If a stray cat bit me and disappeared, can it have asymptomatic rabies?

Hi there. It's possible that a stray cat could be infected with rabies even if it's not showing any symptoms. However, an infected animal isn't contagious until the very last stages of infection. The general rule of thumb is that if an animal with an unknown vaccine history bites someone, it needs to be quarantined for 10 days to observe for any symptoms. If the animal is infected and contagious, they will develop serious neurlogic issues and die within a few days. If they animal is still alive and healthy after 10 days, you can be confident that it was not shedding the rabies virus at the time of the bite.

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.

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!

Please don't pet stray dogs. You don't know their vaccination history and if the dog has rabies you could die without getting proper treatment.......That being said, the chance of you getting rabies from what I see in the photos is pretty much zero. It is transferred by bites (saliva) that break the skin. You really should be consulting with a human doctor. We are not human doctors. Please, just don't pet animals with unknown rabies vaccination history.

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.

Yes, it is true that an animal that can transmit rabies will die within 10 days. The animal is typically placed on a 10 day quarantine after the bite. If the animal lives beyond the 10th day, it was not shedding the rabies virus at the time that the bite occurred. Here is a link with more information. https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/rabies-facts-prevention-tips/ If you have any concerns with your health then you should contact your physician or local health department.

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.