know that this isn't the case for this particular situation, but have any of you heard of any animals in your areas contracting rabies even after being vaccinated? Just recently, in my area, a dog (Boxer) who was vaccinated against rabies and was an indoor dog (only allowed out into a fenced in yard) contracted rabies. I was just curious if it was happening in other places. Now that is scary.

I also wonder about how honest the pet owner is about the pets not going outside, just takes one time! Appears they never got vaccinations nor the required city pet licenses.

Originally Posted by Javern

I also wonder about how honest the pet owner is about the pets not going outside, just takes one time! Appears they never got vaccinations nor the required city pet licenses.

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I agree. There is a lot that is left to speculation.
I know a large majority of dogs that have the kennel cough vaccination come down with kennel cough. Kennel cough is like the flu. There are only so many strands the vaccination can cover. I have heard of animals coming down with vaccine related problems, including one of my own. The key is to do your own research and come up with a vaccination program you feel comfortable with, not just blindly follow what some "expert" suggests, as many of them vary in what they do suggest. I believe the vaccination protocols are being updated.

It's so easy for bats to get into a house (we had two last year). All it takes is a loose screen on a window, a window opened for cleaning, or a door propped open to bring large items into the house. They can colonize attics or crawlspaces, too, without people realizing they're there.

Just last year, a little girl in Indiana died of rabies after being bitten by a bat.

I've never heard of cats having to be licensed -- only dogs. I'm sure it's not the case where I live.

And I don't believe a rabies vaccine is mandatory for cats here either. Mine had one last year, but not this year, due to unrelated health problems and the vet deciding that it was more important to administer a leukemia vaccine.

We're not in a region that has bats, and there are few rodents... it's mostly spiders and lizards.

What I would like to know is what are the odds of a totally indoor cat getting rabies vs. a cat getting cancer from being vaccinated for rabies. Anybody know that one? I've googled, but can't find any good info.

Originally Posted by Misty8723

What I would like to know is what are the odds of a totally indoor cat getting rabies vs. a cat getting cancer from being vaccinated for rabies. Anybody know that one? I've googled, but can't find any good info.

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I too have concerns about injection related carcinomas and so have modified my cats vaccinations to a 3 year program for the ones they do get and even those are minimal. They are all totally indoor cats as well. The only one they do get yearly is for rabies. It is mandatory here for all animals to have rabies vaccinations. I did some research and discovered that all of the cancer related to rabies injections have occured using an adjuvanted vaccine - that means certain chemicals that have been added in addition to the vaccine for preservation, etc. My vet offers the Purevax rabies vaccine that is non-adjuvanted and has never had a case of injection related cancer occur. It is only available in annual formula rather than 3 year formula so, in order to meet the legal requirements plus to protect my cats, they get the annual non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine. Two of my cats also have severe allergic reactions to vaccinations so will not receive any other than the rabies vaccine and must also be pre-treated with an antihistamine prior to receiving the rabies shot. Talk to your vet and see if he/she will order in the Purevax vaccine.

My vet said that most of the cats that get rabies in our area are indoor cats. Typically it comes from bats (though it is very rare around here) that can fly in through the chimney or when someone opens a door. They bat gets freaked out by being inside and the cat gets excited, so they are more likely to come in contact than they do outside. Rabies is the only vaccine my two seniors (8 and 15) are still going to get.