October 27, 2008
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I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying “No good deed goes unpunished”, right?
There’s a lot of truth in those old sayings.
One of the black-and-white cats that roam the neighborhood was hit by a car this afternoon. Poor thing wasn’t able to use its right rear leg, but hissed and frantically tried to get away when we’d approach. Don collected a cat carrier, towel and gardening gloves and set about capturing it and carefully stuffing it into the carrier.
In the process that darn – now late – cat bit him, right through the glove.
I took the cat to the local vet – same one I took that dog that was hit by a car a couple of years ago – and they took it into the back, warning it didn’t look as if it’d make it. A few minutes after I got home they called to say they’d euthanized it, poor thing, but also strenuously urged Don to seek medical attention TONIGHT due to that bite.
Naturally, this is after-hours for the doctor’s office, so Don’s headed to a minor emergency clinic.
I hate to think of him having to have shots for rabies, but darn it….we couldn’t go off and leave the poor injured cat in the street!
Why the dumb cat had to go and bite him, though…..
Comments (7)
Hope it isn’t rabies, but they have to test to be sure. Animals in pain do commonly bite, though.
Well, that’s why he got the heavy, thick gardening gloves. Cat was still able to get a tooth through, though. Poor thing. It was so hard to sit with it while it panted, clearly in pain. :so-sad:
I certainly hope it’s not rabies, but if it’s any comfort, I’ve heard that the rabies shots are not nearly so unpleasant as they used to be — the days of “giant needle in the stomach” are gone, and I believe the course is fairly short.
Cat’s body’s being sent to Austin to be tested. Don was given a tetanus shot at the MEC and a prescription for antibiotics.
This morning the finger looks fine…no swelling or reddening or anything of that sort. We’ll pray it stays like that, and that nothing untoward develops. :whew:
Okay, been Googling, and of course you can’t be sure until you’re sure, but here’s the gist of what I’ve come up with:
1. Rabies is really quite rare in cats.
2. Even if bitten by a rabid animal, the risk of transmission is only about 15%, because humans are relatively insusceptible. Of course if the cat is positive Don’ll have to be treated regardless to be on the safe side, but it’s likely he hasn’t actually been exposed even if the cat was rabid.
3. The standard injection treatment is completely effective in humans.
here’s a sample from a Q and A:
“Q: Does this mean that cats cannot transmit rabies?
A: Absolutely not! Since 1946, at least 10 cases of rabies in human beings in the United States have been associated with bites of rabid or suspected rabid cats.”
Take that in — TEN since 1946.
It seems like tetanus and infection are actually more significant risks in animal bites, and he’s had the tetanus shot and seems to be clear of infection. At this point, you’re almost certainly dealing with at worst nothing more than a pain in the…well, where they give the shots, if necessary. :smug:
You’re right as rain, Jane! I just finished an interview with Animal Control, who came by to collect info about Don (who’s gone to Plano for the day) and the bite and the incident in general.
According to Mr. Thetford, sending the cat’s brain for testing is a precaution, as in his eleven years in AC he’s never known of a rabid cat or dog in Fort Worth. We agreed, however, that the time they stop testing is doubtless the time it’ll show up, so it’s best to keep testing.
Turns out this was the 75th animal bite they’d investigated this month! Had no idea so many people get bitten by strays.
Asked him what we should have done instead of handling the poor animal ourselves (it had a broken back, BTW), and he said call the police and they’ll radio for an AC person to come, even after hours, and collect the injured creature. Hopefully without getting bitten, but even if they were, they’ve had their own rabies shots (which aren’t any big deal, he affirmed).
So. There y’all have it. In the event you come across an animal that’s been hit by a car (or whatever), and it’s resistant to you helping, call your police department, who will in turn call the AC people to handle it.
This has been a public service from The Ivy Vine. :smug:
One of our former pastors backed over his dog who had been sleeping in back of the car. When he went to the dog’s rescue, he got bitten. It seems to be in the nature of an injured animal to lash out at even its owner. Poor Don, but what a big heart he has.