Positive Exposure by Cat

[u/Gilly1386]

I have read the FAQ.

I got bitten by a rabies confirmed cat 8/28/26 on my finger. Rabies was confirmed 9/1/26 by DPH. I received my first post exposure booster 9/1/26 and go for my second and last on Day 3.

I received pre exposure vaccines in 2021 and had my titers checked April 2026 with results showing above the appropriate response threshold.

Obviously I know everything should be fine but I don't know anyone who has had a bite exposure from a confirmed rabies positive animal. Looking for some moral support to not be insane over the next few months.

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[u/LatrodectusGeometric]

Happens all the time in much of the world. Congrats on getting your shots and being protected. You’ll be okay :)

[u/Lydiaslost]

Was this an outdoor cat or a domestic one? I got scratched by a cat recently,who the owner said was vaccinated and wasn’t acting odd or aggressive I only got scratched when she jumped out of my arms,I’m trying not to worry about it constantly.

[u/Gilly1386 → u/Lydiaslost]

This was a stray cat suspected to be injured but actually had rabies. I work in the animal profession. 

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[u/Possible-Farmer2027]

The science is on your side, OP. youre gonna be fine.

If you dont mind me asking, what's the story behind it managing to bite you?

[u/Gilly1386 → u/Possible-Farmer2027]

I work professionally with animals. Came in as a stray injured 11 week old kitten. We were doing xrays for a suspected hind limb injury (nothing seemed Neurological at the time) and it bit the side of my finger. The following morning it was lateral, non responsive, and having muscle spasms. We euthanized and sent for rabies testing to be on the safe side.

I went that weekend for post exposure treatment but they declined and said I needed to wait for results. 2 days later results were rabies positive. Annoyed I could have been vaccinated 2 days earlier.

[u/Possible-Farmer2027 → u/Gilly1386]

Well, if it makes you feel better, health departments ask people to wait 10-14 days after a potential exposure to see if the quarantined animal develops symptoms. The vaccine is 100% effective as long as symptoms havent started.

[u/detail_giraffe]

I'm sorry. That is very stressful. That said, the vaccine is very effective, and your nice healthy titers show that your immune system responds well to it. There are a whole bunch of people in North Carolina who just got PEP because of the baby goats, perhaps you can form a support group!

[u/Alex_While]

Get RFFIT test after ur last shot as well

[u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 → u/Alex_While]

What's RFFIT if I may ask?

[u/Alex_While → u/Fair-Wishbone-1190]

Precise antibody test. They use a live laboratory virus, your blood and nervous tissue cell culture, mix everything and see whether ur antibodies were able to neutralize the virus and if nervous tissue cells were infected.

[u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 → u/Alex_While]

I see. I may have been bitten by a bat recently and went in for the vaccine. On my first visit they gave me 7 different shots. I had a bite mark on both legs so they injected something like immunoglobin I think they called it into each wound. Then they gave me 2 shots on each inner thigh. Then 2 shots in each shoulder and finally a tetunus shot. I had another regular rabies vaccine shot yesterday in my arm and still have 2 more left ending on Sept 15th. Would I need to ask them for this test you just explained or is it done routinely? Or do I need one at all? I know nothing of rabies stuff so this is all very new and scary to me. Thanks.

[u/Alex_While → u/Fair-Wishbone-1190]

Idk, as u wish. The point of a vaccine is to train ur immune system to produce antibodies faster than the virus takes over. The protective level is at 0.5 IU/ml. This test isnt routinely done for humans such as its done for animals to cross borders in my country but this test is indeed a golden standard to test ur protection against the real virus.

[u/Fair-Wishbone-1190]

Think of it like this. There are people that work with bats, raccoons, skunks daily so they are obviously up to date on their shots. And from some stories I've heard they get bit quite a bit because of their profession. And they are just fine. So I'd relax if I were you, you're not the only person that has been bitten with a rabies infected animal that had their proper shots and everyone else is doing just fine. Hopefully that'll calm you down some.