I've been reading about raccoons and rabies and something I read led me to believe it may not be full proof. My friend has been feeding a small raccoon, and by his description the raccoon is almost unable to walk and has siezures, this sounds like rabies to me. He also feeds the neighborhood cat, his next door neighbor takes this cat to the vet for health problems, in for his shots, and gives it a flea treatment, but no one owns him. I understand that rabies is transferred via saliva and you should wash your hands after handling an animal you suspect of contacting rabies. I'm sure when the raccoon is done eating out of the bowl that the neighborhood cat looks for food there himself, as this is the normal place for him to be fed. I am trying to tell my friend he is making a big mistake allowing this sick wild animal to be around, the neighborhood cat could get attacked defending his turf. My friend has a soft heart for all animals. Is a rabies vaccine full proof in a cat? Cat at risk?
2007-09-04 12:08:14 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
The cat is an outside cat, the neighborhood cat. They can't set up a cage to catch the raccoon because there are numerous cats that roam the neighborhood that could get caught, as well a lot of possums that frequent the yard. Chances are something else besides the raccoon would get caught. Animal control will not come out at night, they're closed, and that's the only time the raccoon comes by so far.
2007-09-04 12:41:06 · update #1
A rabies vaccine will protect the cat. The vaccine makes sure the cat has antibodies against the disease.
I've set up live traps before, and yes, if they caught the wrong animal you just release it. Best time is in the evening--stick it where you can see it from the back window, put a kleenex on the top of the door, bait the trap and leave it alone. Check every 15 minutes (basically every comercial break if you're watching tv) and when the trap is sprung, go out and verify which animal you caught. Possums and cats will leave the trap immediately once it's open.
The kleenex is necessary because when it gets dark you only need to shine a flashlight out the window to see if the kleenex is still up on an open door or if the trap is sprung, in which case it'll be on the ground. When transporting the sick raccoon make sure you put plastic under the cage in the car. I've never had one pee, but one did poop something awful smelling once. (I live trapped and released it 5 miles away in the country, it was healthy, just dangerous to our local strays here in the city).
2007-09-04 14:53:58 · answer #1 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A number of years ago (maybe as much as ten) many cats were getting what was called "injection site carcinoma". All the vaccinations at that time were given between the shoulder blades. When a cancer developed there was not way to help the cat with surgery in that area. So many vets agreed on a protocal -- left leg for leukemia, right leg for rabies and only do the upper-respiratory or panleucopnia shot between the shoulders. I'm sure what the outcome of that was - I think they found that the leukemia one was the culprit. It had something to do with the adjuvant used in the vaccine or whether is was a live or killed virus. With injections in the leg if cancer were to develop a leg could be removed before the cancer could spread. Not a happy prospect and better than the death that was inevitable with the old routine. Since then the rabies vaccination has been improved. The Pure-Vac one is supposed to be absolutely safe now. Because of this situation I stopped giving my cats any vaccines about seven years ago.
2016-05-21 06:08:46 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other person who answered this is crazy. Nothing is "full-proof". It is a deterent at best. If there was an aids vaccine and a person with aids got blood in your mouth would you worry? Though the cat is more likely to contract whatever the raccoon may have through a fight than eating from the same bowl. The saliva in the bowl has already been exposed to the environment. A direct bite would have a better chance of contaminating the pet.
2007-09-04 12:18:05 · answer #3 · answered by buddhist_20 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Rabies is transmitted in saliva, you are right.
Tell your friend to NOT INTERACT WITH ANIMALS DISPLAYING NEURO SIGNS! If a raccoon is ataxic, seizuring, not acting right, or acting aggressive it should be caught and killed (sorry!) and tested for rabies. Counties keep track of animals that turn up rabies positive. Its for the protection of the public as well as our pets. If your friend gets bit and is not vaccinated, he could DIE from RABIES! Sharing a bowl will likely not transmit rabies as it dies pretty fast when exposed to air. But if that raccoon is rabid it can bite another animal or human, and that is not cool. I realize how hard it is to not care for a hungry animal, but that raccoon should really be tested by the county. Unfortunately, that means killing it, but think about it- would you rather your friend die of rabies, and have the raccoon killed for testing anyway?
2007-09-04 12:19:11 · answer #4 · answered by Dig It 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my cat is vaccinated, and protected from rabies that way for sure...i also keep her indoors as much as possible...we have wild animals roaming here, too including raccoons possums foxes etc etc. the raccoon can kill a cat in a heartbeat, rabies won't be a problem, the cat will be dead dead dead. for your cats safety keep him/her indoors especially at night...
a couple of months ago a family of raccoons came through our yard and stopped at the back door and looked in, and 'pringers had a hissing yeowling growling hair raising fit, slapping at the glass and going all kinds of ballistic...the scarey thing is one of the raccoons stopped and went to the glass and answered the challenge...there is a double set of tempered glass, and they couldn't get to each other, but if they had 'pringers would've been mauled to death, that little raccoon was atleast 15 pounds (to her 9) and had some impressive teeth and claws, my baby wouldn't have had a chance.
2007-09-04 13:27:57 · answer #5 · answered by captsnuf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool. However, rabies vaccines are one of the most efficacious vaccines available for humans or animals. So, generally speaking a rabies vaccine is extremely effective. This is because the virus replicates a bit slower than most and allows the immune system to overtake the virus and eliminate it.
2007-09-05 08:45:04 · answer #6 · answered by Big K 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rabies vaccines ARE fullproof and if your cat is up to date there is no risk of rabies. The risk would be of the rabid racoon tearing the cat to pieces if they get into a fight. The injuries your cat could obtain could be substancial. Rabies requirements vary from state to state. Check with your vet to be sure.
2007-09-04 12:11:51 · answer #7 · answered by catsaver001 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
how is this cat able to come into contact with this racoon? does the racoon come in their house? I wouldn't continue allowing the racoon into the house.
2007-09-04 12:19:50 · answer #8 · answered by catloverme123 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋