Overdue shots . . . worried sick / need advice

lunaart

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
11
Purraise
27
Location
Topeka, KS
Hi, I'm new to this forum.  I did something really stupid last night.  I accidentally let my 11-yr old indoor only Siamese cat outside overnight.  It was probably around midnight when he got out and the neighbors found him on their porch sometime during the day.  I didn't notice he was missing until around 7pm, because he usually sleeps all day long.

He is an extremely shy cat around strangers and I am sure it was a horrible night for him. :(  Anyway, the worst part is he is overdue his shots by almost 3 months.  His last shots were on 3-23-2015.  I am worried that there is a slight possibility that he got exposed to rabies.  I checked him all over the best I could and I do not see or feel any bite marks of any kind.  He isn't missing any fur and doesn't seem to have any scratches anywhere, but of course there is always that slight possibility.  I want to take him to our vet tomorrow to get caught up on his shots, but I am terrified they are going to report him or something.  I have read that exposure to rabies might lead to a mandatory quarantine or even potentially being euthanized.

I am so upset and worried sick of what might happen to him.  I feel so guilty and depressed that I allowed this whole scenario to happen. :(  Can anyone give me any advice as to what to do?  Does this situation count as exposure to rabies?  Please help.
 

margd

Chula and Paul's roommate
Veteran
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
15,669
Purraise
7,838
Location
Maryland USA
Your kitty is probably fine.  The rabies virus is spread by saliva into an open wound, e.g. through a bite, and your kitty doesn't have any.  Also, even though the shots are three months overdue, there might be some residual immunity.  Really I don't think you have anything to worry about.  Certainly nothing at all suggests a quarantine is in order so relax!  Be happy you found your baby right away.  It sounds like he stayed close to home and out of trouble and will be none the worse for his big adventure.  Anyway, in terms of the vet reporting him, if you are really worried, just don't tell the vet he got out.  Given the lack of an open wound or sign of a fight with an infected animal, there is nothing wrong with staying quiet. 

Don't be so hard on yourself.  Cats have an uncanny way of getting out and you have really done nothing wrong here. 
  Just give that boy a big hug. 
 
Last edited:

Willowy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
31,886
Purraise
28,287
Location
South Dakota
Vaccines (including rabies) do not magically "expire" at any particular time :). Legally, yes, the vaccine is expired, but as far as it conferring immunity, in most cases all vaccines confer immunity for several years. So he's still protected against rabies.

But for legal reasons you should have his rabies vaccine updated anyway :D.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

lunaart

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
11
Purraise
27
Location
Topeka, KS
I wanted to thank both of you for your replies.  They have made me feel much better. :)

I tried to get my kitty in to see the vet as soon as possible, but unfortunately the first I could get him in is tomorrow.  It will make me feel even better once I know his shots are back up to date.  After this scare, every time anyone goes out the door and comes back in it is roll call time for the cats (I have a 2nd Siamese also) to make sure one didn't sneak out again.

I do wish I could confide in my vet about what happened.  My hope would be that she would also tell me not to worry and that there is no possibility of rabies.  I have bad anxiety issues and this event has really flared it back up.  But, I am too afraid of any consequences so I am going to keep quiet about it.
 

lilin

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 24, 2013
Messages
507
Purraise
213
Location
Minneapolis
Don't worry, LunaArt. Rabies is actually very rare in domestics. Rabies would probably be the very last thing I worried about if Pia got out.

As the others said, vaccines are usually good for considerably longer than their "expiration date." The vaccine schedule is formulated with overlap in protection. Often protection lasts as much as a couple years longer than it's advertised for. They know people won't be "perfect" and get the next vaccine on the very day the last one expired. That's just not realistic to expect of anyone over the course of decades. So the vaccines are made with that in mind.

And as others said, you would have found a nasty bite, and your cat would be pretty obviously unhappy.

There's no reason to be scared about it. :)
 

sparrow1

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 23, 2016
Messages
57
Purraise
4
Just be honest with the vet so they can make educated decisions about vaccines and/or treatment. They shouldn't report your cat unless it bit a human, especially since you are trying to update the shots.
 

margd

Chula and Paul's roommate
Veteran
Joined
Feb 24, 2015
Messages
15,669
Purraise
7,838
Location
Maryland USA
 
I wanted to thank both of you for your replies.  They have made me feel much better. :)

I tried to get my kitty in to see the vet as soon as possible, but unfortunately the first I could get him in is tomorrow.  It will make me feel even better once I know his shots are back up to date.  After this scare, every time anyone goes out the door and comes back in it is roll call time for the cats (I have a 2nd Siamese also) to make sure one didn't sneak out again.

I do wish I could confide in my vet about what happened.  My hope would be that she would also tell me not to worry and that there is no possibility of rabies.  I have bad anxiety issues and this event has really flared it back up.  But, I am too afraid of any consequences so I am going to keep quiet about it.
If you would feel better confiding in your vet, then definitely tell her.  I don't think you are obligated to do so, but it's important to feel you can trust your vet and that goes both ways. 
 
Top