Am I at risk of rabies?

Question

So, last sunday, me and my friend went out to an arcade, when we were leaving, we came across a stray kitten, or actually, a stray kitten came across to us, feeling sad, we took it and drove it to my neighborhood, while in the car I turned on my phones flashlight in an attempt to examine the cat, who was very calm, curious, and friendly. We noticed the cat had wounds on it's leg and end of tail, but they looked as if they were healing up, patches of fur missing with the skin exposed and the pink dry scar tissue of where the wound was. Keep in mind that me and my friend NEVER directly touched the wounds, nor did the cat lick/bite us in anyway. But as I took out my house keys (i like to prepare them before I go up to my house door) obviously the cat started to play with the strap the keys were on. Biting and pawing at the strap as it flung around. In the scramble to free my key strap, I accidentally got scratched by a single claw. However, it wasn't a deep scratch. I would barely of called it a scratch. It was so light, all it simply did was create a nearly transparent line on the back of my thumb. No skin was broken at all, it was on the fore side of my thumb. Me being a hypochondriac however, rushed for my friends hand sanitizer and used it immediately. I've left the cat outside with a can of food and watched it eat It from through my window. I have made no physical contact with the cats mouth, saliva, or anything. No bites at all. What do you think?

daniel g · Accepted Answer

I would say the risk would be very low. That does not mean the cat might not be infected, just not symptomatic for your description. Your county health department can tell you if there have been any cases of rabies in your area and offer suggestions.
Usually, an infected animal has a very hard time swallowing, reason for the excess saliva, they nearly can't eat or drink.
A cat showing symptoms may seem docile, uncoordinated or dunk in appearance. the problemis close enough, they will try to bite about anything in an aggressive manner.
Now the post exposure shots will be needed inside of 48 hours, they are not very cheap, bu really moot and save your life if you have been exposed to the virus. This most happens from bites but can also be from getting saliva into mucous membranes like eyes and nose. A young boy recently died in Florida after being scratched by a bat, that is the report, but I believe the scratch would more likely the result of teeth passing saliva into the skin. If you are genuinely concerned, go quickly to your health provider and get the shots, the reason the boy died was little concern over a scratch and the boys fear of shots. Because I have worked with bats in the past, I have had my pre exposure shots. Never been bitten or even encountered a sick bat. To capture and test an animal for rabies it means fatality for the animal, because risks are low, I would take the shots and a healthy animal gets to live and released after quarantine. Of course a positive outcome, the animal is destroyed humanely.
Best bet here,, call your county health office and follow their suggestions.

ragapple · Answer

did you bleed from the scratch it not you are at no risk 
even if you did risk is low

Elaine M · Answer

A cat with rabies is going to look and act very sick.  A kitten would be dead inside of 4 days, and would not be able to eat or drink at all since the rabies virus freezes the throat muscles.  You're worrying over nothing.  Bring the kitten inside, so no dog or car kills it.

Anonymous · Answer

What da fck? So u separated the baby with his mother and now u dumped him outside your home? U blazing idiot either take the baby to a vet and take him home or bring him back to where u took him. And if i were u i would be more worried about ring worm contamination - patches of missing fur? Bingo! And that u get just for touching the animal. So take him to a vet and discover what were those missing fur patches and if has a ringworm how u treat it. U have it already anyway, so no need to take precausion

Anonymous · Answer

No you f*cking idiot. Rabies is spread through saliva. How do I keep coming across people who don't know such a well-known fact?

PR · Answer

Oh my gosh! First, please bring this poor baby inside and don't leave him outside. He's already sick, injured and probably a bit frail. Put him in your bathroom with water and a litter box. There he will be safe. A kitten can't survive outside and it's pretty obvious he didn't do very well already. He could be killed outside, the most likely will wander away.

The kitten needs to go to the vet to have these injuries treated. You can also put antibiotic ointment on them, or use a mix of water and a little bit iodine to help kill germs on the injuries.

Regarding the scratch I'm sure you're fine. Just call a veterinarian's office and ask about this. I was worried once when my outside kitty scratched me so I called and they told me it would be fine, but since this is you and not me just call and ask. Of course you can also call your own doctor.

But please bring baby inside! There are animal rescue leagues at pet stores, if you cannot keep the kitten. Bring him there on the weekend.

? · Answer

no your not at risk of rabies

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Emily J · Answer

No you can ONLY get rabies from a bite, as it is in their saliva.  You are good.

Christian · Answer

no only if you got up close with it could you get rabies like in its face but a scratch wont do it blood on blood will and breathing its air could

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Am I at risk of rabies?

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