Info on Rabies!!!

[ckhlilfarm]

This is not chicken reated but I didn't know anywhere else to ask. Yesterday(friday) morning my brother found my cat outside "playing" with a live bat. I do not know whether or not he was biten. My question is... how worried should I be about rabies? He had his rabies shot when he was younger but I can't remember how long the shot was for. He is now 2 years old. Should I take any kind of precautions with him? contain him? If so how long? I have many other animals, 3 dogs and livestock. Also a 1 1/2 old son. He is constantly playing with my dogs, biting and clawing them. They have all had their rabies shot except for a 3 month old puppy I have. Any information would really be appreciated. I will also be doing some researching on it, but I like hearing from other people, it makes me feel better

Thanks
Oh I live in Northern KY

 

[chickerdoodle]

The bat can be tested if you have it (or was it still alive and got away?). A bat that allow itself to be caught by a cat is not well and may have rabies. Rabies testing is usually not done on a live animal--they test the brain. If you're lucky they have a new test that isn't so dramatic. If your cat had its Rabies vaccine at 6 months or older its probably still protected but call your vet to be sure.

The normal quarantine time is 10 days for rabies so keeping the cat away from your son and others to be super careful is a good idea until you here from your vet.

Good luck!

 

[susanpattersonmom]

Yes, Do Contact the Vet and your local doctor or clinic. Keep the cat contained until you hear from the vet and find out from the doctor (people kind) if you have a problem with rabies in your area.

We frequently have rabid bats in our area and when we moved into our house, it was built in 1893, we plasterboarded over all the original wood in the upstairs bedrooms, cause the house had/has bats in the original attic and there were plenty of small holes in the wood. Even if you can't find a bite wound it is best to consider the animal bitten. Here if there is a bat in a bedroom they consider the person sleeping there bitten and will start on the anti-rabies drugs. This is scarey but it is just one of those things that moms gotta know.

 

[ckhlilfarm]

About a month ago we had a baby bat coming out of the siding of our house during the day, it couldn't get back in the siding good enough and I guess the sun beating down on it killed it(very hot day). I didn't think much about it then but now I am thinking that there might be a nest in our siding. I never seen the bat but I'm thinking it may have been one of the babies or one trying to get back in the siding. My cat is an EXTREMELY well trained hunter. He has snatched birds right out of the air. But anyways my brother got my cat back in the house. He went to kill the bat and it was already gone. I did some research and they was 1 report of a rabid bat since 2006 in Kenton County which is where I live. I really hate this... not knowing. My baby is so in love with his cat, they have grown up together. Out of all the animals we have he is closer to the Meroow(cat's name) then any of them I really really really hope that he is ok. Thanks so much

 

[RedStarDaddy]

My cats' rabies immunizations are good for the purpose of meeting legal requirements for three years. If I found either Mr. Cat or Pretty Kitty playing with a bat, though, I would definitely contact my vet and ask her if an early revaccination was justified.

RSD

 

[Brindlebtch]

Bag the bat and have it tested. You are going to have to assume the bat bit your cat.

 

[hinkjc]

Generally young cats receive a follow up to their kitten vaccines at one year old. After that, they can be moved to the 2 and 3 year rabies vaccine program. I would contact the vet. It sounds like she's due and with the recent concern, she probably needs to get on a rabies protocol to be safe. If you still have the bat, they may be able to test it. Be careful to cover your skin when touching it though.

 

[ckhlilfarm]

I do not have the bat. My brother was getting my cat in the house and it flew off.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Assume the bat bit your cat.

Call your vet and talk to him. Take the cat to the vet and get it a rabies booster.