Just wanted to share my recent experience in case any of you (or your families) may benefit. Undoubtedly many of you know how all this works being around animals a lot- but I was clueless.

My former neighbors were moving out and taking several of the friendlier stray cats they'd been feeding with them. One in particular, they didn't want to move as she was due to have a litter any day (totally separate issue-- obviously not a good situation). They asked if I'd feed her for a week until they could come back and collect mama and kittens. Hoping that they would actually come back to get all of them, I agreed.

The cat was surprisingly affectionate; I'm not really a cat person in general. A Saturday evening, I was sitting on the porch step, and the cat came over and rubbed up against my arm. I gave her a few cautious pats and then stopped. Apparently that was not acceptable because she sank her teeth into my elbow, drawing blood. I said a few choice words and got up and moved. Next day, the neighbors came to check on her, and their young daughter was also bitten.

They came to pick up the cat and kittens mid-week, and took them into animal care services for assistance with having them spayed/neutered/shots/etc. On Friday ACS called and told them that the cat had been exhibiting symptoms of rabies and had to be destroyed. Since they had mentioned their daughter being bitten, they were advised to seek medical treatment immediately. They called me right away to let me know what was going on.

We all went to urgent care together (of course by then this was friday afternoon and my doctor's office was closed), filled out bite reports, saw the doctor, and were told that if ACS had concerns that we needed to get the shots. Humans who contract Rabies (with very few exceptions) do not get better. Both the little girl and I got the immune globulin- which is very uncomfortable by the way- and were instructed to come back in three days or to let them know if the cat's results came back negative.

Luckily on Monday, the results came back, and they were negative. Unluckily, those first two shots (there are 6 all total, the i.g. + a series of 5 immunizations) even after my insurance cost me just under $2,000. Not all insurance is created equally, I understand, but I had no idea it could potentially be that expensive.

Lesson learned? Stay away from animals that aren't yours!!! Even if they are domestic and appear friendly. We all learn as kids to stay away from wild animals that are acting strange, but it's not impossible for a stray "domestic" animal to be exposed and not be showing symptoms yet. Uncommon, but not impossible. The doc told me that there was a case last year in our county where a kitten was positive and bit a number of people.

Anyway- hope my rotten experience helps someone else avoid the same thing.

Glad that it all turned out ok & you were not exposed to the disease after all. It's really too bad that you had to pay all the $$$s for the shots, though.

Wow, that's an eye-opener. Sorry about the $$ (sounds like the insurance I have ) Very glad to hear that the animal wasn't rabid. The thing is, you have to get the shots if there is any suspicion of rabies. I think there is a pretty narrow window during which the shot/s will be effective.

Was it just one shot, or a series?

I'm not sure if there is a window; if so apparently the doc decided we made it in which is sorta good because its so serious, but frustrating once we were nice and safe with the negative results... I read that rabies can incubate in a human from 14 days up to a year in rare cases.

I only got the immune globulin and the first of the series because the results came back negative before I would have had to return for the next part of the vaccine. They're supposed to be administered (from what I understand--I'm no doctor) on day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Looks like I mistakenly entered 5 above for the vaccine, it should have been 4!

I have to admit I requested that I not have any more shots than I absolutely needed once I found out the cost- the doctor understood my concern and did not voice any concerns about not continuing the remainder of the series provided the results were negative. Hopefully that was the right decision.

eta: Should have also added- the immune globulin and I think vaccine are by weight, so the neighbor's little girl received less of it than I did.

Sorry you had to go through all that, Carolyn, and thanks for posting the story!

If this woman had vaccinated her cat for rabies you and the child could have been spared this experience.
The disease is around,lurking in bats,coons, skunks -- cats are one of the most likely agents to transmit it to people.
I feel bad for you, the shots are terrible. Scary too.

Oh wow! Sorry you had to go through that!

FWIW, If you're coming into contact with stray/wild animals on a regular basis, it might be prudent to look into getting vaccinated for rabies as a precaution. Much cheaper, too. Only a few hundred dollars (not cheap, but lots better than after the fact!) as opposed to up to $5000-$6000. If you get bitten from a suspect animal after being vaccinated for rabies, all you need is another booster shot instead of the immune globulin and the series after that.

I've heard that if a dog gets bitten by a rabid animal, that they need to be boostered, and that tells me that it's possible to get rabies even after the animal has been given the shot.

So my question is, what is the point of the rabies shot if it's still possible to get rabies even after?

 Quote: samanthatopper

I've heard that if a dog gets bitten by a rabid animal, that they need to be boostered, and that tells me that it's possible to get rabies even after the animal has been given the shot.

So my question is, what is the point of the rabies shot if it's still possible to get rabies even after?

Hell yeah rabies or any other vaccine preventable disease could be contracted even after the shot. Nothing in life is a 100%.

I think a booster would be recommended as a "just in case" measure regardless. Rabies IS a death sentence.

 Quote: SamanthaTopper

I've heard that if a dog gets bitten by a rabid animal, that they need to be boostered, and that tells me that it's possible to get rabies even after the animal has been given the shot.

So my question is, what is the point of the rabies shot if it's still possible to get rabies even after?

It's just a precaution because rabies is fatal and companion animals are around people! But if your dog has been properly vaccinated, they're protected. Kipp tangled with a sick raccoon last fall. My vet had me bring him in for a booster because it is state regulation. But he told me that the rabies vaccine is extremely effective and properly vaccinated dogs are safe. But it's rabies, so they give a booster.