PLEASE PRAY FOR ME: Cat Bite & Rabies Shots!

[kimlovescats]

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.

They have to hold him for 3 days to see if an owner shows up. Then after that they have to send the tissue off to a lab for testing. I couldn't afford to waste time ... just in case. Some people don't realize that when a human gets rabies it is a 100% DEATH sentence!!! Don't mess around with bites!

Thank you, each of you for your support. I think the worst is over, just keeping a watchful eye on my hand for signs of the infection spreading. It's still painful and it hurts to type. I'll post an update tomorrow.

Kim

[Catty1]

Oh Kim - I hope you heal soon and am glad the vet techs are going to help your bottle babies!

I DO feel bad for the kitty...he MAY be dangerous, but if he is a stray, he could be sick or injured and had a "pang" just as you were reaching to pat him and ZOW!

I guess when they say they send tissue away...the kitty isn't alive any more....?

Big prayers for you and that kitty!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Kim, I'm so sorry to hear that this has happened. I'm glad that you're starting to feel better and I hope you make a speedy recovery.

[smokey the elder]

If they do catch the cat and find out it didn't have rabies then you can probably stop taking the shots. That's scary stuff, but I'm glad the shots weren't as bad as they used to be. I hope your bites heal nicely without giving you any trouble.

[catnapper]

Oh Kim, I just read this -- so sorry that you're going through this. I'm going to send you a Pm so please check your inbox

[CathyBogart]

I guess when they say they send tissue away...the kitty isn't alive any more....?

It's the brain that gets sent in.

[Moesha]

Oh dear! I'm sorry and glad to just be reading this now. Sorry that you are going through it and glad that I didn't see it sooner or I might be bottle feeding some kittens! LOL

How are the other crew of kitties doing?
I hope you come through this ordeal without problems.

[cassiesmom]

Thinking of you today, Kim!
Prayers said!
Hugs... Elyse

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Hope you are feeling better today Kim.

Regarding the cat who "got" you - surely if he is ill then it is far better for him to have been trapped and treated or PTS if necessary than live a long and torturous life in the wild?

[Catty1]

But Denise - if no one claims him in three days, he is PTS and THEN the tissue is tested for rabies. NO diagnosis, no treatment.

[critters]

Some people don't realize that when a human gets rabies it is a 100% DEATH sentence!!!

Luckily, that's not true, although it's a tough row to hoe. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5350a1.htm

Don't forget soaks, with or without salt. I've always found that nuking water until it's almost "too hot," then soaking the part until the water doesn't feel warm anymore, and repeated as often as you can, to make a huge difference. If you're not squeamish, you can drain pus that way; regardless, it seems to ease the terrible swollen feel that I find so uncomfortable.

Good luck!

[kimlovescats]

Luckily, that's not true, although it's a tough row to hoe. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5350a1.htm

Don't forget soaks, with or without salt. I've always found that nuking water until it's almost "too hot," then soaking the part until the water doesn't feel warm anymore, and repeated as often as you can, to make a huge difference. If you're not squeamish, you can drain pus that way; regardless, it seems to ease the terrible swollen feel that I find so uncomfortable.

Good luck!

Here is an excerpt from that link:

This case represents the sixth known occurrence of human recovery after rabies infection; however, the case is unique because the patient received no rabies prophylaxis either before or after illness onset. Historically, the mortality rate among previously unvaccinated rabies patients has been 100% (2). The five previous patients who survived were either previously vaccinated (3) or received some form of PEP before the onset of illness (4--7). As in this case, viral antigen was not detected nor was virus isolated from those patients; increased antibody titers detected in serum and CSF (inconsistent with vaccination alone) confirmed the diagnosis of clinical rabies. Only one of the five patients recovered without neurologic sequelae (4). No specific course of treatment for rabies in humans has been demonstrated to be effective, but a combination of treatments, which might include rabies vaccine, rabies immune globulin, monoclonal antibodies, ribavirin, interferon-alpha, or ketamine, has been proposed

Ok, so maybe 99.9999%.

[orangemm]

(((hugs)))) Kim, I'm so sorry this happened to you and sorrier that you are suffering just because you did a good thing.

Please take good care of yourself; we're all praying for you..........

[caseysmom]

Kim, I was thinking the same thing about that article, pretty horrible odds! Not to mention she lived but they don't know what type of brain damage she will have and how much she will recover. Definetely not something to be taken likely. You are doing the right thing getting the shots for sure.