My New Friend

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:43 am

an animal does not have to show symptoms of having rabies to actually be a carrier of the disease.

Killbert-Robby · Post by **Killbert-Robby** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:44 am

legostargalactica wrote:an animal does not have to show symptoms of having rabies to actually be a carrier of the disease.

Hmmm, true. Still, I'm sure she takes some sort of precautions.

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:46 am

We wear full spacesuits when petting any animals.

In all seriousness, though, I'd be much more worried about things like that from the raccoons around here.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:47 am

i'm not trying to be a jerk about it or anything i'm just concerned for jim and kat's safety, which is why i would advise taking it to be checked out by a vet or failing that just handling the animal fairly minimally. I had a pretty bad rabies scare some years back, luckily things came back negative and sure the reason the animal bit me was my own stupidity, but it had bitten my cousin and grandmother several times before that, my father nearly killed my uncle (a former vet) for not having the stray they had adopted checked by a vet and given shots.

Edit: Kat, racoon bites cat, cat bites you, disease gets transmitted either way.

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:53 am

legostargalactica wrote:i'm not trying to be a jerk about it or anything i'm just concerned for jim and kat's safety, which is why i would advise taking it to be checked out by a vet or failing that just handling the animal fairly minimally. I had a pretty bad rabies scare some years back, luckily things came back negative and sure the reason the animal bit me was my own stupidity, but it had bitten my cousin and grandmother several times before that, my father nearly killed my uncle (a former vet) for not having the stray they had adopted checked by a vet and given shots.

Edit: Kat, racoon bites cat, cat bites you, disease gets transmitted either way.

I know you're not trying to be a jerk about it! I would prefer to get it checked out, even if only for it's own good more than mine, but we just can't afford it. If it were only $10 or $20 we could, but vets are expensive. As for the edit...I kinda thought you might say that...

Grabmygoblin · Post by **Grabmygoblin** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:55 am

eh, the main thing if you are bitten by an animal with or without rabies is to keep the animal contained so you don't need the 6-inch-needle-into-gut thing.

what would be cheaper, shots and spaying/neutering the cat or an emergency room visit with the battery of tests and shots for animal bites?

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:55 am

Kat North wrote:
legostargalactica wrote:i'm not trying to be a jerk about it or anything i'm just concerned for jim and kat's safety, which is why i would advise taking it to be checked out by a vet or failing that just handling the animal fairly minimally. I had a pretty bad rabies scare some years back, luckily things came back negative and sure the reason the animal bit me was my own stupidity, but it had bitten my cousin and grandmother several times before that, my father nearly killed my uncle (a former vet) for not having the stray they had adopted checked by a vet and given shots.

Edit: Kat, racoon bites cat, cat bites you, disease gets transmitted either way.
I know you're not trying to be a jerk about it! I would prefer to get it checked out, even if only for it's own good more than mine, but we just can't afford it. If it were only $10 or $20 we could, but vets are expensive. As for the edit...I kinda thought you might say that...

well just take of yourselves, you're good people and i wouldn't wish rabies or even the treatment for it on anyone.

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 8:58 am

Yeah. We will be careful, ya know! And it's sweet of you to worry about us!

And as for which one being cheaper....since just a few days ago we had -130 in the bank, and are just now up to +5 in the bank...it doesn't really matter.

Czar · Post by **Czar** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:02 am

PeppermintAfterlife wrote:
mcDuffies wrote:HISSSSSSSSS HISSSSSSSSSSS
*chases mcduffies up a tree*

*Calls the firebrigade*

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:16 am

I'll have to throw in with Legostar - get this cat examined.

That said, there are a LOT of vets who will take charity cases and charge you a very minimal rate, or nothing at all, if you are adopting a stray cat. There are also shelters that will give you a free coupon to get the cat 'fixed' and checked out.

Before you decide the price is too high, call around, explain your situation to a few vets, and if they won't do a quick checkup for free, ask if they know someone who might.

::EDIT:: Very cute cat by the way, I like it's contented look on Jim's lap.

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:14 am

This point might be moot anyway. He went back outside after about 30 minutes, and hasn't been back since.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:25 am

Kat North wrote:This point might be moot anyway. He went back outside after about 30 minutes, and hasn't been back since.

he got all the loving he needed and now he's gone.

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:26 am

He used us! *shakes fist*

Laemkral · Post by **Laemkral** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:48 am

As far as getting the cat checked by a vet, if its clearly overtly healthy, and Kat is going to check it for ticks and help it that way, getting it checked for rabies is kinda useless unless the cat can be vaccinated for it.

Every time the animal leaves the North's house it is being reintroduced to an environment where it could contract rabies, making any previous tests invalid and useless.

In my opinion, it is actually more useful to save the money that WOULD be spent on vet testing for any emergency visits that MAY occur. That way unless the cat shows up and is in need of the vet, that money is theoretically available.

Unless you can find a vet willing to do a charity case, then it couldn't hurt to have a single visit.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:54 am

Laemkral wrote:As far as getting the cat checked by a vet, if its clearly overtly healthy, and Kat is going to check it for ticks and help it that way, getting it checked for rabies is kinda useless unless the cat can be vaccinated for it.

Every time the animal leaves the North's house it is being reintroduced to an environment where it could contract rabies, making any previous tests invalid and useless.

In my opinion, it is actually more useful to save the money that WOULD be spent on vet testing for any emergency visits that MAY occur. That way unless the cat shows up and is in need of the vet, that money is theoretically available.

Unless you can find a vet willing to do a charity case, then it couldn't hurt to have a single visit.

well i didn kinda mean rabies vaccination because usally the test for rabies involves sacrificing the animal, and most of the time if an animal is suspected of having rabies they won't even bother with letting it live long enough to be observed for symptoms.

Rock_dash · Post by **Rock_dash** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:57 am

Kat North wrote: He used us! *shakes fist*

Cats'll do that to ya. Heartless little bastards they are.

Dave Against The Machine · Mon Apr 24, 2006 10:58 am

A lot of strays are around where I live, because we live out on the "COUNTRY" side of town. So people always come drop off there unwanted animals back on the roads where I live.

Killbert-Robby · Post by **Killbert-Robby** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:00 am

rock_dash wrote:
Kat North wrote: He used us! *shakes fist*
Cats'll do that to ya. Heartless little bastards they are.

I keep telling people, cats are evil when you go deep enough. Dogs 4 eva!

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:03 am

Killbert-Robby wrote: I keep telling people, cats are evil when you go deep enough.

That's one of the reasons they're so appealing!

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:26 am

Your previous sightings of this cat were a day apart and you're concerned you haven't seen him for thirty minutes? Outdoor cats do that. Won't see 'em for a day or two, then they come back all like, "Yeah, I own this place too, see, these are my humans, watch me make them pet me." And we're all, "... kitty... must... pet... kitty..."