|
Post by jacksmomma on Jan 10, 2011 11:41:50 GMT -5
When i bought my house three years ago, a very wild stray cat came with purchase. I named him charlie. I fed him twice a day down by the edge of my property line, where he was most comfortable eating. I slowly started moving his food bowl closer to the house and then started making my presence known while he was eating. About two years ago ( Charlie was somewhat comfortable around me at this point) I was able to contact this *amazing* older gentleman who traps cats and with the aid of the humane society, spays or neuters and then releases them. So Charlie got neutered and got his first ever rabies vaccine. Now were at three years later and he loves for me to spend time with him and scratch him and just to be loved on. He is still completely terrified of other people and will NOT come in the house; I've tried. But really he needs to have a rabies vaccination every year. Here's the dilemma (finally) if he bites or scratches the vet or vet tech, they will quarantine him for 10 days. I'm pretty certain because of his level of fear and anxiety, that this is a likely scenario and i'm also quite certain that the anxiety of 10 days locked in a confined space will take a huge toll on the little guy. I know he needs to vaccinated if he's going to be spending time around people (mostly me) but I don't want going through the process of quarantine at the same time. Any suggestions? any input is helpful, even if you just reassure me that he'll be fine if quarantine is the end result. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by bluemoose on Jan 10, 2011 13:54:29 GMT -5
Beautiful cat!
I don't give my pets vaccinations other than their initial ones so personally I wouldn't worry about it. But on the other side, he is living in the wild and is exposed to much more risk than the average pet. But even on the off chance he did get rabies, the chances of him giving it to you are quite low.
If it were me, I wouldn't do anything but if you want to try you could get some mild sedatives and put them in the food you give him. Then crate him up and drive him to the vet. Hopefully being sedated will calm him down enough get his vaccination really quick. If he does scratch/bite someone, yes I'm sure the quarantine would be stressful but he'd make it out alright.
|
|
|
Post by rarnold18 on Jan 10, 2011 15:44:35 GMT -5
Around here CVS and Walgreens does vaccination drives...I think the rabies was $10 for our dogs so I don't think it would be any different for cats. That way maybe you could catch him and put him the the crate, and you be the one that holds him for the vet/tech that adminsters the shot...maybe some rescue remedy for him on the way to the vets or vaccination drive would help calm him. I would also suggest bringing a towel or blanket to wrap him in to lessen the chance of him biting or scratching someone....
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Jan 10, 2011 16:12:00 GMT -5
His rabies is probably still up to date. I will bet that unlike some of our indoor pets his immune system has been activated to that virus a number of times. The reason (supposedly) for boosters is to remind the body what that virus looks like so that it can fight off the intruder. So, think about it..his body probably doesn't need reminded. By the way vaccines are not a cure, they are only a marker to instruct the body that this is a viral attack. The body recognises certain markers and dangerous intruders and mounts a huge attack on the virus destroying it. If the body doesn't recognise the virus it may not activate right away thus allowing very dangerous virus' like rabies to get a good hold of the system before activating. So, the idea is to give the body a nudge, that is all a vaccine is, a nudge. Considering the risk of injury not only to the techs, yourself and your wild man or the possibility of him escaping and disappearing I would definitely not risk taking him into the vets or a rabies clinic for that matter. By the way, this has nothing to do with the fact that I don't vaccinate, I'm trying to look at it that I do vaccinate and would I take a feral cat into a clinic with people he doesn't know or trust. The only way I could see to this is to have the vet come to the house, have your little kitty securely wrapped up in a bag and handle him in that manner. Very stressful for him, you and the vet but safer if he manages to escape. JMO of course ciao
|
|