I was bitten by a stray cat? Please help??

pegasister lily

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Well, I've been taking care of this stray cat. He's super friendly and sweet. He really likes me. But yesterday, my dad was going to take my Aunt's dog for a walk. This dog is 10 larger than the cat. I picked up the cat and when the dog came out of the house, the cat hissed and jumped out of my arms, leaving behind a small scratch. Then later that day, I touched it's paw and it nipped at my hand, only leaving a small cut. His paws must be soar or something. He eats like a pig, his eyes are not dilated, no foam or spit is coming out of his mouth He seems healthy, to me. I'm just really worried that he might have Rabies.

Please note: I have really bad Anxiety. Do you think I'm just freakig myself out? I've been thinking that I have some of the symptoms of Rabies like Nausea. and things like that. Could my Anxiety be doing that to me?
 

StefanZ

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Well, I've been taking care of this stray cat. He's super friendly and sweet. He really likes me. But yesterday, my dad was going to take my Aunt's dog for a walk. This dog is 10 larger than the cat. I picked up the cat and when the dog came out of the house, the cat hissed and jumped out of my arms, leaving behind a small scratch. Then later that day, I touched it's paw and it nipped at my hand, only leaving a small cut. His paws must be soar or something. He eats like a pig, his eyes are not dilated, no foam or spit is coming out of his mouth He seems healthy, to me. I'm just really worried that he might have Rabies.

Please note: I have really bad Anxiety. Do you think I'm just freakig myself out? I've been thinking that I have some of the symptoms of Rabies like Nausea. and things like that. Could my Anxiety be doing that to me?
Oh, yes!   Also, the self shock of being bloodied is more than enough to give nausea!   Also may give you the feeling of wanting to vomit.

Also,   EVEN if it were rabies, there is no way it could burst in just one day.   Three weeks at least, they say, I think...

I agree also with your analysis, all his deeds do have completely natural explanations.   Climbing out because scared / excited by the dog, and biting by possibly a sore paw.   Also, many cats arent fond of being petted on their paws and...   When you say nipped, did it draw blood, or was mostly for warning??

Remember, if a cat really wants to bite, it does bite HARD and DEEP.   So its not difficult to notice what is for real, and what is overdone warning, or even a love bite.

Use something suitable to thoroughly clean the scratches - some bacterias from cat scratches may be nasty...    And dont think about rabies, you do have completely natural explanations here.

If you are STILL  afraid,  of course, go to your doc, go through the tests...  Or at least, make sure you get both the rabies vaccine and the other, whatisits name, [tetanus]  nasty disease when they dying is cramping in the whole body...  This second is a common vaccine to get.  Rabies is not so common, but if you feel you will be calmer, so, do it.

Dont mention it was this cat.  He may be pts by the order of the law.

Good luck!
 
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pegasister lily

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Thank you so much! I feel a little better now. I was mainly afraid of the Rabies thing because I looked all over Google and see some of the stuff people said about it.  Like "Once symptoms of Rabies occur, there is no treatment." things like that frightened me.. My Anxiety is making me think I have ever symptom of Rabies. It's been 3 days since Mr. Whiskers (The cat) Scratched/Bit me. (Sorry, I forgot to mention that this all happened on Friday.) Most of my family members have told me that he doesn't have Rabies. They say he's too nice ad if he had Rabies he wouldn't be coming up to me, and letting me pet it. When he nipped me, I don't think it drew blood. I don't think it broke skin. But the scratches did draw a tiny bit of blood, but I quickly went and washed my hands and put Peroxide on the cut. 
 

StefanZ

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Scratches cant give rabies, it needs contact between fluids - preferably blood, or salivia.

English is my third language, so I wasnt sure what the word  nipped means.  But if it means what I think it means - he barely touched you with the teeths - it shouldnt be anything from it.

If you are eager to be anxious, be anxious for the scratches - but you both washed and used  peroxide...

When you have time and occasion, take the vaccination against the other disease I mentioned - tetanus, now I did remembered.   YOu will prob get sore and get some raised temp from this vaccine, but its wise precaution.  

Tetanus can nowadays be treated, but its more common than rabies.   Relatively speaking, none of them is common.
 

Willowy

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If he has rabies and was shedding it in his saliva at the time of the bite, he will definitely be dead within 10 days. That's how rabies works. So if he dies mysteriously during this time, you should absolutely be worried, and have his body tested for rabies. If the bite didn't break skin there's really no chance of you getting rabies anyway but they usually give shots to anyone who's had contact with a confimed rabid animal just to be safe. If he's still alive 10 days after the bite you're safe. It will take longer for someone exposed to rabies to develop active symptoms (there's an incubation period) so waiting 10 days won't hurt. Although if you get a deep bite on the head this is more concerning as it will reach the brain faster (don't let a rabid raccoon bite your head! :tongue2:).

You should get him vaccinated (and neutered if he isn't already) so you don't have to worry if this happens again.
 

catwoman707

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You are stressing yourself out entirely needlessly my dear.

Do you know how rare rabies is in cats anymore? VERY.

Over-thinking, relax.  The worst that can happen with a scratch is in a deep scratch wound, deep enough so it bleeds and doesn't stop for several minutes at least, is cat scratch disease, and only a small percentage of people get this. I am one.

Ironic because I have a cat rescue group  


It's not that big of a deal either.

If you are bitten, it has to be fairly good bite, and same thing, bleeds a decent amt, not a surface tooth snag either.

Then you might need antibiotics.

Rabies.....naw, not gonna happen.
 

msaimee

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The worst experience I've had with a cat bite wound came from one of my domesticated, indoor cats--not from a stray or feral. I was trying to give him medication and he bit down on my finger very hard. My doctor prescribed a round of antibiotics because the wound was showing signs of infection  If the area of skin where your cat bit you becomes very red and swollen, or leaks puss, this could be signs of infection, and you will need to get an antibiotic. Cats very rarely have rabies. If you do go to a doctor, please don't mention the specifics of the cat or where the cat lives because if Animal Control gets involved, the cat will be trapped and euthanized.

Have you tried looking for the cat's owner by asking around your neighborhood and posting the cat's picture online in your local Humane Society lost and found website? The cat is either lost, or was abandoned by someone because it's socialized to people. If you can't locate the owner, are you able to adopt the cat and bring it inside? It would be helpful to get the cat into a carrier and to the vet for vaccinations and spay/neuter if it has not already been fixed. You can put some tasty food in the back of the carrier, and when the cat is entirely inside, close the door on it. If you need to pick the cat up, borrow some thick workman gloves from someone so you don't get scratched or nipped again.

Yes, you are worrying yourself sick. When cats are scared or startled, they instinctively swipe or nip. When you pet your stray, always approach slowly and carefully--hold out your hand in a fist position and allow the cat to sniff you first, then pet it on the head or cheek. Until the cat really knows you, I wouldn't handle its paws.

I hope you can continue to care for this kitty. Its obviously looking for help from a human because its been separated from its former human. Keep us posted.
 
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