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How Soon Should Anti Rabies Vaccine Be Taken After Cat Bite?
Posted on
Sat, 15 Aug 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 15 Aug 2015
Answered on
Fri, 4 Sep 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello sir. I was bitten in the calf by a stray cat in Israel and didn't start post exposure vaccination until 20 days after the bite. Is it too late? I have received all 5 shots.
Brief Answer:
In my opinion you are safe :)
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. It is always advised to take the post-exposure shots soon after the bite, whether the dog is known or a stray, and even more when you have not taken the pre-exposure shots.
In cases where the vaccination was taken late, it is best to observe the animal that bit the individual. In your case, as the cat is very much alive and as correctly stated by your doctor (that cats can project a very low risk of transmission of rabies, and also because yours was a superficial wound, not deep enough to even transmit the virus); in my opinion you are safe. And either which ways, you have taken all 5 shots and so you should be safe sir.
From my 8-10 years of experience, I have never once come across a case where a cat was rabid or even heard of it from my colleagues. I am almost completely sure that you are safe sir. Keep checking with the hotel and also and if after a month also the cat is still alive and you do not present with any symptoms, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
In my opinion you are safe :)
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. It is always advised to take the post-exposure shots soon after the bite, whether the dog is known or a stray, and even more when you have not taken the pre-exposure shots.
In cases where the vaccination was taken late, it is best to observe the animal that bit the individual. In your case, as the cat is very much alive and as correctly stated by your doctor (that cats can project a very low risk of transmission of rabies, and also because yours was a superficial wound, not deep enough to even transmit the virus); in my opinion you are safe. And either which ways, you have taken all 5 shots and so you should be safe sir.
From my 8-10 years of experience, I have never once come across a case where a cat was rabid or even heard of it from my colleagues. I am almost completely sure that you are safe sir. Keep checking with the hotel and also and if after a month also the cat is still alive and you do not present with any symptoms, then you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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