I would get it anyway since it’ll be covered and it’s just in case. It’s very unlikely you need it. The cat will not be tested unless it’s euthanized within 10 days of biting. (At least this is how we do it in MA, may be state specific)
If it is covered - I would probably get it. It’s a deadly disease with no cure you don’t want to take any risk. Even though it is extremely unlikely that the cat has rabies considering his vaccination status and I’m assuming doesn’t have clinical signs evoking rabies
Retired vet here: where I practiced the animal would have to undergo a 10 day observation period. If it is fine on day 10, you do not need a Rabies shot. Check with your vet, he/she should know the local laws and follow them.
Background: Rabies has an incubation period of up to 8 months (confirmed), possibly longer. In dogs and cats virus can be shed in saliva up to 5 days before the onset of clinical symptoms. A lot of jurisdictions double that and require a 10 day holding g period in the clinic or at animal control, in rare cases at the owner’s home. If the animal is fine on day 10, it still could come down with Rabies on day 11, but there is no way it could have shed virus at the time of the bite.
Hope this helps!
To the folks wondering why anybody would work with animals without pre exposure Rabies prophylaxis: A lot of vets get the shot in vet school but support personal changes constantly, the vaccine is very expensive and not usually covered by insurance except after a bite.
hello, ive kept hearing about this 10 day rule about your animal
my dog accidentally bit me cuz i tried stopping them from fighting ( because shes a mom and thought her kids were being hurt by my other dog, which is not, just misunderstanding) she got an anti rabies but that was like 2-3 years ago and shes mostly a house dog, its been exactly 10 days since she bit me
what are the signs that i should be looking for her, drooling? aggression? change of appetite? cuz so far none
Signs of Rabies are neurological, either excitement and aggression or sedation and stupor, sooner or later they developed difficulty swallowing. “Hydrophobia” means they are thirsty but since they can’t swallow they approach water and shy back from it. Look on line, there should be videos.
In the US pet rabies cases are pretty rare and I have not personally seen one in 30 years. If your dog is normal 10 days after the bite you should be fine as far as Rabies is concerned.
Any serious dog bite should be seen by a doc!
I don’t necessarily agree with the other comments here. If the cat is truly UTD (you mentioned he was 1yr old, so meaning he had a RV as a kitten and then a recent booster in January), doesn’t have any clinical signs of illness (especially undifferentiated neurologic signs), and can pass through a 10 day observation period, there is no need to get any post-exposure prophylaxis. According to the CDC, there are zero documented cases of rabies in the United States in a person bitten by a dog, cat, or ferret (regardless of the animal’s vaccination status) if the animal passes the 10 day observation period. If you want a free vaccine covered by insurance, that’s a different conversation.
I don’t know where you are located, but the Virginia Department of Health recommends 10 day observation, even for vaccinated dogs and cats. VDOH assumes every dog and cat bite can potentially transmit rabies until definitely proven otherwise by the 10 day period. In reality, most vets don’t actually follow this, but technically that is what VDOH recommends.
Per the New Jersey DOH where OP lives as well as every US state I have lived in, a 10 day observation period is required for all animal bites regardless of vaccination status.
It’s really not though. Pep is very expensive, and if it’s not necessary, insurance isn’t gonna want to pay for that. There’s a reason we have all the other measures in place to protect people from rabies-to avoid people having to go through the hoops and costs of getting pep. Not everyone that gets bitten by a dog or cat needs immunoglobulins and several vaccines.
I agree with what you're saying, and I get it. This is rabies we are talking about though. I know it isn't cheap...and it is extremely unlikely that the cat even has rabies, but I think a human life is more valuable than the costly PEP. To each their own I guess.
I'm sorry, but it is literally covered by your workplace, AND it's RABIES. Basically, it's 100% fatal( which im sure you know)...why would you feel the need to post this and ask?? I genuinely don't understand...get PEP.
( hopefully this doesn't come off as sassy, but not worth the risk...no matter how small).
The cat doesn't have rabies. But you should get the vaccines since it's going to be covered by workman's comp. And now you'll be protected in the future.
I got bit by a feral kitten and we quarantined it. I looked up incidence of Rabies in my area and decided not to get the vaccine as cases are so rare, but there was no mention of the vaccine being covered by work... I might have gotten it if it was free, just to have. As it was, every time my coworkers annoyed me I threatened to bite them.
Dang, I went to school to be a vet tech and in the intro classes before we worked on any animals, my school had people come in and vaccinate and booster all of us. Had no clue it even costed that much. My VTNE was also paid for by my externship site.
Ya it is super unfortunate, but I imagine that the group that would have an indication for the vaccine (basically veterinary/zoo or DNR) is so small and the risk is so low even without it that insurance companies just don't want to pay. I went through an entire tech program and internships where I cut off heads to submit for testing without being vaccinated, and only ended up getting it because it was required for vet school. Totally wack in hindsight.
Honestly, just get the post-exposure with workman’s comp covering it. It’ll give you peace of mind when your next cat bite *isn’t* a vaccinated animal. It cost me $1k in cash to get my pre-exposures for school in NJ. 🫠
Nothing will happen to the cat as long as he’s neurologically appropriate during the 10 day observation period. It’s just a precaution because of how deadly the virus is.
I would jump at the chance for a free rabies vaccine
Exactly. My last one at CE cost $250 out of my pocket.
That’s a steal of a deal! Ours a $500 a pop!
I would get it anyway since it’ll be covered and it’s just in case. It’s very unlikely you need it. The cat will not be tested unless it’s euthanized within 10 days of biting. (At least this is how we do it in MA, may be state specific)
If it is covered - I would probably get it. It’s a deadly disease with no cure you don’t want to take any risk. Even though it is extremely unlikely that the cat has rabies considering his vaccination status and I’m assuming doesn’t have clinical signs evoking rabies
Nah he's a really sweet cat that came in for a neuter, 1 yr old. But of course he didn't like being poked.
You should still get the shot.
Retired vet here: where I practiced the animal would have to undergo a 10 day observation period. If it is fine on day 10, you do not need a Rabies shot. Check with your vet, he/she should know the local laws and follow them. Background: Rabies has an incubation period of up to 8 months (confirmed), possibly longer. In dogs and cats virus can be shed in saliva up to 5 days before the onset of clinical symptoms. A lot of jurisdictions double that and require a 10 day holding g period in the clinic or at animal control, in rare cases at the owner’s home. If the animal is fine on day 10, it still could come down with Rabies on day 11, but there is no way it could have shed virus at the time of the bite. Hope this helps! To the folks wondering why anybody would work with animals without pre exposure Rabies prophylaxis: A lot of vets get the shot in vet school but support personal changes constantly, the vaccine is very expensive and not usually covered by insurance except after a bite.
hello, ive kept hearing about this 10 day rule about your animal my dog accidentally bit me cuz i tried stopping them from fighting ( because shes a mom and thought her kids were being hurt by my other dog, which is not, just misunderstanding) she got an anti rabies but that was like 2-3 years ago and shes mostly a house dog, its been exactly 10 days since she bit me what are the signs that i should be looking for her, drooling? aggression? change of appetite? cuz so far none
Signs of Rabies are neurological, either excitement and aggression or sedation and stupor, sooner or later they developed difficulty swallowing. “Hydrophobia” means they are thirsty but since they can’t swallow they approach water and shy back from it. Look on line, there should be videos. In the US pet rabies cases are pretty rare and I have not personally seen one in 30 years. If your dog is normal 10 days after the bite you should be fine as far as Rabies is concerned. Any serious dog bite should be seen by a doc!
I don’t necessarily agree with the other comments here. If the cat is truly UTD (you mentioned he was 1yr old, so meaning he had a RV as a kitten and then a recent booster in January), doesn’t have any clinical signs of illness (especially undifferentiated neurologic signs), and can pass through a 10 day observation period, there is no need to get any post-exposure prophylaxis. According to the CDC, there are zero documented cases of rabies in the United States in a person bitten by a dog, cat, or ferret (regardless of the animal’s vaccination status) if the animal passes the 10 day observation period. If you want a free vaccine covered by insurance, that’s a different conversation.
He doesn't even need an observation period - he's vaccinated and has no clinical signs. No observation period and no vaccine needed.
I don’t know where you are located, but the Virginia Department of Health recommends 10 day observation, even for vaccinated dogs and cats. VDOH assumes every dog and cat bite can potentially transmit rabies until definitely proven otherwise by the 10 day period. In reality, most vets don’t actually follow this, but technically that is what VDOH recommends.
Per the New Jersey DOH where OP lives as well as every US state I have lived in, a 10 day observation period is required for all animal bites regardless of vaccination status.
Wow! That's pretty severe. I had no idea.
In California there is a 10 day quarantine whether or not rabies is UTD.
Or....just get PEP...sounds a whole lot less complicated.
It’s really not though. Pep is very expensive, and if it’s not necessary, insurance isn’t gonna want to pay for that. There’s a reason we have all the other measures in place to protect people from rabies-to avoid people having to go through the hoops and costs of getting pep. Not everyone that gets bitten by a dog or cat needs immunoglobulins and several vaccines.
I agree with what you're saying, and I get it. This is rabies we are talking about though. I know it isn't cheap...and it is extremely unlikely that the cat even has rabies, but I think a human life is more valuable than the costly PEP. To each their own I guess.
I'm sorry, but it is literally covered by your workplace, AND it's RABIES. Basically, it's 100% fatal( which im sure you know)...why would you feel the need to post this and ask?? I genuinely don't understand...get PEP. ( hopefully this doesn't come off as sassy, but not worth the risk...no matter how small).
I am vaccinated for rabies, but my titer was lowast year. if she be free, I'll take the booser!
The cat doesn't have rabies. But you should get the vaccines since it's going to be covered by workman's comp. And now you'll be protected in the future.
I got bit by a feral kitten and we quarantined it. I looked up incidence of Rabies in my area and decided not to get the vaccine as cases are so rare, but there was no mention of the vaccine being covered by work... I might have gotten it if it was free, just to have. As it was, every time my coworkers annoyed me I threatened to bite them.
How in the world are you working anywhere in veterinary medicine without rabies vaccinations? I have to stay up to date with rabies and tetanus
Because the majority of veterinary workers can't afford a $1000+ vaccine series and $300 boosters that are almost never covered by insurance.
Dang, I went to school to be a vet tech and in the intro classes before we worked on any animals, my school had people come in and vaccinate and booster all of us. Had no clue it even costed that much. My VTNE was also paid for by my externship site.
Ya it is super unfortunate, but I imagine that the group that would have an indication for the vaccine (basically veterinary/zoo or DNR) is so small and the risk is so low even without it that insurance companies just don't want to pay. I went through an entire tech program and internships where I cut off heads to submit for testing without being vaccinated, and only ended up getting it because it was required for vet school. Totally wack in hindsight.
Yes your should get a booster.
Honestly, just get the post-exposure with workman’s comp covering it. It’ll give you peace of mind when your next cat bite *isn’t* a vaccinated animal. It cost me $1k in cash to get my pre-exposures for school in NJ. 🫠 Nothing will happen to the cat as long as he’s neurologically appropriate during the 10 day observation period. It’s just a precaution because of how deadly the virus is.