What's the rabies risk if my cat touched a raccoon through a screen?

Hello. There is no need to worry about your cat getting rabies from a mouse. Rabies must be transmitted through a bite wound & it is very unlikely that the mouse was able to bite your cat before being killed. In addition, the rate of rabies in a mouse in NYC is almost zero. If you are at all concerned, please schedule to have Seelie vaccinated, but please do not worry about this at all. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there! Without confirmation of rabies infection by very specific testing it is impossible to know with certainty if an animal or person has contracted the virus. With that said, rabies infection must be always be considered when an animal comes in contact with any unvaccinated/unknown or wild animal, especially if said animal is showing neurological signs. Signs of infection typically do not occur until 5 days post initial infection. Rabies is transmitted through saliva/bites, ingestion of an infected animal, urine, and through an infected mothers milk. While it does not sound like there was any penetrating wounds, I highly recommend that you contact your regular veterinarian as soon as possible to discuss how to proceed, as the laws regarding handling potential rabies cases vary from state to state. If Scarlett is up-to-date on her rabies vaccine she may need to receive another rabies vaccine and/or be quarantined for a period of time as a precaution. Remember that people can also become infected with rabies, therefore be sure that you limiting your contact with Scarlett as well as the stray cat until you speak with your regular vet and discuss a plan moving forward.

I think the likelihood of you acquiring rabies is relatively low, however it is much higher for Tomas. I'd recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian to have his rabies vaccine updated and to discuss a quarantine period if needed. Even if Tomas has been exposed to rabies he would not be able to shed the virus for at least a few weeks.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is normal for kittens to lick and bite and scratch when playing. If Holly is an indoor kitten and hasn't had any previous bite wounds from other animals she is likely fine. At 10 weeks old she is too young to have the Rabies vaccine but she can soon. I would take her to a vet and discuss your countries Rabies laws on how old she has to be to get it. In the US the average range is 12-16 weeks. In the meantime if you are nervous try to minimize handling and do not allow her to bite or scratch. If she becomes ill or dies then have her tested for Rabies. For her to GIVE you Rabies the virus has to be in the advanced stages (in her salivary glands) and she would show symptoms in 10 days. Again you are likely fine, but consider confining her in a room with food/water and litter box and do not handle her for 10 days. If at day 10 she is fine then you are fine. Then get her vaccinated. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You only need to worry about rabies if you are bitten by an animal whose rabies or vaccine status you don’t know. Since Romeo didn’t bite you, I wouldn’t be concerned. Kisses to Romeo!

There's never anything wrong for seeking reassurance, particularly with something as serious as rabies. Rabies is transmitted through saliva, so scratches are not a major concern with respect to rabies transmission. That said, it's never wrong to take extra precautions to quarantine for 10 days. The reason the quarantine is 10 days long is that if an animal is infected with rabies and is actively secreting the virus through its saliva, it would be severely neurologically impaired or dead by the end of the 10 day period. At this point, both you and the kitten are in the clear!

Rabies can only be contracted by being bit by animal that is shedding the virus. The biggest concern for indoor only cats is if a bat has gotten into the house because we do not always know if that bat has bitten a cat. If Bonnie is not vaccinated for Rabies, then she may need to be quarantined for a period of time (usually 10 days) to make sure that she does not develop any signs of Rabies. That quarantine may be able to be in your house if you don't have any other animals or may need to be at a vet clinic or shelter. I would recommend contacting your veterinarian to discuss the specific legal requirements in your area. Depending on your state, she may not be able to be vaccinated for Rabies until after her quarantine period. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answers your questions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.