Reaction after rabies?

Hello all, i have been searching high and low for someone with this similar problem but can't seem to find anyone. My kitty was a stray that adopted us a few weeks ago and i brought her to the vet on friday (9/11) for a check up, to check for microchip, and to get her rabies and distemper shots. Ever since we brought her home, she has not been lethargic but absolutely nuts. she is acting like she is extremely paranoid and we are not able to touch her she just runs out of the room. She isn't aggressive, just super skiddish and scared. She used to be so loving and want to cuddle all the time, now im lucky if she lets me pet her. It's been days now and Im worried that she had some sort of bad reaction. I am emailing my vet waiting on a response, but i wanted to see if anybody else had this issue. thank you for any help!

Hi Brittany! This can be quite common especially if your kitty was a stray. Thank you SO much for rescuing her. Cat's can be very sore from a rabies injection and not understand why so they become withdrawn. She may be very sensitive and even though no longer having any soreness from the injection, she remembers. We don't know her past either and she may be remembering something from a past vet visit and feeling insecure and frightened. Poor little thing but she is so lucky you took her in. :rub:

First - is she eating, drinking normally? Using the litter box? It is common for a day or two to have some lingering soreness but it has been four days now so you kitty should be a bit better now. My thought would be to take the cat's temperature if at all possible and if you know how to do it and if she will allow? The stress of going to the vet may have set her back a little bit. Very good that you emailed your vet. She may need her temp. taken and the vaccine site checked. I understand the worry, though, of having to bring her back to the vet for this. So let's just hope the vet reassures you. :cross: I will see if I can find other threads relating to this same issue and copy them here for you. Hopefully, this is just a minor setback for your kitty and in a matter of a few more days she will get over it and come out of her shell over the whole experience. :cross:

Thank you for replying! She is eating and using the litterbox normally which is a definite plus. She didn't get sick like i know a lot of cats do. Just wide eyes anxiety is what it seems like to me. I tried to put her in the bedroom for a little bit so she can calm her nerves but then i felt bad about locking her up and let her out haha i'm a softy. She was so skittish that she tried to get out of the house when we were leaving for work and she never tries to escape, usually just stares at the door. I'm just worried that she is going to always be very nervous around us now thinking we will be taking her back to the vet at any givin moment ): 

Im sure im over reacting, but she is my precious baby any sort of behavior change worries me. I've been monitoring the injection site and there doesnt seem to be any abnormal swelling or bleeding. So I think this is just an anxiety issue more than a health issue. Or it could be the soreness from the shot. If she's never been to the vet before I can see how it can be very frightening. they had to shave her to see if she was spayed and get shots and people poking and prodding at her and other animals around. I was just as nervous as she was when they took her away from me into the backroom haha. I guess for now ill just wait and see how she reacts when i come home from work tonight, she might be right back to normal after having the day alone to calm herself. 

My guess is that since she is a stray she is not used to living inside your home.  When you brought her inside did you give her a room of her own to settle down first?  This is usually helpful as she will be very overwhelmed by her new surroundings.  If possible move her into a room of her own that is cat proofed.  If a bed is in the room lay it flat on the floor or pick it up as you don't want her hiding under the bed.  It will be next to impossible to get her out!  Also block behind over large pieces of furniture.  If possible get her a cat tree or perch to look out the window. 

Bringing a stray inside can be traumatic.  She is used to living outside and may be very scared.  Try a feliway diffuser or some calming treats or supplements such a Composure.  It really does help.  Leave a radio on for her with quiet music.

Try to visit her often.  Yet sit on the floor at her level so you don't loom over her and frighten her.  Offer her some  yummy treats when you visit such a plain cooked chicken or some tuna.  You can also try Gerber Stage 2 baby food in chicken or turkey.  It comes in a small glass jar with a blue label.  It has only turkey or chicken and water with no added sugars or spices.  Cats just love it.  You can offer some on a plate and progress to having her lick it off a spoon and then off your fingers.  Just take it slowly.

Have you tried to play with her?  She may be too frightened, but sometimes a few toys such as a simple string might help.  Also some catnip might entice her.

Do contact your vet, but maybe try to call instead of email as you might get a quicker response.  Did they find she was spayed?

Thank you for rescuing her.  Just give her lots of time to adjust and try not to push her.  She will come out of her shell in time.  Just lots of visits!

She has been with me for a few weeks now so she was pretty used to living inside (so it would seem) shes been put on a schedule with feedings and shes learned when she will be fed. she is usually very playful and very loving, always wanting to cuddle and wanting to knead. I think that she had juuust gotten used to living inside and big jerk brittany took her to the vet and scared the heck out of her lol. I probably should have waited a little bit to bring her but im also glad that I did it to make sure she was healthy. No she is not spayed. But otherwise, perfectly healthy little baby. She just seems very paranoid for some reason. 

brittany157 said:

. No she is not spayed.

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Certainly you will want to get her spayed asap. I know this will be stressful but I think it will be more for you!!! Momma's do worry and I am the same as you. Her being spayed will help to calm her down and relax her as her hormones dissipate. This could explain why she is skittish and so worried as well. Hormones. It will be better for her overall health as well and you won't have to worry about any spraying issues either.