PLEASE PRAY FOR ME: Cat Bite & Rabies Shots!

[lvpets2002]

Oh no no Kim.. I am so so sorry about this.. Hey how are you?? I know your scared to death.. Sending many Prayers & Good Wishes..

[catmandu]

I HAD TO GO INTO EMERGENCY LAST YEAR AS POUNCER KARINA BIT MEON THE ELBOW AS I DRAGGED HER INTO THE HOUSE.
IT SWELLED UP ,AND WAS RED BUT AFTER TWO NEEDLES IT WENT DOWN, AND NOW ITS FINE AFTER ANTI BIOTICS AND THERAPY.
I HOPE THAT YOU CAN CATCH THIS CAT THE WAY WE DID POUNCER KARINA, AND FIND THAT HES NOT RABID, AND FIND HIM A GOOD FURREVER HOME TOO.

[jazzcat]

Oh Kim, I'm so sorry.

Okay, I just typed up this long thing about how I would wait to catch the cat and call the county health dept. first and ask about any reported rabies cases but then I googled rabies report TN and found this. I know Kingsport is a long way from you but still...
http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9006617

[moosmom]

Kim,

I got bit by a pregnant stray in Michigan (Remember that Ramanth??). It was a NASTY bite, down to the bone of my right pinky finger. I held it in hydrogen peroxide and put some antibiotic ointment on it and a bandaid. 24 hours later I had a red line going up my arm. Off to the ER. They wanted to do rabies shots and I said no. I told them it was a provoked attack (which is was, a stupid one on my part). They ended up giving me Augmentin, 10 tabs for 10 days at $10 a piece (no medical benefits). That did the trick.

I was in your shoes and my advice would be to take the Augmentin (if that is what the doctor prescribed) or whatever he gave you and forgo the rabies shots. But that is only MY opinion.

I'm so sorry for your pain, girl. It's one of the drawbacks rescue.

[kimlovescats]

Thank you for those who have responded in a supportive way. I just got home from the ER and getting 4 rabies shots. They didn't hurt at all but I was scared to death until that needle went in. The ER doctor was wonderful and told me to watch my hand very closely. They marked the level of swelling and redness on my arm with a pen so I can see if it goes further or reduces. If it spreads at all, I am to come right back to the ER. This is extra important since I am diabetic.

Time was the key here. By the time the cat could potentially have been caught, quarantined, euthanized, tested and the results back in ... I would have missed the safest "window" of time for starting my shots. So far, I feel fine ... just tired from the whole 24 hour ordeal and upset about the fate of this kitty who I only had hoped to help out. I will have to get shots on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 ... but only one shot each time.

Anyway, 2 of my vet's techs offered to take my bottle babies! I was grateful and relieved. After we got back home from the ER we took the kittens to the vet office. Then we we got back home again, the cat was IN THE TRAP! An animal control officer came out right away and took him away. The poor kitty was going nuts in the trap. I felt just awful and came inside and bawled my eyes out. Anyone on PT who thinks this didn't affect me has NO IDEA!

Kim

[Taz_Zoee]

Oh Kim, I got LES hearing about the poor cat. If anything, this is the HARDEST on you. And I would hope everyone here would understand that. We all see how much you help all the animals in your area (as I stated before). Sometimes things are basically out of your control. I know if there was anything you could do for that kitty you would have done it. But your health must come first or other kitties will not receive your loving care.

Hugs to you Kim! I hope you are feeling better real soon.

[caseysmom]

Can they test the kitty so you won't have to have more shots? I am so sorry you are going through this and I agree that does not sound like a safe kitty to be roaming your neighborhood, dangerous cats should be euthanized just like dangerous dogs.

[carole]

Oh Kim i am so sorry to hear this news, i hope by now you are feeling better and there are no nasty side effects, we are lucky in NZ we don't have rabies, but i sure have read a bit about it.

I can well understand how you felt about the kitty, i had to do a similar thing some years back, but it helped that the kitty was seriously ill, but it still made me feel so bad, i really feel for you and just know you cannot save all the kitties in the world, you certainly have done your bit my dear where that is concerned, Giant hugs to you and wishing you well again.

[Freedom]

Hey Kim, I'd never even given a thought to the bottle babies you have there! So glad something developed so they get the care they need.

Hope you are feeling better. And the hand stops swelling and starts healing.

If the cat is neutered, then it likely had a rabies shot at that time. No responsible vet fixes a cat or dog without giving a rabies shot.

I hope the owner shows up and clears all this up and the news is super all around.

As I've been bitten by my own cats, on 2 different occasions, after owning them for years, I guess I just don't get all worked up with getting bit by the ferals who may have some illness, the way perhaps I should.

[luvofallhorses]

I'm sorry, Kim. I hope you feel better soon. perhaps he was a feral kitty if he bit you bad. I don't think a stray that was someone's house cat would, but you never know.. feel better soon!