11 replies to this topic

[tfor]

Hi,

today I pet a cat which lives in the neighborhood. She seems to be a domestic cat but I cannot tell where exactly she lives and she also

seems to be outside most of the time. I pet her head and then also grabbed her by the tail. But later I became concerned and thought what is

she has diseases like rabies?

I know this is not very likely but what if she does? Cats lick themselves everywhere which means that if they had it then the virus would be on their fur

everywhere they lick themselves and this means when you pet them you get the virus on your skin and rabies survives months from what I read.

I discovered that on one of my finger I had a little red spot where I had torn in a finger nail. It wasn't like an open wound but it was still not like normal

skin. Also the skin on the palm of my hand was a bit eroded because I wash my hands very often and then the skin becomes very dry.

 

I directly applied medical desinfectant spray which kills viruses and bacteria and rubbed it on my hands but I don't know if it kills all viruses.

 

Since this happened I cannot really get over it. What do I do now?

 

In the past I'd never even have worried about this but since I heard about rabies I'm worried about petting cats.

I should not have touched her this was stupid.

Edited by tfor, 08 September 2014 - 08:21 PM.

[The Brain]

How's the cat ?

[PWAIN]

Lol. Is this serious?

[tfor]

Yes this is serious. I have GAD and OCD which makes it worse for me.

 

But if the cat indeed had rabies then would petting her with your hand while having a tiny wound on your hand not be very dangerous?

I mean would this not be more or less the same as being bitten by the cat?

[PWAIN]

Try using google. Thats what I did when bitten by a monkey in a place with active rabies cases. (Note, I'm still here 5 years later...)

 

Hint, you're perfectly safe although you OCD and GAD may be harming you by stopping your immune system being exposed to bacteria and viruses so it won't be ready when a real bad one hits you. Do you suffer from any immune diseases?

 

[Antonio2014]

Why don't simply visit a doctor?

[niner]

Just Stroke the Furry Wall.  You'll be ok.
 

[tfor]

Why should I visit a doctor? What should he do?

 

I know someone who was bitten by a cat and he lived in fear for 2 years. Doctors also were not helpful. I think they told him that it's too late for a vaccination.

 

I read that when you're bitten you only have 24 hours to get your vaccine otherwise it's too late. This is really scary. Imagine you're on vacation far away from a hospital and

an animal bites you!

 

"Do you suffer from any immune diseases?" No. But I have seborrheic dermatitis. But this is no immune disease.

[niner]

Wow, tfor, I'm sorry to see that your GAD is so bad. You should see a doctor about that. You are not going to get rabies from petting a cat.

[corb]

Considering you have OCD I doubt you licked your hands after petting the cat. Or at all. Relax.

[Antonio2014]

Why should I visit a doctor?

 

In order to know whether you have rabies, perhaps?

 

 

I know someone who was bitten by a cat and he lived in fear for 2 years. Doctors also were not helpful. I think they told him that it's too late for a vaccination.

 

I read that when you're bitten you only have 24 hours to get your vaccine otherwise it's too late. This is really scary. Imagine you're on vacation far away from a hospital and an animal bites you!

 

Don't trust everything you hear/read somewhere and consult a professional physician.

Edited by Antonio2014, 09 September 2014 - 10:34 PM.

[PWAIN]

Was the cat foaming at the mouth? Did it bite you unprovoked? Has there been extensive reports of Rabies in the local area?

 

Consider this, billions of people interact with animals every day and few catch anything. Your chances of getting rabies are probably on the order of a hundred pentillionth of you dying of any other cause, but hey focus on the thing that is not going to happen .

 

BTW, I was on holiday when I was bitten (Indonesia - Bali) and even their developing world hospital was able to come up with the basic treatment. I couldn't get one part of the treatment but at the end of the day you have to live your life in the first place or it is wasted. I wouldn't give up that holiday to try be safer - no way, it was an awesome holiday.

 

From Wikipedia (about Seborrhoeic dermatitis):

 

Current theories for the cause of the disease include a weakened immune system, the lack of specific nutrients, or issues with the nervous system.

 

Could be...

Edited by PWAIN, 09 September 2014 - 11:19 PM.