Can I get rabies if my vaccinated cat scratched me after bat exposure?

You should contact the health department or animal control in your area regarding your bite - they might recommend a quarantine for your cat to be sure there is no concern for rabies. No vaccine is 100% effective so while it is unlikely that the unvaccinated cat could transmit rabies to your cat it is possible. You should also probably contact your physician - cat bites often get infected!

The good news is that rabies is transmitted through bites/saliva and not scratches. If Ming was infected and shedding the rabies virus a month ago, then he would have died from the disease by now. Considering all of this, I think you should be safe, but it's best to consult with your physician if you have any further concerns. Below is a link to more information about rabies. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html I hope that helps and all is well.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Chiko. This would count as a rabies exposure until it is now if the bat is rabid or not. Do not handle the bat, contact animal control. If you still have the bat or know where it is, it can be submitted for testing. I recommend that Chiko sees his veterinarian today. Laws can vary between states, but he will likely require a rabies booster and a quarantine period. If you touched the bat at all, you will need to contact your family physician to determine if treatment is required for you or anyone in your family. I hope this information helps!

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.

Hello, this is a question best asked of a physician, not a veterinarian. In general, rabies is not transmitted by scratches as the virus is contained within the saliva. There is always a very small chance that some of the cats saliva was on your skin & the scratch drove it into the tissues, but this is very unlikely. Was the cat acting in a wild & unexplained way? There is a difference in a cat that may scratch out of fear or being defensive vs. being in the furious stage of rabies infection. I assume that the rabies vaccine that you speak of was for you, correct? If so, follow your physicians recommendations, but again, a scratch is very unlikely to infect you with the virus. Cats can be fed minimum amounts of human food, & this includes just about any meat, fish or vegetable we eat. Cats require specific amino acids in their diet which they get from fortified pet ( cat ) foods & hunting, so receiving only human food may not provide everything a cat needs. Make sure your cat eats some regular dry or wet cat food daily. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You need to take this very seriously. The number one carrier of rabies is bats. Rabies is 100% fatal if not vaccinated/treated promptly. It can also be transferred to humans, again 100% fatal. Only two people have ever survived rabies and they have residual problems. You need to find a way to get him examined by a vet. Rabies is no joke.

No - cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection and rabies is a viral infection spread primarily from by bites from an infected animal and is quite rare from cats. You must contact your human doctor/physician for your own healthcare advice - your local doctor should be aware of the potential risks in your area and what, if any treatment is recommended.