Cat scratch and rabies
I'm not sure if my question should go to a people-doctor or not....I have a call in to my family doctor, but thought I'd get another opinion from a vet since I'm sure you're familiar with the rabies virus. There is a stray cat that has been living in our neighborhood for several years. I've slowly been taming it and have gotten it to allow me to pet him. Last night I noticed that the cat was walking with a severe limp and had a wound on his face. My husband and I decided to bring him into our home, and then take him to a vet in the morning. I picked him up and he didn't fight me at first, so I proceeded with carrying him into the house. When I got near the door, he got scared and thrashed around, got loose and hobbled off into the night. I can't find him now. When he got out of my arms, he scratched me (not a bite, just a scratch). I washed the scratch out and put antibiotic cream on it and it shows no sign of infection so far. My concern is, can rabies be transmitted thru a cat scratch? I always thought you had to be bitten by an animal to contract rabies, but when I was reading online, it sounds like there could be other modes of transmission too. Like I said, I do have a call in to my family doctor, but I thought since vets deal with rabies, you could give me another opinion. Thanks! |
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