Cat killed bat

Afternoon everyone!

Another question for you all. The other day there was a bat flying around my house, but by the time I grabbed the supplies to shoo it out, it had flown back to its hiding place. I searched the whole house and not a sign of it. A little while ago, I found it dead on the living room floor, blood on the floor, with the cat standing on a table over it. My assumption is that Starbuck) killed the bat. She doesn't seem to have any blood on her or anything, but I don't have another explanation for the bat's death.

So, my main question is - do I need to get her checked out for any reason (mostly rabies, though I understand that's unlikely)? I did speak to one vet's office and they told me not to worry. But I am a worrier, so I thought I'd ask you all too. They told me just to keep the bat in the fridge and call the health department in the morning. They said the health department might not even want to test the bat, but if they do, and it comes back rabies, only then do I need to take her to the vet. So, maybe I should just be more zen about it.

Also, my landlord doesn't have outdoor trash cans, we just put the trash bags on the curb the night before trash pick-up. When I do dispose of the bat, do you think it's alright to just put it in a trash bag on the curb? That doesn't seem so hygienic to me, but I also spoke to an exterminator (my town appears to be too small to have a legit animal control), who practically laughed me off the phone for doing anything other than throwing it out.

Anyway, that's all. Thanks very much for any advice you may have. Have a great day!

Best,

Isaac

I guess it's something that depends on the area and how prevalent rabies is in your area.  I know here they routinely trap and test bats and they usually have some positives.  I don't know where you live but is there a state university that has an ag department or vet school.  If so I would check with them to find out how prevalent rabies is where you live.

I'm in Oberlin, OH.  I spoke to a vet's office in Elyria and they said it was very unlikely to be rabies, but I'm going to call animal control in the morning. Not sure if the schools in the Elyria area have a vet school, but that's a good suggestion, thanks!

Has your cat had its rabies shot? If not, definitely keep your cat quarantined inside (and away from other household pets) until you have more information on Monday -- just in case.

Things you can do before Monday: try looking up your local public health office's website (to see what their policy on bats is) and your county's website (to see if they have any information or policy) and your state's (agricultural or public health) website to see if they list how many cases of rabies there have been in your area in the recent past. Also look for a Center for Disease Control in your area.

I'm having trouble finding my vet records (and cursing my own disorganization) at the moment. I took her to a clinic to get spayed end of May/beginning of June 2013. I took her to the vet once at the beginning of November 2012, and once toward the end of December 2012. She received some vaccinations for sure during the December '12 visit. How long do rabies vaccinations last, two years? I can't remember if she got any shots when I got her spayed, but I seem to recall that she did. I'm going to call the clinic that spayed her and the vet from December, '12 to confirm if I haven't found my own papers by then.

She's my only pet, so I don't have to worry about other animals. Should I keep her away from people until this is all taken care of or is that overcautious?

EDIT: I forgot to say, I haven't been able to find any policy information or a CDC office in the area, but I have the number for my county's health department for tomorrow. Thanks for all of your suggestions!

P.S. The bat definitely wasn't there this morning, so it had to be out this afternoon for her to kill it. Is that a bad sign re: the health of the bat? I thought they weren't usually out during the day. Unless she rustled it out of its hiding place, which is also conceivable.

I am in Columbus OH and I know they do find bats that test positive in this area.  A few years back a man somewhere in Ohio died of rabies.  His family said that he had removed a small bat from their house, he must've been bitten and didn't know it.  I think I would want to get the bat tested.  I know the majority of them are negative but I would want to make sure.  

Ouch. I'm definitely going to call the health department tomorrow. I didn't touch the bat (I wore gloves and I used a broom/dust pan), but I want to make sure my cat's going to be okay. I don't know if Columbus and Elyria are close enough to have the same sort of issues, but that's close enough to cause me concern certainly.

Okay, I found some policy information:

http://www.lorainhealth.com/environmental.shtml#rabies

 Investigate reported animal bites to insure animals are free of rabies.  Domestic animals that are involved in a biting incident are required to be quarantined for a period of ten (10) days. Wild animals involved in a biting incident are euthanized (if applicable) and shipped to the Ohio Department of Health for testing. The Lorain City Health Department enforces mandatory rabies vaccination for all domestic animals.

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Any thoughts on this quarantine business? I'm not even sure that Starbuck has been bitten (in fact I don't think she has been, but I prefer to be over cautious). The idea of them holding her somewhere for 10 days makes me rather nervous.

The only thing I know about Ohio laws is that physicians are required to report all animal bites.  I don't know anything about the quarantine rules.  The health department should be able to give you the right answers.  Of course things like this never happen during regular office hours so then it's a waiting game.

This is an example from North Dakota. It was a random google, but it will give you an idea about what to expect. http://www.ndhealth.gov/disease/rabies/qanda.htm

What will happen to the animal after person has been bitten or otherwise exposed?

• NDDOH Rabies Exposure Assessment Algorithm (pdf)
• 
  If the animal is a healthy domestic dog, cat or ferret it should be confined and held for observation for 10 days.  A licensed veterinarian must examine the animal at the beginning and end of the 10-day observation period.  If the animal develops symptoms suggestive of rabies, it should be humanely destroyed and the brain sent for testing.  If the animal is healthy at the end of the 10-day period, then no rabies exposure occurred and the person bitten will not need rabies shots.
• 
  If the animal is not a domestic dog, cat or ferret, it should be captured, humanely destroyed and the brain sent for rabies testing.    If the animal is a domesticated farm animal (cow, horse, etc.), consult with your physician and veterinarian. 

What is meant by confinement?

Confinement in North Dakota, as it pertains to rabies, means separation of an animal from humans, other than the owner, caretaker, a member of the owners family, or the caretakers employees, and from other animals, by means of a building, cage, fence, pen or other secure enclosure that restricts the animals movement within definite boundaries and prevents the animal from exiting the enclosure.  

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Why can a healthy domestic dog, cat or ferret be held for ten days?

Studies have shown that dogs, cats and ferrets only shed the rabies virus in the saliva for a short period (usually 4 to 5 days) of time before they develop symptoms.  If the animal has not developed symptoms by the tenth day after the exposure then the animal would not have been shedding the virus at the time of the exposure.

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Why cant the ten day observation period be used for other animals?

Only domestic dogs, cats and ferrets have been studied enough to determine with certainty the period of viral shedding.  Although this period of viral shedding may be similar for other species of animals, without more studies, there is too much uncertainty and too great of risk for error. 

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Looks like in ND, the animal quarantined would be housebound if it is the only animal on the premises.

Thanks! That's really helpful. Hopefully the Ohio procedures are similar.

Ajjaxx said:

 
How long do rabies vaccinations last, two years?

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Hi,

One type of rabies vaccine is good for 1 year, another for 3 years.  I suspect, but I don't know this for a fact, if a cat was exposed to an active case of rabies they may want to boost her.

Keep in mind that the article pertains to domestic animals that have bitten a human.

This is still hinging on wheather your cat has a rabies vacination, right?    If you can find no record of that you may be best with the quaratene.   While you don't think there was a bite, regardless,  if the bat had rabies even without a bite, the cat could contract the rabies.   And with that in mind the cat if it has contracted rabies could transmit it to you.  There is no cure for rabies if you would get it.   Generally a rabies vacine is good for about 7 years at least, although state goes by their law.  I think all vaccines are the same as far as how long it lasts,  it just depends on how the law looks at it.   I think laws are different everywhere.  I think some quaranteens are allowed at home.  

Hopefully you can find a record of your cat having a rabies vaccine.  I don't want to scare you but this is something to consider.  Also I think I takes some time to get test results back on rabies. It is not an overnight testing.  

Honestly I think your cat probably has a rabies vacination.  I can't think any vet would not keep that up to date.  

Your Vet will have a record of all vaccines given.

I know in Colorado, quarantine is in the home also bat bites are small and go unnoticed. That's why when humans have died of rabies they had no idea they were even bitten by a bat.

I just got off the phone with the vet and they said the rabies shot was due in December, unfortunately. I've left a message with the health department as well. I assume my own personal shots are up-to-date but I can check that as well.

The chances are very small that your cat contracted rabies. December is not that long ago either, so there should be residual vaccine in the cat's system. I would definitely take her to the vet and get her updated, look up rabies on the internet to know what to watch for.Call the vet and explain everything and see if you should do something different, there may be a series of shots for animals that may have been exposed.  As for you, there are no scheduled preventative shots to take, just if you get bit by something that may have rabies, then you get shots. I would watch the cat, after all, you would know any changes the quickest. I worry a lot about this every time I get deeply bit by a kitten that I never see again! Good luck and keep us posted!

If the rabies was due in December the rabies vacination should carry over.  studies show the rabies vacinations last on average at least 7 years.  The laws of course are usually for 2 or 3 years.  I wouldn't worry about the cat getting rabies in this case.    And since your cat has not bitten anyone you should not have to worry about quarantinining it.  But definately get the rabies updated for your cat.    

I called the health department again (the first person's voicemail said they were leaving town tomorrow), and spoke to a real person. Took the bat and dropped it off, he said I should know by Wednesday or Thursday (I'll definitely give an update then). Have an appointment tomorrow for the vet. I will ask if there's anything other than the actual vaccine she should be getting.

Thanks again! I'm very relieved to hear that being a few months late isn't the end of the world. I was hoping that was the case, but it's very nice to hear it confirmed. Really appreciate all of the information and the advice.

EDIT: obviously I'm never going to be late getting Starbuck her vaccines again. Lesson learned...