Rabies fear.. picked up a cat on the road

[SusieQ]

Ugh. So I am an animal lover, I was driving home and saw a cat on the side of a busy road. I pulled over and picked it up.. she was panting from probably heat and exhaustion. She drooled on my arm that I looked over and didn't see any open wounds etc.. I took her home and put her in my garage. She was banged up good with scratches and cuts. I fed her and she ate and was doing well.. last Friday would have been her 10 day mark with us. I told myself I'll let the fear of her drooling and rabies go on Friday.. well Thursday morning I fed her breakfast and she's eating fine.. I leave the garage doors up to get some cross wind and later she was at my neighbor's rolling around in her grass lol. So I pick her up and take her back to my house . I thought I'd let her find a spot around my house.. well she left and I haven't seen her since I looked at my local shelters website and she hasn't been picked up.. I'm getting worried and idk if it's Bec my mind had that Fri as the day I'll stop worrying and I didn't reach that day.. what do y'all think?

 

[BallOfNerves]

Ugh. So I am an animal lover, I was driving home and saw a cat on the side of a busy road. I pulled over and picked it up.. she was panting from probably heat and exhaustion. She drooled on my arm that I looked over and didn't see any open wounds etc.. I took her home and put her in my garage. She was banged up good with scratches and cuts. I fed her and she ate and was doing well.. last Friday would have been her 10 day mark with us. I told myself I'll let the fear of her drooling and rabies go on Friday.. well Thursday morning I fed her breakfast and she's eating fine.. I leave the garage doors up to get some cross wind and later she was at my neighbor's rolling around in her grass lol. So I pick her up and take her back to my house . I thought I'd let her find a spot around my house.. well she left and I haven't seen her since I looked at my local shelters website and she hasn't been picked up.. I'm getting worried and idk if it's Bec my mind had that Fri as the day I'll stop worrying and I didn't reach that day.. what do y'all think?

I think you're fine. It's rare for cats,especially ones that let you pick them up and transport them, to have/carry rabies

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[SusieQ]

I think you're fine. It's rare for cats,especially ones that let you pick them up and transport them, to have/carry rabies

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Thank you!!! I needed that so bad tonight. Thanks for your help.

 

[BallOfNerves]

Thank you!!! I needed that so bad tonight. Thanks for your help.

You're welcome!

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[SusieQ]

Just a quick update. Just in case someone has the same fear etc.. I found the cat at my neighbor's house lol. She's skinny but alive!! So I'm bringing her back to my house to pamper her back to health.

 

[BallOfNerves]

Just a quick update. Just in case someone has the same fear etc.. I found the cat at my neighbor's house lol. She's skinny but alive!! So I'm bringing her back to my house to pamper her back to health.

Awesome

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[chiliphil1]

Glad to hear that it all worked out. I went through the same thing a few years back. A cat bit me and I went to the hospital because the bite was infected. The doctor, unnecessarily in my opinion, explained how rabies is 100% fatal and that I needed to capture the cat to make sure, blah, blah. Scared me to death!

So, I went through the treatments for rabies, horrible! The cat is still with me, probably lying on my front porch right now. If it wasn’t for that doctor bringing up the worst I wouldn’t have even thought about it.

One thing I did learn is that if the animal is not showing active signs of rabies it’s likely that they can’t transfer it. They have to be the classic “foaming at the mouth” to pass it on.

 

[BallOfNerves]

Glad to hear that it all worked out. I went through the same thing a few years back. A cat bit me and I went to the hospital because the bite was infected. The doctor, unnecessarily in my opinion, explained how rabies is 100% fatal and that I needed to capture the cat to make sure, blah, blah. Scared me to death!

So, I went through the treatments for rabies, horrible! The cat is still with me, probably lying on my front porch right now. If it wasn’t for that doctor bringing up the worst I wouldn’t have even thought about it.

One thing I did learn is that if the animal is not showing active signs of rabies it’s likely that they can’t transfer it. They have to be the classic “foaming at the mouth” to pass it on.

The foaming at the mouth to pass it is actually inaccurate. There are two types of rabies. One which makes them the typical foaming and aggressive and another that makes them lethargic. This is how many raccoons appear when in advanced rabid states.

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[chiliphil1]

The foaming at the mouth to pass it is actually inaccurate. There are two types of rabies. One which makes them the typical foaming and aggressive and another that makes them lethargic. This is how many raccoons appear when in advanced rabid states.

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Of course, it was just used figuratively. Thank you for the clarification.

 

[SusieQ]

I agree..I read too that the animal has to be showing signs.. aggression, foaming, lethargic, walking around drunk looking, etc...and could be one of those things. The cat I took in never did any of that but her scratches all over her scared me. Made me think she was attacked by a wild animal.

I'm sorry you went through all of that. That would have scared me too if a Dr told me that.
and you still have the cat!!!!! Lol sunbathing on your front porch.