I got bit by a stray cat UPDATED

It's doubtful the cat has rabies. It is very uncommon. Especially if he was being sweet at first. That means 1) he's not a feral cat, and was likely once owned by someone and likely had a rabies vaccine and 2) animals with rabies are not affectionate. Rabies progresses VERY fast. You would know the cat had rabies and that it was not right, and it would die within days. Any anger the cat is showing now could just likely be attested to the fact it's pissed off in a cage. Cats bite. And cats you don't know at all can be unpredictable by nature. And they get in cat fights with each other all the time. They are territorial by nature. None of which means they have rabies.

But toxoplasmosis or cat scratch fever are possible. If it looks like it's getting infected, with pus and red streaks towards your heart, or you get a fever, get antibiotics asap. I've worked with rescue cats for years and have been scratched and bit thousands of times. I've never had rabies. And of all those times, it only got infected once (and because it was extremely deep).

http://m.health24.com/health24/Medical/Diseases/Diseases-from-cats-Client-20120721

This is just some info and things to be aware of.

Idk why I'm not either, but I'm not pregnant. I think because I've been so stressed about catching the cat and trying to find someone to help me from here on out. I just can't believe I was brushed off from so many different directions. Also because my dr wasnt in on monday being labor day. I've been keeping it clean though and if I think I see any signs of infection I'll go right away!

Also, if you live outside of city limits, you need to contact your county. I have never heard of them saying you need to quarantine a possible rabid animal by yourself. There is a process and steps that need to be taken as soon as the bite occurs. Because what IF this cat is rabid? You do know there is no cure for rabies, right? I reckon you better do something other than just keep a crazy cat locked up at your house for 10 days. Rabies is NOT common in cats but other bacteria and parasites are. Toxoplasmosis is very detrimental to you if you are in fact pregnant right now. I'm hoping you aren't because you don't have insurance but still. Go to the ER. They HAVE to treat you and they can bill your for it later. I'm not exactly sure why you aren't taking this more seriously.

I totally agree with Tabby. Rabies is the LEAST of your worries.

When cats are being petted they sometimes get over stimulated and will bit, that may have been why the cat bit you. My cat does this all the time (never draws blood though) You should probably just get the shot to be on the safe side OP

I've worked in the veterinary field for 15 years, and I'm not joking around when I say you NEED to see a doctor! You do not want to mess around with a cat bite! Cat mouths harbor lots and lots of bacteria, and when they bite, the punctures seal all the bacteria in. It WILL get infected and you NEED antibiotics! I would also definitely have the cat tested for rabies. Yes, the cat will need to be euthanized, but if he bit you, he will probably bite someone else and it's just not worth the risk. Rabies can not be treated. If you get the injections now, it could prevent you from contracting the disease, but, although the chance of the cat having Rabies is slim, if you do contract it, it is 100% fatal. There is no treatment. Why risk it?!?! Go to the dr!

An innocent cat that is biting people innocently sitting on their property. God forbid it was my child it bit. Off with his head.

... They'd cut off his head? But what if he doesn't have rabies? Then he's just a mostly innocent cat that was killed for no reason. ?

Update-

I've exhausted all angles and since I live just outside of city limits, I have to quarantine this cat myself! If I go to the dr they'll send ME to pick up rabies vaccines from a couple towns away. I called and theyre 220 a shot and estimated at 5000 without insurance (we lost our ins a couple months ago when dh lost his job) or I can watch the cat 10 days, or I can pay 160 to a vet and they'll euthanize, send his head and do testing right away.

We trapped him last night and hes in the trap still. I reckon I'll keep him a few days and if he gets crazy rowdy I'll shell out the 160 for starters. We'll attempt moving him to a large dog crate tomorrow.

I would probably just wash it and keep an eye on it. It doesn't sound like an urgent care issue to me.

Go to the ER, they will update your tetanus shot as well as start the rabies vaccine (it's a series). Cats do carry rabies, a few have been brought to my job (vet hospital) that has been positive and I've had to get the shots.

If you can trap the cat in a kennel somehow, do so and take it in to the health department to be tested for rabies. If its clean, all youll need are antibiotics. If youre not able to catch it, youll have to undergo prophylactic treatment, which could possibly be dangerous if you are pregnant. I took an infectious disease class from a professor who also worked for county health and one thing he said was if you get bit by a wild animal (at least a small one), always ALWAYS try to catch it if you can!

Cats can and do sometimes carry rabies. The only reason it's less common in them now is because most states require owners to vaccinate against it.

For sure talk to your doctor ASAP and do whatever they recommend. I think the cop you spoke to is being lazy because that is definitely not typical protocol.

I live outside the city limits and called the sheriff and he told me it was pretty much my own problem to trap and quarantine him and the shelter won't take him. My husband went and borrowed a trap so..hope he gets in it!

Idk if there are plantain weeds around here. They look similar to something out front of my house though, I'll look closer.

I got scratched by one really bad when I was younger, accidentally stepped on his tail looking for a ball in a Bush and he retaliated. Health department was called when I went to the hospital, had to have stitches. Animal services looked for the cat but couldn't find it so I had to go to the health department twice in one month and receive two rabie shots on my behind just in case of rabies because they were never able to find the cat and test him.

Cats almost never carry rabies. Their mouths are a smorgasbord of bad bacteria, though.

Sucks my gp isn't in office today. I'm silently freaking out over here and can't afford urgent care, I just got a speeding ticket yesterday that I'm so upset with myself about.

I have colloidal silver that I cleaned it with and took a crapton of. I'll wait and call my dr tomorrow. Ugh, I wanted y'all to say I'm probably fine! ?

If he wasn't foaming at the mouth I think I'd be worried more about csf than rabies. But like pp said, their mouths are full of bacteria and you're likely to get an infection without antibiotics.

I got bit by a stray cat when I was like 10 on my thumb. I don't know why my parents didn't take me to the hospital. I ended up missing a week of school because my thumb was so swollen and painful.

See a doctor asap!

Cats can be so evil ?

Yes u should get seen by a dr. I worked in the vet field for 15 years and have had my fair share of bite wounds. U should have it checked out and get on antibiotics. Just to be on the safe side. They will also most likely contact the health department as its a stray cat. Good luck. Hope you're feeling ok. Bites hurt so bad. There's no real way of knowing if the cat has rabies. Unless the cat is caught and observed. They may give u some shots for rabies. Because the cats history is unknown. It's likely the cat doesn't have rabies though. But u should get antibiotics. Cats mouths are filthy

Urgent Care !!!

It all happened pretty fast. I walked outside to drink my coffee and he was out there with my cat. She came right in and he took off. I said something to him and he stopped and meowed then kept going. I sat down and he came back around the corner and came right up to me. He was all into being pet and purring very sweet. He tried to climb up in my lap then BIT my hand. Blood started gushing and I ran right in and cleaned it. Now I'm freaking out about rabies!!! Do I have the rabies?!?