Brought in a stray kitten... Rabies?

Kind of in a rabies scare at the moment, because I've played with the kitten, and her saliva has been all over my hands. Also, has scratched me (not bad, just a random few ones), so the saliva did have contact with an open "wound" if you will.

Now, no symptoms of rabies can be seen from the kitten which is between 2-4 months old, but it doesn't hurt to be extra careful. I found her in the back of a dumpster, hiding. It wouldn't come out for days until I started feeding it because it was going to die.

No clue what her history is with vaccines and everything... What procedure should I follow? Take it to a vet first? Consult a doctor? I have no clue. What really scared me is the fact that I started getting a headache 3 days ago, when I started playing with the kitten. Maybe it's a coincidence, or it's a symptom? I've never heard of rabies symptoms showing up within a day?

Regardless, opinions are what I need. Thanks in advance.

Thank you for rescuing this kitten.  You probably saved her life.

Rabies is really rare, especially in some areas of the country like the midwest.

I'd call the vet--as much for your own peace of mind as for the the kitten.  She needs a basic check up, including de-wormer and, if required by law, rabies vaccination.  And she/he is probably old enough to be neutered/spayed.

Visiting a vet is your best first step.  It's highly unlikely that the kitten has rabies.  If she doesn't have injuries then it's even more unlikely, bordering on impossible.  Your vet will know if there are any reported cases in your area.  She would have had to get it from another infected animal, so if there are no infected animals, then how could she  get it?

 I agree she is very lucky to have you.  Far to many cats die horrible deaths because there isn't anyone there for them .

The kitty should be taken to the vet for a check up, age assessment, fecal test (probably has worms), and to possibly begin it's first set of shots.  I doubt the kitty has rabies and the fact that you had a headache is probably just coincidence (stress maybe?).

Thank you.

I actually learned that the kitten was supposed to be put down. Part of her ear has been cut (don't know wording), and animal control performs it on cats they're going to put down here in NYC. That's what I was told.

No, usually eartipping is only done on feral cats who have been spayed/neutered and vaccinated, so you can see right away that the cat has been treated. There is no point in eartipping a cat they're just going to kill :dk:. So if it really is an eartip and not an injury, she's already vaccinated and spayed. You should still get her to the vet to confirm that everything's been done (that she didn't just catch her ear on something), and a round of de-wormer wouldn't be a bad idea.

As for rabies, it is a concern but not a big one in the US. It's fairly rare in cats. If a cat is shedding the rabies virus in her saliva, she will be dead within 2 weeks. And it takes longer than that for the virus to spread to your brain. So if she dies mysteriously, you'll want to have her brain tested for rabies and get vaccinated if she tests positive. But is she stays alive you have nothing to worry about .

I see. I was told wrong information then.

Don't know how it ended up in the back of a dumpster though. It was scared to death the first few days. Now it's pretty loving.

Thanks. I'll post a few pictures later.

Yes, the pictures--specifically of her ear--would help us a lot in knowing whether the cat's been TNRd (ear tipping is a universal symbol of TNRing). In which case, spaying/neuturing and probably rabies aren't issues. (Rabies vaccination is mandated by law in some states/counties.)

The ear thing could be an injury or something, too.