Rabies

We will be sending up tons of purrs and prayers that everything works out
fine for you and the furbabies.

Lily & her mama

"Ginger-lyn Summer" wrote in message
.46...
If I wrote my autobiography, people would think it belonged in the
fiction section. Not all these things could *possibly* happen to one
person -- except for me.

Last Monday, I stepped out into the hall to find a group of the cats
surrounding something that looked to me like a weird double hair ball.
I looked closer; it wasn't a hairball, it was a bat. A very dead bat.

I grabbed a paper towel and put it in a grocery bag. Then I used the
paper towel again to put it in a zip-lock bag.

I called around, and my vet's office found the address and phone number
of the place they send questionable animals.

I called them. They gave me their courier's phone number, who told me
how to package the bat and send it to the lab.

The Health Department called yesterday.

The bat tested positive for rabies.

My cats are under "house arrest" (quarantined) for the next six months.
They must get a rabies vaccination in five months. They are allowing
Floyd to return home with his daddy, who is getting out of rehab on
Monday.

The Health Department guy is coming Monday to observe/check out my
cats.
I do not know what he will do or what he is looking for. There is a
lot I don't know or understand.

I talked to my vet, terrified I would not be able to get veterinary
care if one of them got sick in the next six months. She said I could
bring them in. But they've said they won't touch a cat without a
rabies shot, and I cannot get them rabies shots for five months. I am
terrified Internet will end up dying horribly painfully here, because I
could not take him to the vet to be euthanized, if that time comes in
the next six months. I also don't want him to have a rabies shot. He
is so weak, I am not sure the shot itself wouldn't kill him.

I am afraid for myself, too Even though the vet and the employee of
hte Health Department said that it wasn't likely I was exposed, they
didn't sound 100% sure. I did handle the bat without gloves or tongs
I don't know if I had any open cuts or bites on my hands at the time.
I usually have at least a scratch. I don't think I had anything, but I
can't remember for sure. I am trying to reach my doctor to ask
questions, and/or I may talk to a doctor at the Health Department.

I am scared I am just this side of having a nervous breakdown. If
anyone looks cross-eyed at me, I feel like I will turn into a little
pile of jelly.

Please, please, you wonderful, caring people: I need your purrs and
prayers badly that all my cats and myself will be okay.

Thank you so much.

Ginger-lyn
shattered



--
Irulan
from the stars we come
to the stars we return
from now until the end of time.

"Ginger-lyn Summer" wrote in message
.46...
If I wrote my autobiography, people would think it belonged in the
fiction section. Not all these things could *possibly* happen to one
person -- except for me.


Gruss Got girlfriend, it seems like nothing good happens to you and yours.
I don't have any experience with this sort of thing, other than working in a
bat infested building where the principal and staff went bat hunting with a
fishing net. You have my sympathy, well wishes and the owners are sending
purrs for all of you. Sometimes you have to take the day as it comes and
try not to jump into the "what if" ocean.

Pam S.

On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:42:24 +0000 (UTC), "Ginger-lyn Summer"
wrote:

If I wrote my autobiography, people would think it belonged in the
fiction section. Not all these things could *possibly* happen to one
person -- except for me.

Last Monday, I stepped out into the hall to find a group of the cats
surrounding something that looked to me like a weird double hair ball.
I looked closer; it wasn't a hairball, it was a bat. A very dead bat.

I grabbed a paper towel and put it in a grocery bag. Then I used the
paper towel again to put it in a zip-lock bag.

I called around, and my vet's office found the address and phone number
of the place they send questionable animals.

I called them. They gave me their courier's phone number, who told me
how to package the bat and send it to the lab.

The Health Department called yesterday.

The bat tested positive for rabies.

My cats are under "house arrest" (quarantined) for the next six months.
They must get a rabies vaccination in five months. They are allowing
Floyd to return home with his daddy, who is getting out of rehab on
Monday.

The Health Department guy is coming Monday to observe/check out my
cats.
I do not know what he will do or what he is looking for. There is a
lot I don't know or understand.

I talked to my vet, terrified I would not be able to get veterinary
care if one of them got sick in the next six months. She said I could
bring them in. But they've said they won't touch a cat without a
rabies shot, and I cannot get them rabies shots for five months. I am
terrified Internet will end up dying horribly painfully here, because I
could not take him to the vet to be euthanized, if that time comes in
the next six months. I also don't want him to have a rabies shot. He
is so weak, I am not sure the shot itself wouldn't kill him.

I am afraid for myself, too Even though the vet and the employee of
hte Health Department said that it wasn't likely I was exposed, they
didn't sound 100% sure. I did handle the bat without gloves or tongs
I don't know if I had any open cuts or bites on my hands at the time.
I usually have at least a scratch. I don't think I had anything, but I
can't remember for sure. I am trying to reach my doctor to ask
questions, and/or I may talk to a doctor at the Health Department.

I am scared I am just this side of having a nervous breakdown. If
anyone looks cross-eyed at me, I feel like I will turn into a little
pile of jelly.

Please, please, you wonderful, caring people: I need your purrs and
prayers badly that all my cats and myself will be okay.

Thank you so much.

Ginger-lyn
shattered

If this happened to me, I would be calling to find where to get the
human rabies vaccination.

Rabies in humans is always fatal, so I would not take any chances: get
the vaccination.

Sending purrs for you and your cats.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ ^..^

"Life without cats would be only marginally worth living."
-TC, and the unmercifully, relentlessly, sweet calico kitty, Kenzie.

Every day is a treasure with Kenzie; I try to treat them that way. There
will only be so many, and then there will never, ever, be any more.

How you behave towards cats here below determines your status in Heaven.
- Robert Heinlein

"Gandalf" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:42:24 +0000 (UTC), "Ginger-lyn Summer"
wrote:

If this happened to me, I would be calling to find where to get the
human rabies vaccination.

Rabies in humans is always fatal, so I would not take any chances: get
the vaccination.

Sending purrs for you and your cats.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ ^..^



I agree. At the very least, I would call my doctor ASAP and explain
everything in detail.

MaryL

"Ginger-lyn Summer" wrote:
The bat tested positive for rabies.

My cats are under "house arrest" (quarantined) for the next six months.
They must get a rabies vaccination in five months. They are allowing
Floyd to return home with his daddy, who is getting out of rehab on
Monday.

Purrs that the kitties are ok! I hope that you mean that they're due
for their vaccinations in five months - if that's the case, they're
probably ok. And the chances of you having gotten rabies is pretty
close to zero, so I hope you're not too worried about that.

On Aug 22, 8:42*pm, Sherry wrote:
On Aug 22, 10:00*pm, "Granby" wrote:

I never heard of such a thing. *I always thought Rabies showed up with in
two weeks, not six months. *You need to look this up further and call around
to a couple of vets. *Six months, that is crazy. *I am almost positive it
was 10 days to two weeks

I think it's crazy too, but the info. Gingerlyn got, I believe is
correct.
The way a suspected rabies exposure case is handled varies wildly
according to whether the cat is currently vaccinated, has an out-of-
date
vaccination, or is not vaccinated at all.
I don't know what the reason is, but they won't vaccinate a cat until
the fifth
month of a six-month quarantine.
The fortunate thing (if there is one) is that here, the animals would
be seized
for quarantine at the vet's, at the owner's expense. They won't let
you
quarantine them at home, here. I am so glad that's not the case for
Ginger-lyn.
Here are the AMA guidelines for rabies.http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/rabies_control.asp

Personally, unless the cats actually tangled with the bat and killed
it, I don't think
there's a great chance of real exposure. It's not that easy to catch
except through
direct saliva or blood contact.

Purrs aplenty. I am so sorry, Ginger-lyn.

Sherry

Yes, I agree with Sherry. I had my own (unfounded) rabies scare last
March and while 45 days would be the quarantine for a cat with a
recent rabies shot, unvaccinated cats need to be quarantined for 6
months. The literature on it is a little difficult to understand and
it's possible to misinterpret it as a 10-45 day quarantine period.

I certainly agree with the other poster that it would be good to know
how the bat died.

If I were you, I would get the shots for yourself so that at least you
don't have to worry about that. I don't know if they cover the cost,
though, but hopefully they do.

Candace

On Aug 23, 1:50*pm, (Gandalf) wrote:
On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:42:24 +0000 (UTC), "Ginger-lyn Summer"



wrote:
If I wrote my autobiography, people would think it belonged in the
fiction section. *Not all these things could *possibly* happen to one
person -- except for me.

Last Monday, I stepped out into the hall to find a group of the cats
surrounding something that looked to me like *a weird double hair ball.. *
I looked closer; it wasn't a hairball, it was a bat. *A very dead bat.

I grabbed a paper towel and put it in a grocery bag. *Then I used the
paper towel again to put it in a zip-lock bag.

I called around, and my vet's office found the address and phone number
of the place they send questionable animals.

I called them. *They gave me their courier's phone number, who told me
how to package the bat and send it to the lab.

The Health Department called yesterday.

The bat tested positive for rabies.

My cats are under "house arrest" (quarantined) for the next six months. *
They must get a rabies vaccination in five months. *They are allowing
Floyd to return home with his daddy, who is getting out of rehab on
Monday.

The Health Department guy is coming Monday to observe/check out my
cats.
I do not know what he will do or what he is looking for. *There is a
lot I don't know or understand.

I talked to my vet, terrified I would not *be able to get veterinary
care if one of them got sick in the next six months. *She said I could
bring them in. *But they've said they won't touch a cat without a
rabies shot, and I cannot get them rabies shots for five months. *I am
terrified Internet will end up dying horribly painfully here, because I
could not take him to the vet to be euthanized, if that time comes in
the next six months. *I also don't want him to have a rabies shot. *He
is so weak, I am not sure the shot itself wouldn't kill him.

I am afraid for myself, too *Even though the vet and the employee of
hte Health Department said that it wasn't likely I was exposed, they
didn't sound 100% sure. *I did handle the bat without gloves or tongs *
I don't know if I had any open cuts or bites on my hands at the time. *
I usually have at least a scratch. *I don't think I had anything, but I
can't remember for sure. *I am trying to reach my doctor to ask
questions, and/or I may talk to a doctor at the Health Department.

I am scared *I am just this side of having a nervous breakdown. *If
anyone looks cross-eyed at me, I feel like I will turn into a little
pile of jelly.

Please, please, you wonderful, caring people: *I need your purrs and
prayers badly that all my cats and myself will be okay.

Thank you so much.

Ginger-lyn
shattered

If this happened to me, I would be calling to find where to get the
human rabies vaccination.

Rabies in humans is always fatal, so I would not take any chances: get
the vaccination.

Sending purrs for you and your cats.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ *^..^

"Life without cats would be only marginally worth living."
-TC, and the unmercifully, relentlessly, sweet calico kitty, Kenzie.

Every day is a treasure with Kenzie; I try to treat them that way. There
will only be so many, and then there will never, ever, be any more.

How you behave towards cats here below determines your status in Heaven.
- Robert Heinlein

It's almost always fatal but there have been a few cases where people
survived. Not enough to make getting the shots not a priority but it
is slightly possible to survive rabies.

At my vet practice, all the employees have been vaccinated against
rabies at the vet's expense so I imagine they would see a sick animal
that is in quarantine for rabies. Maybe all vet practices do this?

We will be sending up tons of purrs and prayers that everything works out
fine for you and the furbabies.

Lily & her mama

And we would also like to send up tons of purrs and prayers for a good
outcome too.
Everybody has been so supportive of you and that is a blessing.
Luffs.
Kyla, Mosey, Pookie, Pipps and Sqweex


"Ginger-lyn Summer"
If I wrote my autobiography, people would think it belonged in the
fiction section. Not all these things could *possibly* happen to one
person -- except for me.

Last Monday, I stepped out into the hall to find a group of the cats
surrounding something that looked to me like a weird double hair ball.
I looked closer; it wasn't a hairball, it was a bat. A very dead bat.

I grabbed a paper towel and put it in a grocery bag. Then I used the
paper towel again to put it in a zip-lock bag.

I called around, and my vet's office found the address and phone number
of the place they send questionable animals.

I called them. They gave me their courier's phone number, who told me
how to package the bat and send it to the lab.

The Health Department called yesterday.

The bat tested positive for rabies.

My cats are under "house arrest" (quarantined) for the next six months.
They must get a rabies vaccination in five months. They are allowing
Floyd to return home with his daddy, who is getting out of rehab on
Monday.

The Health Department guy is coming Monday to observe/check out my
cats.
I do not know what he will do or what he is looking for. There is a
lot I don't know or understand.

I talked to my vet, terrified I would not be able to get veterinary
care if one of them got sick in the next six months. She said I could
bring them in. But they've said they won't touch a cat without a
rabies shot, and I cannot get them rabies shots for five months. I am
terrified Internet will end up dying horribly painfully here, because I
could not take him to the vet to be euthanized, if that time comes in
the next six months. I also don't want him to have a rabies shot. He
is so weak, I am not sure the shot itself wouldn't kill him.

I am afraid for myself, too Even though the vet and the employee of
hte Health Department said that it wasn't likely I was exposed, they
didn't sound 100% sure. I did handle the bat without gloves or tongs
I don't know if I had any open cuts or bites on my hands at the time.
I usually have at least a scratch. I don't think I had anything, but I
can't remember for sure. I am trying to reach my doctor to ask
questions, and/or I may talk to a doctor at the Health Department.

I am scared I am just this side of having a nervous breakdown. If
anyone looks cross-eyed at me, I feel like I will turn into a little
pile of jelly.

Please, please, you wonderful, caring people: I need your purrs and
prayers badly that all my cats and myself will be okay.

Thank you so much.

Ginger-lyn
shattered



--
Irulan
from the stars we come
to the stars we return
from now until the end of time.

"MaryL"

"Gandalf"
On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:42:24 +0000 (UTC), "Ginger-lyn Summer"

If this happened to me, I would be calling to find where to get the
human rabies vaccination.

Rabies in humans is always fatal, so I would not take any chances: get
the vaccination.

Sending purrs for you and your cats.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ ^..^



I agree. At the very least, I would call my doctor ASAP and explain
everything in detail.

MaryL

I also totally agree, and please have some tea to calm your poor nerves.
You've had so many bad things happen. One of these days,
everything will work out as it should.
Purrs lovingly sent to you and your kitties, and keep us posted.

Kyla

I will pray for all of you, Lee
"Ginger-lyn Summer" wrote in message
.46...
If I wrote my autobiography, people would think it belonged in the
fiction section. Not all these things could *possibly* happen to one
person -- except for me.

Last Monday, I stepped out into the hall to find a group of the cats
surrounding something that looked to me like a weird double hair ball.
I looked closer; it wasn't a hairball, it was a bat. A very dead bat.

I grabbed a paper towel and put it in a grocery bag. Then I used the
paper towel again to put it in a zip-lock bag.

I called around, and my vet's office found the address and phone number
of the place they send questionable animals.

I called them. They gave me their courier's phone number, who told me
how to package the bat and send it to the lab.

The Health Department called yesterday.

The bat tested positive for rabies.

My cats are under "house arrest" (quarantined) for the next six months.
They must get a rabies vaccination in five months. They are allowing
Floyd to return home with his daddy, who is getting out of rehab on
Monday.

The Health Department guy is coming Monday to observe/check out my
cats.
I do not know what he will do or what he is looking for. There is a
lot I don't know or understand.

I talked to my vet, terrified I would not be able to get veterinary
care if one of them got sick in the next six months. She said I could
bring them in. But they've said they won't touch a cat without a
rabies shot, and I cannot get them rabies shots for five months. I am
terrified Internet will end up dying horribly painfully here, because I
could not take him to the vet to be euthanized, if that time comes in
the next six months. I also don't want him to have a rabies shot. He
is so weak, I am not sure the shot itself wouldn't kill him.

I am afraid for myself, too Even though the vet and the employee of
hte Health Department said that it wasn't likely I was exposed, they
didn't sound 100% sure. I did handle the bat without gloves or tongs
I don't know if I had any open cuts or bites on my hands at the time.
I usually have at least a scratch. I don't think I had anything, but I
can't remember for sure. I am trying to reach my doctor to ask
questions, and/or I may talk to a doctor at the Health Department.

I am scared I am just this side of having a nervous breakdown. If
anyone looks cross-eyed at me, I feel like I will turn into a little
pile of jelly.

Please, please, you wonderful, caring people: I need your purrs and
prayers badly that all my cats and myself will be okay.

Thank you so much.

Ginger-lyn
shattered