does my cat have rabies?

mboya

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 24, 2014
Messages
12
Purraise
1
I own a 3 1/2 month old kitty. he loves to bite our hands and feet. he is unvaccinated we are planning to get him vaccinated at 3months age but we forgot to do so as time passed by.

But now we are alarmed. I always get small bite marks but i always wash them with soap recently for him being so active and playful he bit my gf and she is nervous if she got rabies. Our cat stays indoor only we live in 4th level condo windows always close so no chance of our kitty getting out. My gf told me her wound itched once when she is sleeping. Should we be alarmed? We will take him to vet tom for shots. Pls help ty
 

chromium blues

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Jul 19, 2014
Messages
819
Purraise
140
Location
Ontario, Canada
He doesn't have rabies. Your girlfriend may have had a minor reaction to the bite - either a healing wound that was itching, or minor inflammation.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

mboya

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 24, 2014
Messages
12
Purraise
1
Can you pls enlighten me? Coz we're scared. How can you be sure our kitten doesnt have? Im asking coz im not knowledgeable in rabies pls help ty
 

pinkdagger

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 24, 2014
Messages
2,158
Purraise
468
Location
oh Canada~
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/rabies

Rabies doesn't just "happen". They need to spread from infected animals, most commonly from bites through altercations. If your cat has only been kept indoors, has not been introduced to risky animals, and has had no symptoms, you can pretty much verify your cat is rabies-free. It's not something that is inherent in animals.

It sounds like your kitten is just being a kitten. During this rowdy age, I wholly encourage both you and your girlfriend to teach the kitten that hands and feet are not appropriate play things by distracting him with appropriate toys, such as wands, straws, balls, stuffed/kicker toys for him to release his energy. While his bites may not be bad now, as he gets older and bigger, he'll underestimate his strength. Cats see us as giant ugly cats, so they play with us accordingly unless taught otherwise. If they don't have an outlet and aren't discouraged from using claws and teeth on our skin, they'll continue to do so.

Cat saliva can have some nasty stuff in it. Keep any bite or scratch wounds clean regardless of any rabies diagnoses because they can get infected. Itching, irritation, and redness can be common with broken skin. Keep an eye out for infection and seek treatment as needed.
 
Last edited:

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,836
Purraise
13,144
Location
Columbus OH
Symptoms of rabies would have shown up in your kitten after 10 to 14 days and he could not have been exposed since you have had him.  It would be obvious if he had rabies.  Kitties with rabies have severe mobility issues along with being very adverse to playing, even being touched.  Rabies vaccination is the last vaccination a kitten gets so he may not even be old enough for the rabies vaccine.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

mboya

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Aug 24, 2014
Messages
12
Purraise
1
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/rabies

Rabies doesn't just "happen". They need to spread from infected animals, most commonly from bites through altercations. If your cat has only been kept indoors, has not been introduced to risky animals, and has had no symptoms, you can pretty much verify your cat is rabies-free. It's not something that is inherent in animals.

It sounds like your kitten is just being a kitten. During this rowdy age, I wholly encourage both you and your girlfriend to teach the kitten that hands and feet are not appropriate play things by distracting him with appropriate toys, such as wands, straws, balls, stuffed/kicker toys for him to release his energy. While his bites may not be bad now, as he gets older and bigger, he'll underestimate his strength. Cats see us as giant ugly cats, so they play with us accordingly unless taught otherwise. If they don't have an outlet and aren't discouraged from using claws and teeth on our skin, they'll continue to do so.

Cat saliva can have some nasty stuff in it. Keep any bite or scratch wounds clean regardless of any rabies diagnoses because they can get infected. Itching, irritation, and redness can be common with broken skin. Keep an eye out for infection and seek treatment as needed.
Thank you so much for a clear answer. My gf can sleep safely now :)
 
Top