Any Rabies experts out there?

[Tracy Savage]

Some cats have made my barn their home this winter. I have been putting water in there for them- My question is this - I went to put fresh water in the bowl and in doing so the old water splashed in my face and eye. I don't know these cats so I was wondering that if say they have the virus, could it live in the water?

 

[ducklite]

Rabies Compendium from the CDC

Anne

 

[ducklite]

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/ques&ans/q&a_transplants_general.htm#circumstances

Still looking for this exact situation for you.

Anne

 

[lisajl]

I suggest you call your local health dept and get the answers.
I think the chances are pretty slim. In the last 6 years I have worked at an animal clinic and have not seen 1 case of rabies.

Good luck.

Lisa

 

[pumba]

if they are feral cats.....which means wild cats.........you could call the animal control officiers and they could put in the have a heart safe traps and bring them to the spca .......that is what we had to do one year around the city......to many people leaving their cats and not caring for them.......they become wild and live off garbage and nice people who feed them and water them.........call the animal control and that would be the kind thing to do

 

[Tracy Savage]

I looked up stuff on the internet and we all know how scary that can be!! I am really good at putting myself into a panic! Thanks for your help.

 

[ducklite]

From http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/bio/anima/disemala/rabrage.shtml

does not survive long outside host unless in a cool dark area (7)

Here's another source of info:

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/msds-ftss/msds124e.html

Anne

 

[ducklite]

IMHO, unless the cats are showing symptoms of rabies, and/or you had direct contact with one of them that caused a bite, you should be fine.

I would call your county health department to be sure. A lot will also depend on vectors and epidemiology in your area.

Anne

 

[themarquis]

please put this out of your mind and continue to care for the cats.

rabies in domestic animals in the US is very very rare. I am not aware of it being possible to transmit it through a minute amount of saliva in a water dish. Being bitten is obviously the best way to get it, and the most common. Very rarely, people can get it when they have an open wound of some sort that gets contaminated with a bunch of saliva.

There isn't any reason to sit around and worry about this!

 

[Tracy Savage]

if they are feral cats.....which means wild cats.........you could call the animal control officiers and they could put in the have a heart safe traps and bring them to the spca .......that is what we had to do one year around the city......to many people leaving their cats and not caring for them.......they become wild and live off garbage and nice people who feed them and water them.........call the animal control and that would be the kind thing to do

Yes, I am one of those nice people!! The cats are wild and I keep my distance. I have called repeatedly to have them taken care of. I don't mind them being there, I would just like them trapped, fixed and vaccinated. All the countys surrounding us will come and do it for a reasonable fee but not my county. No local vets will do it either. I am afraid to trap them myself. I don't think I want to drive 40 miles with a wild cat in my back seat!

 

[DawnCt1]

if they are feral cats.....which means wild cats.........you could call the animal control officiers and they could put in the have a heart safe traps and bring them to the spca .......that is what we had to do one year around the city......to many people leaving their cats and not caring for them.......they become wild and live off garbage and nice people who feed them and water them.........call the animal control and that would be the kind thing to do

The cats brought to the SPCA are euthanized within 24 hours. My cousin lives in Ct. half of the year. She lives in Fla. the other half of the year. She doesn't particularly like cats but some took up residence under her deck in Ct. She hired someone to capture them, vaccinate them and she hired someone to put food out all winter while she is gone. She also built a "cat house" and insulated it under her deck and "her cats" have survived several Ct. winters. So I believe what my cousin does is the kind thing as opposed to the SPCA who will kill them.

 

[DawnCt1]

please put this out of your mind and continue to care for the cats.

rabies in domestic animals in the US is very very rare. I am not aware of it being possible to transmit it through a minute amount of saliva in a water dish. Being bitten is obviously the best way to get it, and the most common. Very rarely, people can get it when they have an open wound of some sort that gets contaminated with a bunch of saliva.

There isn't any reason to sit around and worry about this!

I would also think that a cat who was infected would show signs and symptoms of rabies as well. I would continue to be kind.

 

[Tracy Savage]

Oh I will, I can't let any animal suffer. That's how I get myself in these predicaments!

 

[ilovejack02]

Yes, I am one of those nice people!! The cats are wild and I keep my distance. I have called repeatedly to have them taken care of. I don't mind them being there, I would just like them trapped, fixed and vaccinated. All the countys surrounding us will come and do it for a reasonable fee but not my county. No local vets will do it either. I am afraid to trap them myself. I don't think I want to drive 40 miles with a wild cat in my back seat!

That is such a shame that your area doesnt have that. We had a large feral cat issue here in B.R. for a long time, a group came in and caught hundreds of them and fixed them, vaccinated them and then the ones that could be rehabilitated were and the rest were given away to folks with barns that needed barn cats. It has cut down the cat population around LSU and our downtown area tremendously. One area of town literally had kittens everywhere and you dont see that anymore thank God. From 1 pair of cats breeding in seven yrs there can be something 200,000 babies after the original offspring breed and so on and so on.

 

[Abbie]

The cats brought to the SPCA are euthanized within 24 hours. My cousin lives in Ct. half of the year. She lives in Fla. the other half of the year. She doesn't particularly like cats but some took up residence under her deck in Ct. She hired someone to capture them, vaccinate them and she hired someone to put food out all winter while she is gone. She also built a "cat house" and insulated it under her deck and "her cats" have survived several Ct. winters. So I believe what my cousin does is the kind thing as opposed to the SPCA who will kill them.

Your cousin is very kind but unless she also had them neutered/spayed she is contributing to the problem of stray/feral cats. Most don't live under the conditions your cousin provided and live very sad and short lives.

 

[Tracy Savage]

That is such a shame that your area doesnt have that. We had a large feral cat issue here in B.R. for a long time, a group came in and caught hundreds of them and fixed them, vaccinated them and then the ones that could be rehabilitated were and the rest were given away to folks with barns that needed barn cats. It has cut down the cat population around LSU and our downtown area tremendously. One area of town literally had kittens everywhere and you dont see that anymore thank God. From 1 pair of cats breeding in seven yrs there can be something 200,000 babies after the original offspring breed and so on and so on.

I know. When we bought our house the woman that lived here said she at one time had 40 outside cats!! When she left she left them too. So these are the leftovers. I have caught 4 when they were young and not mean yet and they stay IN THE HOUSE! We live afew houses down from the main vet in town and I asked him about the cats and he said " Yeah they are by my house too" Then changed the subject!!

 

[lisajl]

What area are you in? Check out this site.

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html#oh

I am trying to find another organization that just started. They come to your area and spay/neuter the pets.

I know they are based in Dublin, don't know how far they travel.

Lisa

 

[Tracy Savage]

What area are you in? Check out this site.

http://www.alleycat.org/orgs.html#oh

I am trying to find another organization that just started. They come to your area and spay/neuter the pets.

I know they are based in Dublin, don't know how far they travel.

Lisa

Thanks! I have contacted some people on the list. I have 6 babies that I am working with a group to have adopted. I live in Lake county (Madison) and I guess some of these groups are funded by the counties they are in and they can't take cats that are out side of their county. I'll keep calling! There seems to be some good hearted "underground" volunteers that help too!

 

[lisajl]

Thanks! I have contacted some people on the list. I have 6 babies that I am working with a group to have adopted. I live in Lake county (Madison) and I guess some of these groups are funded by the counties they are in and they can't take cats that are out side of their county. I'll keep calling! There seems to be some good hearted "underground" volunteers that help too!

Well, I just want to say thank you for trying to take care of thoses babies.
I know it's a lot of work and money, but thank you!
Lisa

 

[DawnCt1]

Your cousin is very kind but unless she also had them neutered/spayed she is contributing to the problem of stray/feral cats. Most don't live under the conditions your cousin provided and live very sad and short lives.

She has neutered the ones that she has captured.