From itching/scratching (which started about 5 months ago and swallowing more fur?) I noticed no one had fed her her wet food, and my neighbor said the "caretakers" had left the dry food out in the desert sun. All kittens need vaccinations to help keep them healthy. In fact, only two human rabies cases have been attributed to cats since 1960. At the first vaccine visit, your veterinarian will do an examination before vaccinating your kitten. Animal control couldn't trap the cat and since the cats do not wander far from the yard, they said I could watch the cat for 10 days and report back if the cat appears sick or does not come back. You will need to take care of not only the kind and variety of foods that they should consume, but also how often you should feed them. The feline will have to be euthanized to perform a post-mortem antibody test using immunofluorescent dyes. In an effort to strategically protect kittens from diseases, veterinarians administer vaccinations at strategic intervals. They said he had a low white blood count, sugar was 400, an abnormal looking kidney and his other kidney was smaller and abnormal looking. He seems to have some more muscle twitches then usual (especially the tail) and while he has always drooled and stuck out his tongue once in a while, it seems like it could be more then usual. Most states have made the cat rabies vaccine mandatory but it is not an enforced law and the number of cat rabies cases remains high, creating a public health risk in many areas. We took him to the vet the next day. The vet said it was so bad that only one toe was still there and one toe was so bad that he chewed it down to the second bone. My doctor wasn't. We are broken so neither of us has vaccinations. Nevertheless I made his appointment for tomorrow to get the shot, but I'm worried now, what if he came into contact with a rabid animal and just isnt showing signs yet? Unfortunately there is no real reliable tests to diagnose rabies whilst a cat is still alive, diagnosis is normally confirmed with a direct fluorescent antibody test at post mortem. The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. A vaccine is designed to trigger an immune response and prevent future infection from that disease. Finally: she DID get sprayed by a skunk 11 months ago, and got a hole in her trachea somehow tha landed her in the hospital last year. Can a cat have rabies and still eat well? Cornell Feline Health Center, 2020. Labeled 3-Year Vaccines: Adult dogs and cats that have previously received 2 doses of rabies vaccine within a 12-month period (initial dose and first booster dose with labeled 3-year vaccine) are considered unvaccinated (overdue), if not revaccinated within 3 years following the booster dose. Vaccine reactions and side effects are typically minor and often go away on their own. If kittens are vaccinated earlier than 12 weeks, they may have a reaction to the … The shots come in a series every 3 to 4 weeks. Here’s the timeline breakdown of the typical cat vaccination schedule: 1. However, kittens with remaining maternal antibodies for that disease will not be affected by the vaccine. But I have two other cats to worry about too. Im worrying alot about this... hes my furbaby and is counting on (me)momma to protect him. Some veterinarians use traditional “shots” for vaccination while others use a combination of injections and intra-nasal vaccines. * is he affected by my older cat passing away? The early stage of rabies can last from … The wound, though, seems to heal evenly. They come and go and the visit to the veterinary is weekly. *Recommendation of non-core vaccines depends on your geographical location and your kitten's environment. On 6-28-18 (45 days ago/6+ weeks) my cat got into a fight with a neighborhood cat. Over a lifetime, this can add up to quite a few vaccines. Fortunately, they are able to get some protection from their mothers. And her gait in rear legs looked nasty painful. Protection from maternal antibodies generally fades somewhere between the ages of eight and 18 weeks. My vet, who has 40+ years of experience, has never seen a case like this. Your health care provider can give you more details. Im really worried over his behavioral changes, and if a booster was needed then or is too late.. i dont know what to do.. You can only get rabies, if the cat itself has the disease. * The 6-2017 is actually his second booster, he had the rabies vaccine prior to that... Talk to your veterinarian about your kitten’s risk of exposure to these diseases. Basic immunizations are essential to prevent your kitten from getting sick and avoid the spread of disease. A healthy animal will … These may include pain and swelling at the injection site, lethargy, or a mild fever. Severe allergic reactions are less common but can be fatal if left untreated. I read online it can take a year or more. Diagnosis in live animals is done based on symptoms, remember that not all symptoms present in all animals or at the same time; this is why it is the judgement of the Veterinarian to determine whether they believe it is rabies or not. Because vaccinations stimulate the immune system, there is a slight risk of developing an auto-immune disorder. Approximate vaccine schedule sofar: Every veterinarian has certain preferences about the order and frequency of additional procedures such as examinations, deworming, and testing. Avoid exposing your kitten to unknown animals until all vaccinations have been given. If your cat is displaying symptoms associated with rabies, the diagnosis can be difficult as early symptoms associated with rabies can be confused with a number of other common feline health concerns. Or is she just in heat, hence the temper change and all the meowing? However, stray dogs and cats are also carriers of the disease, as confrontation with wildlife is the norm. As he ran, he accidentally scratched my toe. If the wounds have healed 6 weeks later, there isn't likely any infection that occurred that needs treatment. The rabies vaccine is the only method of preventing rabies. My poor kitty is 7 years +. Booster shots: Every 3–4 weeks 3. She;s twitching a little and has been for a while--thought it might be mites she'd gotten from a dog at last house. Then we had to move again on May 1. So what gives? Whether the bite is from a family pet or an animal in the wild, scratches and bites can carry disease. The recommendation is to give cats their rabies shot between 8-12 weeks with a yearly booster. Or insurance. The paralysis will slowly move from the throat and jaw to the remaining portions of the body, resulting in death within a matter of hours. A family that feeds stray cats gave me one of the kittens that had been born a few months before. The virus affects the brain and nervous system, with initial signs of change in behavior. With their teeth, kitten has ability to eat both dry and wet foods; however, it is important to put bigger portion on wet food because dry food tends to dehydrate your kitten. Thanks for the A2A. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old. Please, any advice is helpful. Illnesses that may occur include blood disorders, neuromuscular issues, and even skin problems. * This is a 3 yr regimen. He started to chew off his back toes. If so, what is the relation specifically? Carnivores are common vectors of the rabies virus as nature has given these mammals sharp teeth and claws to pierce the skin. In theory, it would be possible, but extremely unlikely. I went out to see what's wrong, and she followed me everywhere through the yard, meowing continuously. He is not skiddish constantly, nor CONSISTENTLY.. For the most part he is NORMAL, its just every now and then he will act skiddish. In the wild, a species that are normally nocturnal (sleep during the day) are seen wandering the streets in the daytime and become friendly with people. June 2016: Primary Rabies vaccine The neighbor and I also noticed that this formerly-legendary jumper (& water drinker) not only could not jump up on her 8-10-foot-wall-in-a-single bound, but couldn't even handle a jump of 4 feet; she'd try and sometimes kinda miss/barely make it. The feline will display obvious symptoms of excessive salivation, cannot swallow, and its level of aggression will stoop into depression. I immediately rinsed it with alcohol and took a shower. How Much Does a Cat Rabies Vaccine Cost? She was initially feral, and has always been indoor-outdoor, and we've lived near tons of wildlife (coyotes, skunks, raccoons, bears, rodents, and feral cats). What is the probability of getting rabies from a 3-month-old kitten bite? She's being super sweet, and I could see her sad regret last night, and her behavior, though all a little weird, honestly has always been weird. The only reason she's alive is that she's had subcutaneous water 3x. Then he would go lethargic again. NOTE: Among cases in which a rabies vaccination exemption has been approved and is in effect, the “exempted” dog/cat will not be considered “currently vaccinated” (immunized) if the rabies booster interval (i.e., either 1 yr or 3 yr) has been exceeded. I took him into the vet to get a rabies booster but he wasn’t up to date on his shots before he was bitten. And yes that bite is going to be sore but watch for the track marks. How fast does it progress once it starts? I wouldn't worry too much about a kitten licking an open wound. I'm very concerned about rabies (although there are no rabies reports in my county). * is he infected? During the time they were waiting for his scheduled work up, he was awake and inside a kennel. They are already in the puberty period and has shown some characteristics of a pubescent kitten; however, they are not already at the peak, so giving them the best possible care is important so that when they reach the peak of their puberty, they will not become too troublesome to deal with. The paperwork that you are looking at most likely means that Hook was vaccinated for Rabies with a killed vaccine, not that he actually has Rabies - he would not be alive if he had Rabies. A few days later he started having these episodes where he would growl at nothing then run around aggressively. After the 10 day quarantine, the vet will reevaluate the cat and decide if she has been infected. Keep in mind that these reactions are extremely rare; allergic reactions occur in fewer than 10 cats out of each 10,000 cats vaccinated. However, we have listed an approximate cat vaccine schedule here for an average indoor housecat to give you an idea of a cat vaccination timeline: Kitten Vaccinations. Would it be too late even? Is your kitten rabid? (It's not helped a PTSD kitty!) Stage 2: Furious Rabies or “Mad-Dog” Stage. * The 6-2017 is actually his second booster, he had the rabies vaccine prior to that... My question is: Should I take my cat to the vet to get a rabies BOOSTER "just in case" since he did sustain a minor injury (scratch) during a fight with a stray cat that I have NO HISTORY ON? Light, noise and movement will trigger a cat in the second stage of rabies to attack. There is no easy way to know exactly when a kitten is vulnerable to a specific disease. I just have a bad feeling but everyone else thinks he’ll be fine. Rabies is a zoonotic disease that is found worldwide among carnivores and other mammals. He is not skiddish constantly, nor CONSISTENTLY.. For the most part he is NORMAL, its just every now and then he will act skiddish. this question is about human medicin and is therfore off topic here.you might start planning to get your cat vaccsinated and spayed/nutered in a month or so,unless your cat has started hunting the risk for rabies is limited but not zero.i am sorry but i have to flag your question as off topic but please continue to ask questions. Hes about 7 years old not 7 days . It is important to inform the veterinarian of the state of the animal that bit your cat as immediate treatment may be necessary. Community cats are generally as healthy as pet cats and have equally low rates of disease. Your new kitten deserves the best start in life. Some kittens I rescued have develop upper respiratory disease after vaccinations. Me and my husband were both bit by him before he got really bad. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. 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