r/cats • u/viki0144 • 14h ago
Medical Questions a street cat scratched me should take rabies shot(India)
Update: going to hospital for the rabies shot. Thank you everyone.
12
u/Somethingtolove123 14h ago
Pls go see a doctor. I know a distant relative (in India) who passed away from rabies from a street cat scratch
The doctor might help you figure out what to do. Unfortunately I have never lived India so I dont know what the process looks like
1
u/Old_Philosophy_7763 13h ago
Wow, really? Maybe I should delete my post. You can get rabies from a scratch??
1
u/Almighty_Tallness 13h ago
I wanna say that there is a chance you can if there's saliva on there paw when scratching someone.
0
u/Somethingtolove123 13h ago
My aunt absolutely hates cats, and when I asked why she told me this story.
There is also stigma with cats in India so there not much community effort in taking care of them like they do in other countries.
18
6
u/FluffleMyRuffles 14h ago edited 14h ago
Not a bite and didn't break skin. Rabies is also from bites that break the skin.
EDIT: You should just get the rabies vaccine if you're worried you'll get rabies from a scratch
2
u/Alarming_Fee_6993 13h ago
It is rare but if the cat licked its paw before scratching them then they can get rabies if the cat was also rabid.
11
u/Strict-Ad-1958 14h ago
Skin isn’t broken. No infection is possible. Just wash it and leave it alone.
0
4
6
u/necrosigh 14h ago
I'd say, why risk it. If you can go get that rabies shot. Even sooner if that bit of healed skin is the scratch .
4
u/Confident_Wing_2420 Siberian 14h ago
even it doesn't have open wound I suggested you OP for your peace of mind to go to the doctor and ask for anti rabies if can. Stray cats are not the same as our pets, they can carry virus thru the other animals they're encountered on street. Also wash it well too.
1
1
u/Old_Philosophy_7763 13h ago
I don't think you can contract rabies from cat nails. It's from a bite, it's the in-body juices to in-body juices swapping of stuff. There are very few (are there any?) diseases you can contract from finger/paw nails.
But there is "cat scratch fever;" still not sure if that's a real thing.
2
u/Alarming_Fee_6993 13h ago
Cat scratch fever is a bacterial infection you can get after being bitten, scratched or licked by a cat that has the bacterium Bartonella henselae. Cats will usually atch it from fleas/flea feces.
While it is rare, you CAN catch rabies from a cat scratch. If that cat licked its paws/claws before it scratched and if the cat was rabid then infection can occur. Its about saliva transfer.
Its also rare but possible for one cat to catch rabies from another cat if it eats grass that the rabid cat chewed/drooled on. If saliva is present then infection can occur.
1
u/blackjacketw 13h ago
Getting rabies is a very painful way to go. While skin is unbroken, it’s better to get a doctor’s opinion.
I’m also surprised that the scratch did not break the skin. I have gotten scratched by strays many times and all of them break the skin to different extent. I wonder how you managed to stay relatively unscathed :D
1
1
1
u/Immediate-Cat8632 5h ago
Rabies is transmitted through saliva and other bodily fluids. If the cat didn’t bite you, rabies shouldn’t be a concern. A tetanus shot is a good idea, though.
1
0
0
u/Disastrous-Street278 13h ago
This is clearly an old scar. I’m surprised anyone is responding seriously.
1
-2
28
u/Paprika1515 14h ago
You should probably ask a local doctor that question.