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My cat got a rabies shot. What if she was already exposed to rabies?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 3 years and 3 months old | 6.6 lbs

Hello, I know it is illegal to give rabies vaccine to a possibly exposed cat, but if it is done unintentionally, what happens to a cat? Do symptoms appear later, or are they masked? How long will it take for symtomps to appear then? Why is it illegal? I did not find enough information in the web. It is jut we adopted a cat from a street and we do not know was she exposed to anything, but we got her vaccinated anyway?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Laura Johnson VMD

Veterinarian

Published on July 24th, 2018

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Rabies laws are specific to the country. I would contact your Veterinarian regarding the laws in Russia. In the US if a healthy cat presents for a vaccine and has no previous vaccine history we give it a Rabies vaccine. It is not illegal to do so. If we find out later that is was exposed to rabies no one gets in trouble. If a cat who has been vaccinated is exposed to a possibly rabid animal we still are allowed to booster the vaccine in the US. If the vaccine is overdue we MIGHT be able to vaccinate the animal but it has to be under quarantine for 6 months. Every state is different with the laws. We usually contact the State Vet for instructions.

The symptoms will not be delayed or masked. It can take up to 6 months to show symptoms of rabies post exposure. If this cat was exposed to Rabies (confirmed) BEFORE it was vaccinated it can still get Rabies and should be in a strict quarantine or be euthanized. Rabies is deadly to humans.

I recommend you contact a Vet in your country for your specific laws.

Good luck!

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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