Would you have called?

[Barbara]

Yeah but testing means killing the cat! I wouldn't have called and kept an eye on the cat. What you tell doesn't sound like rabies. (Sorry that does not sound like the highest moral but I know I wouldn't have called.)

[PJ's Mom]

The only test for rabies is to cut off the head of the animal. That's a little drastic for a girl who didn't have any visible bite marks, don't you think? Placing the cat under quarantine is also an option, but if the cat is suspected to be "vicious" then it would be put to sleep anyway.

[lv4dogs]

I would call no ifs ands or butts about it.

Sure it would be terrible for a cat to be euthanized if it was healthy and friendly but just what if it isn't? You've got a childs life in your hands.

BUT I would also offer to quarantine the cat for 10 days (you can do that instead of killing the cat to test for rabies).

But if I had a stray cat in my hands I wouldn't let it go again no matter what. I'd at least take foster it or take it to a shelter or vets.

[momcat]

Quite honestly, I don't know what I would have done. There are some excellent arguments here on both sides of the question. Did this guy go to any other houses on your street about this? I also have to wonder if he reported it to the cops or animal control, and did he take the kid to a doctor or an emergency room to have the alleged bite treated? And what if this kitty isn't the one that nipped at the kid?