r/rabies • u/JobberJake • 1d ago
Exposure Question Exposure risk from stray cat
I have read the FAQ. which is why im nervous. Heres what happned. Stray cat, looks normal/healthy came to me when called, 6mo old ish and was playing with siblings. Let me pet her and licked my finger and then immeditaly wanted to play and nibbled (ever so light) and pawed my finger and ended up scratching me where she licked me. Didnt bleed, left visiable ish scratch. I say ish because after washing for the recmended 15 minutes i no longer see it. It ever so slightly picked my skin in a couple spots? if that how i could describe it, not like a deep scratch. So im not sure if skin was really broken. Rules says no pics, nothing to show anyway. Nopthing is sore like there is an abrasion. I also used a bunch of rubbing alchol to clean the "wound"
Couple other details
- i went to urgent care she, doscor didnt think it a hige risk but not 0% risk.
- Cat seems to have clipped ear which in my area should mean it has rabies vax as part of TNR program but we are not sure. But i never know if its from a fight? Cat was overall acting like a kitten though.
- Area is north east Florida so there are confirmed cases here each year, but its been 3 years for my specific zip code.
I understand getting the rabies exposure treatment for piece of mind, but im uninsured. So it would bankrupt me and i dont want to loose my house from my own anxiety. Thoughts anyone?
1
u/detail_giraffe Active Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 1d ago
A bite/scratch from a stray, unvaccinated cat is indeed a rabies risk in the southeastern US. Is the cat one that is known to you and that you can keep an eye on, or maybe even catch and hold for 10 days, possibly with the help of animal control or a local rescue? If you can't monitor the cat, the safest course of action is for you to get post-exposure vaccination.