Rabies - How Long is an Animal Quarantined?

[ClarabelleCowFan]

DD brought home a cat today that she THINKS is our black cat that ran away about 4 months ago. DH and I don't think this is our cat because of his apperance (lack of white patches), his meow and demeanor.

Anyway, I was trying to put some water in the pet carrier and the cat's paw was stuck on the door. I went to gently move the foot and the cat attacked my arm.

I now have puncture wounds on my arm from the bite and several scratches.

I went to the Emergency clinic and they put me on Augmentin and had me fill out paperwork for the Health Dept. The Health Dept will supposedly quarantine the cat to check for rabies. Does anyone know HOW LONG the quarantine is?

The doctor isn't going to start the lovely foot long shots in the abdomen (I think he said 13 of them) until after the quarantine. Every thing I can find about rabies is that it is always fatal in animals and humans so WHY would they wait to start treatment until after the quarantine if it is this serious?

The cat was acting funny - catatonic (staring into space) while panting with his mouth open - but I didnt notice any other unusual behavior.

Anyone out there have any experience with this?

Thanks!

 

[ElizK]

I think it's 10 days, but not positive. A friend of mine had to quarantine a dog she was fostering that bit her son. This must be nerve-wracking for you. Hang in there!

 

[Feralpeg]

I don't know how long the incubation period is. But if the animal is showing symptoms, it won't be long before they know. They don't last long once symptoms show up.

However, it is very possible that the cat was just scared. If it was a stray, it may be afraid of people. Or, it could have something else wrong besides rabies.

By the way, they no longer give rabies shots in the stomach. They are just a series of shots in the arm. They are no more painful than any other shot. My best friend had them and it was no big deal.

I hope it turns out that the cat does not have rabies.

 

[RitaZ.]

The period is ten days. I don't know the protocol for cat bites, but I know that for dog bites, the closer the bite is to your head, the more dangerous it is (from a rabies standpoint). From what I was told by the Health Dept., a person is still within the safe period to get the rabies shots if the animal does have rabies, so it's ok to wait 10 days. By the way, the only way to determine if rabies is present is to wait until the animal dies, then take a brain tissue sample and test it.

Cat bites are more prone to infection than dog bites, I was told that about 98% become of them infected. My guess is that they don't want to subject you to the rabies shots unless absolutely necessary. BTW, I was told that rabies shots are now given in the arm, but it's still a series of shots.


Good luck and I hope you don't have to get the shots.

 

[lisajl]

10 days...

BTW, I'm glad you went to the ER, good job. So many people think they will be okay. Cats have so much bacteria in their mouths it's crazy!
When we get bit at work we immediately start scrubbing every up.

Good luck.
BTW, it may just have been acting that way due to being scared, new area for it, nervous. Just try to breath through these 10 days.


Lisa