Riddled with worry about rabies! For my sanity, please help me!?

M

Marc

New member
So this kitten showed up about 13 days ago, and it seemed clean, and had no wounds on it. I was playing with it and it licked my finger. I can't remember if I washed my hands before touching my mouth, nose or eyes, which is why I'm worried. I watched it closely for about 7 days, when the owner came by and said the cat had jumped out of her car window when she was leaving her friends house- our neighbors. We gave her the cat, who she found at the nearby Sonic restaurant, and about 3 days later, she came back and said her mom wouldn't let her keep it. She had given the cat a bath apparently, so no hydrophobia yet. It's been another 3 days and I've been watching the kitten like a hawk since. She hasn't acted any differently, and is still drinking water. We are taking her to get her rabies shot on Wednesday, so hopefully I can ask the vet some questions about it.

I'm just so exhausted with worrying and I CANNOT stop thinking about it for more than a short time...

I do have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and a little OCD. Reassurance anyone?
Sparky, you can't get rabies checked for in a blood test...
Thanks baymast13, that does make me feel better. I wish I could keep her inside, but my mom won't let me, because it goes against the lease on the house we rented. She doesn't stray too far from our lot, and I always leave the garage opened just enough for her to get in, and have food, water and a scratching post in there, lol!
 
I have anxiety too, so I understand, but stop worrying!!!! For one thing, rabies is extremely rare in cats. There is only a tiny chance that a cat could have it if it has been exposed to rabid animals like raccoons and bats, mainly if you live in a really rural area.

For another thing, it is almost impossible to get rabies without being bitten! I am almost 100% sure that you did not get rabies from being licked.

I got bitten by two feral kittens this summer while I was rescuing them, so I was a little bit worried about rabies too. I asked the LA animal control and the vet and they basically said, we can't legally tell you not to get a rabies shot, but the chances of them having rabies are very very low...I did not get rabies, even after getting bitten (twice).

Please don't worry, you will be fine! Just go ahead and get her that rabies shot so you don't have to worry in the future :)
 
You have absolutely nothing to worry about! Even if the cat had rabies, it would have to bite you in order for you to contract it. Licking your finger isn't going to do it. Obvious signs of rabies sets in within 10 days. If the cat were rabid, you would definitely know it by now.
BTW, cats having rabies is all but unheard of. About the only way they can ever contract rabies is to get attacked by rabid wildlife. Raccoons are known carriers, for one. However, if a cat were attacked by a raccoon, that would probably be the end of the cat, anyway.
Get your cat's annual shots, have her spayed, and keep her indoors. You will be doing what is in her best interest, and yours, too.
 
--EDIT--
Doctors can do a test called immunoflourescence which takes a piece of skin from your neck. They can also use spinal fluid or saliva. They can tell you pretty quick if you have rabies or not. If you do, you'll get a series of shots to keep you from going rabid.

The saliva from the infected animal must enter into a cut or open wound. You're okay unless you have a sore or some sort in your mouth or on your eye lol.

Sorry for the misinformation earlier.

also, if you start foaming at the mouth, it's probably a sign you have rabies.
 
--EDIT--
Doctors can do a test called immunoflourescence which takes a piece of skin from your neck. They can also use spinal fluid or saliva. They can tell you pretty quick if you have rabies or not. If you do, you'll get a series of shots to keep you from going rabid.

The saliva from the infected animal must enter into a cut or open wound. You're okay unless you have a sore or some sort in your mouth or on your eye lol.

Sorry for the misinformation earlier.

also, if you start foaming at the mouth, it's probably a sign you have rabies.
 
--EDIT--
Doctors can do a test called immunoflourescence which takes a piece of skin from your neck. They can also use spinal fluid or saliva. They can tell you pretty quick if you have rabies or not. If you do, you'll get a series of shots to keep you from going rabid.

The saliva from the infected animal must enter into a cut or open wound. You're okay unless you have a sore or some sort in your mouth or on your eye lol.

Sorry for the misinformation earlier.

also, if you start foaming at the mouth, it's probably a sign you have rabies.
 
--EDIT--
Doctors can do a test called immunoflourescence which takes a piece of skin from your neck. They can also use spinal fluid or saliva. They can tell you pretty quick if you have rabies or not. If you do, you'll get a series of shots to keep you from going rabid.

The saliva from the infected animal must enter into a cut or open wound. You're okay unless you have a sore or some sort in your mouth or on your eye lol.

Sorry for the misinformation earlier.

also, if you start foaming at the mouth, it's probably a sign you have rabies.
 
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