New Member and a predicament.

noelle · Jun 14, 2015

ok, thanks. I just called the vet that I want to take him to and they said that if he bites the vet he would be euthanized, his head cut off and his brain examined to make sure that he does not have rabies.

I had no idea that not taking to the vet after he had the first reaction to the rabies shot would have such terrible consequences. No I am terrified to because he might bite the vet then I would loose my

cat.

Has anyone had to battle this upstream battle before? you know taken the cat to the vet after shots are expired. I just don't know what to do, I am so worried. I wan to to take them so that they

can get looked at. but at the same time, I am terrified to.

noelle · Jun 14, 2015

Hi Fellow Cat Lovers,

I have a situation that I need some experienced advice on.

I have two cats age 9. Their records are not up to date because my male cat had a bad allergic

reaction to the rabies shot. I therefore because i was scared and refused to take them back for further

checkups for fear of the rabies shot. Now, that they are 9 I wanted to get a midlife check up for them.

I was told once again that they would need to get their vaccinations up to date. Of course I am freaking out.

They also said that in addition to the fact that they are out of date that if they bite the vet they may be

euthanized, their head cut off, and their brain examined to make sure they do not have rabies.

I don't know what to do. I want to take them in so that they have a records so that when they get older

and need care they will not be refused due to out of date records. But at the same time I could loose my pet

if they bite. My male cat does not like strangers, so there is a good chance that this could happen.

What would you do? Has anyone been in this situation? What is the best course of action? I am so lost, in tears and just

don't know which was is best.

I don't want them to play the ultimate price because my fear of Indy reacting again. I feel like I have made a terraible mistake,

but than to fix it and make it right may result in loosing my pets if they bite. I am so lost.

Thanks

stephenq · Jun 14, 2015

Noelle said:
Hi Fellow Cat Lovers,

I have a situation that I need some experienced advice on.

I have two cats age 9. Their records are not up to date because my male cat had a bad allergic

reaction to the rabies shot. I therefore because i was scared and refused to take them back for further

checkups for fear of the rabies shot. Now, that they are 9 I wanted to get a midlife check up for them.

I was told once again that they would need to get their vaccinations up to date. Of course I am freaking out.

They also said that in addition to the fact that they are out of date that if they bite the vet they may be

euthanized, their head cut off, and their brain examined to make sure they do not have rabies.

I don't know what to do. I want to take them in so that they have a records so that when they get older

and need care they will not be refused due to out of date records. But at the same time I could loose my pet

if they bite. My male cat does not like strangers, so there is a good chance that this could happen.

What would you do? Has anyone been in this situation? What is the best course of action? I am so lost, in tears and just

don't know which was is best.

I don't want them to play the ultimate price because my fear of Indy reacting again. I feel like I have made a terraible mistake,

but than to fix it and make it right may result in loosing my pets if they bite. I am so lost.

Thanks

My vet always agrees not to give rabies since they are indoor cats. Maybe you should look for a vet who is willing not to give it...?

Freedom · Jun 14, 2015

Clip his nails before you take him in. This way they will be blunt and less likely to injure the vet or a vet tech.

mrsgreenjeens · Jun 14, 2015

Well, this adds a new wrinkle to the problem. I read your other thread about Indie not being able to get his rabies shot due to an allergic reaction very early in life,BUT I didn't realize he was possibly aggressive

If it were me, I guess since there really is nothing wrong with him, I would probably NOT take him in for a check up. BUT, I would take HER in and get her vaccinated {on a Monday, just in case)

There are muzzles you can put on cats for biters, but it obviously keeps Vets from examining their mouths, which is an important part of their wellness exam. you might want to get one for your girl for her vaccination if you think she might bite as well.

noelle · Jun 14, 2015

mrsgreenjeens said:
Well, this adds a new wrinkle to the problem. I read your other thread about Indie not being able to get his rabies shot due to an allergic reaction very early in life,BUT I didn't realize he was possibly aggressive

If it were me, I guess since there really is nothing wrong with him, I would probably NOT take him in for a check up. BUT, I would take HER in and get her vaccinated {on a Monday, just in case)

There are muzzles you can put on cats for biters, but it obviously keeps Vets from examining their mouths, which is an important part of their wellness exam. you might want to get one for your girl for her vaccination if you think she might bite as well.

Hi Mrsgreenjeans, I have thought about that. I am afraid that NOT taking him may be my only option. I cannot say that he is aggressive but he definitely only likes his people. He runs from

guests and when forced to mingle with them he gets very upset. Taking him to a vet will only force him to mingle with a person he does not know in a place that he is afraid.

that can only spell bad news for him and us if he bites a vet and has to be euthanized and his brain examined. It is a very hard decision for me, I want to do what is best for him

by taking him for a midlife check up but it may be the check up that end his life.

I guess what I am trying to establish is the ability to have him seen should he get sick and need vet help. I was told that if a cat does not have a shot record and no medical record that

vets will turn them down for care. you know the whole no shots, not care routine. He only had his kitten round of shots before I pulled out of the vet care routine due to fear of them killing

him by forcing me to give him shots. It is just really scary knowing that my choices are to take him in have him bit and loose my cat, or risk not even being able to get him vet care.

He is a great cat, most lovable of all my cats. he just hates people he does not know that makes the vet a hard one to take him too.

momto3cats · Jun 15, 2015

FWIW, I have taken my cats to the vet when they were not "up to date" on rabies shots, and have never been refused treatment. I just didn't bring up the subject of vaccines and nobody else did either. I think if you take a sick cat to be treated, a decent vet will not insist on vaccinating then and there. If they try, you can refuse, and take your cat elsewhere. Sick cats are not supposed to be vaccinated anyway.

Also any decent vet will understand that you don't want to risk vaccinating a cat that had a life threatening reaction before. They might offer to give medication to try and prevent a reaction and then give the shot, but, you don't have to accept. He's YOUR cat and all decisions are yours to make. I hate it when vets (or their staff) try to bully people into accepting things they don't want.

You should find out what the law in your area actually says about owned, unvaccinated cats who bite people. I doubt that they could actually take your cat and kill him if he has no symptoms of rabies or history of contact with possibly rabid animals. More likely, they might want to quarantine him to watch for signs of rabies developing. In my state, they can even be quarantined at home.

noelle · Jun 15, 2015

momto3cats said:
FWIW, I have taken my cats to the vet when they were not "up to date" on rabies shots, and have never been refused treatment. I just didn't bring up the subject of vaccines and nobody else did either. I think if you take a sick cat to be treated, a decent vet will not insist on vaccinating then and there. If they try, you can refuse, and take your cat elsewhere. Sick cats are not supposed to be vaccinated anyway.

Also any decent vet will understand that you don't want to risk vaccinating a cat that had a life threatening reaction before. They might offer to give medication to try and prevent a reaction and then give the shot, but, you don't have to accept. He's YOUR cat and all decisions are yours to make. I hate it when vets (or their staff) try to bully people into accepting things they don't want.

You should find out what the law in your area actually says about owned, unvaccinated cats who bite people. I doubt that they could actually take your cat and kill him if he has no symptoms of rabies or history of contact with possibly rabid animals. More likely, they might want to quarantine him to watch for signs of rabies developing. In my state, they can even be quarantined at home.

ok, thank you so much. I did some more calls today and I found a vet who is vaccination conscious. she understands the problems that they can cause an does not see the need

to over vaccinate. in addition, they understand my situation about Indy and will do what they can based on his temperament to examine him at the vet. they will base what they can

do based on how he reacts. They are very understanding, I am so relieved to find someone who does not want to shoot up my pet with vaccination as soon as they walk in the door.

mrsgreenjeens · Jun 15, 2015

Noelle said:
momto3cats said:

FWIW, I have taken my cats to the vet when they were not "up to date" on rabies shots, and have never been refused treatment. I just didn't bring up the subject of vaccines and nobody else did either. I think if you take a sick cat to be treated, a decent vet will not insist on vaccinating then and there. If they try, you can refuse, and take your cat elsewhere. Sick cats are not supposed to be vaccinated anyway.

Also any decent vet will understand that you don't want to risk vaccinating a cat that had a life threatening reaction before. They might offer to give medication to try and prevent a reaction and then give the shot, but, you don't have to accept. He's YOUR cat and all decisions are yours to make. I hate it when vets (or their staff) try to bully people into accepting things they don't want.

You should find out what the law in your area actually says about owned, unvaccinated cats who bite people. I doubt that they could actually take your cat and kill him if he has no symptoms of rabies or history of contact with possibly rabid animals. More likely, they might want to quarantine him to watch for signs of rabies developing. In my state, they can even be quarantined at home.

Click to expand...

ok, thank you so much. I did some more calls today and I found a vet who is vaccination conscious. she understands the problems that they can cause an does not see the need

to over vaccinate. in addition, they understand my situation about Indy and will do what they can based on his temperament to examine him at the vet. they will base what they can

do based on how he reacts. They are very understanding, I am so relieved to find someone who does not want to shoot up my pet with vaccination as soon as they walk in the door.

That's wonderful news!

drawsonanything · Jun 15, 2015

That is a stressful predicament! I took a moment to look at Tennessee rabies law and it looks like it doesn't require any beheading of cats if they bite; I think they said that to scare you. Rather, it seems like it says that the department of health will confine an animal for observation if it bites and there's a reason to suspect rabies. But the vet isn't going to take it in back and euthanize it! Your cat belongs to you, just like your other property.

Take a look at:

http://www.americanbar.org/newslett...p_solo_magazine_index/animalcustodycases.html

http://www.tennessee.gov/sos/acts/103/pub/pc0765.pdf (see page 5 for law about what happens if an animal bites someone).

I don't know your county or municipality, but they might have their own rules about how animal control is accomplished, so you might want to check there.

noelle · Jun 17, 2015

drawsonanything said:
That is a stressful predicament! I took a moment to look at Tennessee rabies law and it looks like it doesn't require any beheading of cats if they bite; I think they said that to scare you. Rather, it seems like it says that the department of health will confine an animal for observation if it bites and there's a reason to suspect rabies. But the vet isn't going to take it in back and euthanize it! Your cat belongs to you, just like your other property.

Take a look at:

http://www.americanbar.org/newslett...p_solo_magazine_index/animalcustodycases.html

http://www.tennessee.gov/sos/acts/103/pub/pc0765.pdf (see page 5 for law about what happens if an animal bites someone).

I don't know your county or municipality, but they might have their own rules about how animal control is accomplished, so you might want to check there.

Thanks. I read the legal acts and did not see anything about beheading the cat but rather a quarantine at home for an extended period of time. Thank you so much for finding this for me, it was a great help.

I did find a yet in town that is vaccine conscious, she does not believe in over vaccinating. I am going to make an appointment with her soon and see if she has any recommendations based on Indy's history of reactions to the shot. she had mentioned a titer test on the phone but I don't know how much is costs. Thanks for all the help, folks here are a great support system!!

New Member and a predicament.

noelle

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noelle

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stephenq

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Freedom

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mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats

noelle

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momto3cats

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noelle

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mrsgreenjeens

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drawsonanything

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