Curious about rabies

[Purplecat]

Hi,
I was thinking about this last night. Yesterday I found and caught a
stray/feral kitten, which managed to give me a bite (mistaking my thumb for
food rather than out of fear/aggression!) This is not the first time I've
been bitten by a feral. Fortunately in Australia we don't have rabies, so
I've never been too worried about handling stray/feral animals. How does
rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if
you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average
animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals?

Just wondering...

Thanks,
Purplecat

[Cheryl]

Purplecat wrote:

> How does rabies impact on handling unknown
> domestic animals in US? What happens if you get bitten by an animal
> you don't know? Does this affect the average animal lover's ability
> to catch/handle stray animals?
>
> Just wondering...
>
> Thanks,
> Purplecat

If I have to handle a feral cat I wear gloves. Thick ones. I've been
bitten by foster cats and kittens I've rescued; serious bites. The
foster cat who bit me the worst I've ever been bitten was quarantined
in my home and I just watched her, the bite site, and would have taken
action if it was needed. The cat would have been quarantined any
ways, 2 weeks here. In my state they will allow quarantine in my
home. Any strays that I've trapped for neuter I don't get close
enough to them to get bitten. It's trap, trip to the clinic in the
trap, release to my house in the bathroom still in the trap overnight
(or in their own familiar environment) and release. The ones I feed
haven't been aggressive enough after neutering to worry about a bite
but I get them rabies shots and other shots and vetting when they are
neutered.

--
Cheryl

[Cheryl]

Purplecat wrote:

> How does rabies impact on handling unknown
> domestic animals in US? What happens if you get bitten by an animal
> you don't know? Does this affect the average animal lover's ability
> to catch/handle stray animals?
>
> Just wondering...
>
> Thanks,
> Purplecat

If I have to handle a feral cat I wear gloves. Thick ones. I've been
bitten by foster cats and kittens I've rescued; serious bites. The
foster cat who bit me the worst I've ever been bitten was quarantined
in my home and I just watched her, the bite site, and would have taken
action if it was needed. The cat would have been quarantined any
ways, 2 weeks here. In my state they will allow quarantine in my
home. Any strays that I've trapped for neuter I don't get close
enough to them to get bitten. It's trap, trip to the clinic in the
trap, release to my house in the bathroom still in the trap overnight
(or in their own familiar environment) and release. The ones I feed
haven't been aggressive enough after neutering to worry about a bite
but I get them rabies shots and other shots and vetting when they are
neutered.

--
Cheryl

[Karen Chuplis]

in article , Purplecat at
wrote on 7/6/03 8:43 PM:

> Hi,
> I was thinking about this last night. Yesterday I found and caught a
> stray/feral kitten, which managed to give me a bite (mistaking my thumb for
> food rather than out of fear/aggression!) This is not the first time I've
> been bitten by a feral. Fortunately in Australia we don't have rabies, so
> I've never been too worried about handling stray/feral animals. How does
> rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if
> you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average
> animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals?
>
> Just wondering...
>
> Thanks,
> Purplecat
>
>
>
Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

[Karen Chuplis]

in article , Purplecat at
wrote on 7/6/03 8:43 PM:

> Hi,
> I was thinking about this last night. Yesterday I found and caught a
> stray/feral kitten, which managed to give me a bite (mistaking my thumb for
> food rather than out of fear/aggression!) This is not the first time I've
> been bitten by a feral. Fortunately in Australia we don't have rabies, so
> I've never been too worried about handling stray/feral animals. How does
> rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US? What happens if
> you get bitten by an animal you don't know? Does this affect the average
> animal lover's ability to catch/handle stray animals?
>
> Just wondering...
>
> Thanks,
> Purplecat
>
>
>
Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.

Karen

[Purplecat]

So basically it is an issue to be taken seriously when handling these
animals...
I've always taken for granted that I can catch/handle strays or feral
kittens (and wounded wildlife) with relative safety, which means I've been
able to rescue a few "on the spot" without any gloves or cages - fortunate
for them because I would not have always been able to go back for them
easily another time. Something I guess is not so easy for you guys. Wow.

Purplecat

"Karen Chuplis" > wrote in message at
> >
> >
> >
> Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
> person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
> Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.
>
> Karen
>

[Purplecat]

So basically it is an issue to be taken seriously when handling these
animals...
I've always taken for granted that I can catch/handle strays or feral
kittens (and wounded wildlife) with relative safety, which means I've been
able to rescue a few "on the spot" without any gloves or cages - fortunate
for them because I would not have always been able to go back for them
easily another time. Something I guess is not so easy for you guys. Wow.

Purplecat

"Karen Chuplis" > wrote in message at
> >
> >
> >
> Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
> person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
> Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.
>
> Karen
>

[Sherry]

>Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
>person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
>Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.
>
>Karen
>
IIRC, if there's no reason to suspect an animal has rabies, the person bitten
doesn't start the rabies series. Not unless the animal can't be located for
testing or quarantine. The series isn't without risk itself, and they don't
routinely vaccinate people just because they're bitten. Wild/stray animals are
automatically euthanized and tested, but owned/vaccinated animals are
quarantined. I think they laws vary from state to state though.

Sherry

[Sherry]

>Usually if the animal has no reason to be suspected of having rabies, the
>person can undergo rabies shots (expensive!!!) and the animal quarantined.
>Otherwise the animal will be destroyed and the head sent off for testing.
>
>Karen
>
IIRC, if there's no reason to suspect an animal has rabies, the person bitten
doesn't start the rabies series. Not unless the animal can't be located for
testing or quarantine. The series isn't without risk itself, and they don't
routinely vaccinate people just because they're bitten. Wild/stray animals are
automatically euthanized and tested, but owned/vaccinated animals are
quarantined. I think they laws vary from state to state though.

Sherry

[Purplecat]

"Sherry " > wrote in message
...
> >How does
> >rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US?
>
> There's a pre-exposure vaccine that high-risk people take; like vets,
> taxidermists, animal control officers, etc. Really, I don't get too
freaked out

Ah, that makes a big difference. I was wondering how people in high risk
categories approached the problem.

Thanks,
Purplecat

[Purplecat]

"Sherry " > wrote in message
...
> >How does
> >rabies impact on handling unknown domestic animals in US?
>
> There's a pre-exposure vaccine that high-risk people take; like vets,
> taxidermists, animal control officers, etc. Really, I don't get too
freaked out

Ah, that makes a big difference. I was wondering how people in high risk
categories approached the problem.

Thanks,
Purplecat

[Purplecat]

"Laura R." > wrote in message
.net...
> circa Mon, 7 Jul 2003 13:27:50 +1000, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav,
> Purplecat ) said,
> > So basically it is an issue to be taken seriously when handling these
> > animals...
> > I've always taken for granted that I can catch/handle strays or feral
> > kittens (and wounded wildlife) with relative safety, which means I've
been
> > able to rescue a few "on the spot" without any gloves or cages -
fortunate
> > for them because I would not have always been able to go back for them
> > easily another time. Something I guess is not so easy for you guys. Wow.
> >
> >
> Nor for you- see my other response. With that said, I'd probably do
> the same thing you have, but I'm a dumb softheart like that. ;-)

Well yes, it was definitely a dumb softheart action.
But I'm pretty cluey about the risks of handling animals and the risks of
physical injury,
and I try not to do anything too stupid (dumb softheart nature aside). I've
never
been seriously bitten or injured, which I put down to caution rather than
luck, but
at least I know that in the case I do get a nip (as I did with this kitten)
rabies is one
thing that I just don't have to think about.

Note: Not to downplay the risks - your tendon infection story sounds truly
horrific and is a reminder to everyone that the risks of serious
complications, while relatively rare, are very very real. My friend's boss
nearly lost her arm to a cat scratch...

Purplecat

[Purplecat]

"Laura R." > wrote in message
.net...
> circa Mon, 7 Jul 2003 13:27:50 +1000, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav,
> Purplecat ) said,
> > So basically it is an issue to be taken seriously when handling these
> > animals...
> > I've always taken for granted that I can catch/handle strays or feral
> > kittens (and wounded wildlife) with relative safety, which means I've
been
> > able to rescue a few "on the spot" without any gloves or cages -
fortunate
> > for them because I would not have always been able to go back for them
> > easily another time. Something I guess is not so easy for you guys. Wow.
> >
> >
> Nor for you- see my other response. With that said, I'd probably do
> the same thing you have, but I'm a dumb softheart like that. ;-)

Well yes, it was definitely a dumb softheart action.
But I'm pretty cluey about the risks of handling animals and the risks of
physical injury,
and I try not to do anything too stupid (dumb softheart nature aside). I've
never
been seriously bitten or injured, which I put down to caution rather than
luck, but
at least I know that in the case I do get a nip (as I did with this kitten)
rabies is one
thing that I just don't have to think about.

Note: Not to downplay the risks - your tendon infection story sounds truly
horrific and is a reminder to everyone that the risks of serious
complications, while relatively rare, are very very real. My friend's boss
nearly lost her arm to a cat scratch...

Purplecat