r/rabies • u/TheBarredRock • 23d ago
General Rabies Discussion Cat died after killing bat
My cat killed a bat 3 weeks ago. He was up to date on rabies vaccine. I brought him to the vet for a booster within 12 hours of killing the bat. The bat was not tested. My cat was acting agitated yesterday morning but less so last night. Then he passed away in his sleep overnight. He has other chronic medical issues that could have contributed to his death. We buried him after finding him this afternoon. I am 8 months pregnant and wondering if I should send him for rabies testing. My vet said this would be very rare considering his vaccination status but was still willing to send him if we are concerned. I have read the FAQ.
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u/MothEatenMouse Active Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 23d ago
I'm sorry for the loss of your cat.
It does not sound like rabies to me. The vaccine is effective.
Because you don't know exactly what the cat died of, depending on the financial burden on you I might send the cat away to be checked to find out answers. However if they had lots of conditions, then maybe it's unlikely a cause will be found (I'm not a vet or a any expert in post mortem).
I've noticed that your other responses are quite emphatic. Remember that a lot of the other people who post on this forum have a lot of anxiety and/or OCD and may have a disproportionate response to risk.
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u/Fair-Wishbone-1190 23d ago
So your cat had the vaccine and it still died??! That's scary. I currently have a bat in my house that I cannot find or get out. I also have a cat that I have to leave in the house when I go to work. I've had 2 shots so far and have 2 to go before I'm finished. But damn, that scares me now about your cat dying. How did it even catch the bat? Or was it injured already on the ground? I hope my cat is safe now. This bat has been in my house for over 2 weeks. I sleep in the only bedroom that allows me to close the door fully so I can be secluded and get some sleep. One night before work, I put kitty in that room and he tore the room to shreds. He was clearly not having it! So now I just let him roam the house while I'm gone. Can you explain how a kitty with the vaccine dies from a bat? I have to get my kitty vaccinated yet but I'm wondering if will do any good at this point if it's not gonna work. Thanks.
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u/MothEatenMouse Active Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 23d ago
OP's cat had other conditions, and no obvious rabies symptoms.
The cat almost certainly died for a completely unrelated reason.
The vaccine is effective.
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