Kitty might have rabies...

My little one, Cow (one of many, but still special) may have rabies. He's in the basement in a have-a-heart trap as I type this. I'm so sad thinking of him down there- the possibility that he might die or that he might get us sick... Poor baby. He has a can of tuna, but what's that if he's too afraid or upset to eat it?
He was one of three kittens to be given away, but he got away from us, took up residence in the woods and feared us. He came around now and then for food. We would let him in from time to time to be with his mama. It was stupid to leave it at that. Really stupid. And now he might die because we made a bad choice.
He came to us the other night and cried to be let in, but something was wrong. He was shivering and drooling, and he looked like his legs were wet and dirty. He looked scruffy all over. Alarm bells in my head- rabies! Don't let him in!
Guilt for a day... he didn't come back. Then this morning, he's there- twitching and drooling again. His legs still look wet. His mouth twitches when he cries for us to let him in. I remember a few days ago there was a hole in the ice over the pond. Maybe he fell in? Or maybe it was just melting. Could be, but what if he's hypothermic? He could die. What if he's mad? He could kill us all.
I called the vet. The vet sent us to Public Health. I called Public Health. They sent me back to the vet. Eventually they agreed I should capture him and bring him in. So there he sits in the basement. Poor little Cow. All alone and scared- possibly dying...
I just wish I could make what's possibly the last night he might ever have on Earth a little less dreary.

 

That's terrible! I hope everything ends up ok

 

So do we. Thanks.

 

I truly hope there is a happy ending to this very sad story. Remember, the symptoms your little "Cow" is exhibiting could be due to many other things than simply rabies. Even so, it is wise of you to be on the cautious side and hopefully the veterinarian you take him too will be able to save his life and alleviate the guilt you are feeling in the process too.

My thoughts and prayers are with your kitten and you and your family too!

 

Thanks so much! You know what, though? Over the past two days, his symptoms have vanished! It's incredible. I wouldn't even recognize that trembling little screwed up thing I trapped like a wild animal a few days ago. He's been in isolation in the basement and he's finally cleaned himself up, started eating and started drinking. It's so exciting. I'm calling the public health rabies nurse today when I get home at 5 to see if I can let him out of his cage. I don't want him sitting in it another minute if he's all better.
Thanks again, guys. I really just needed to get it out there and also see if anyone had some advice, but the support is appreciated. Things are looking up!

 

Is it true that the only way to know whether an animal has rabies is by cutting it's head off and testing the brain? I've heard something like that on King Of The Hill.

 

That's what public health and the DEC do if the animal comes into contact with a pet or scratches or bites a person- when knowing as soon as possible could save a life. Apparently they have to do it that way because spinal taps don't always work. They need a brain sample (seems to me they could put it out, take a small sample like they do in humans for brain surgery and test that while keeping the animal under observation, but I guess they don't care enough).
If it hasn't possibly infected anyone, they usually just put them in isolation for 10 days to see if they develop symptoms or die.
4 more days to go...

 

3 days to go now and he's been moved to a bigger cage. We've got a big dog cage (crate? kennel?) that we got from a yard sale when we were raising a pair of baby raccoons. I put a litter box, a bowl of water and a plate of food of there, then put the trap in there and opened it so he would have more room. It killed me to keep him in that little bitty thing for so long, but we were so afraid to touch him that it just didn't seem worth it to risk his life and ours. He's been quieter lately, so my guilt got to me and I couldn't take it anymore...
He really misses his mommy.
I bring her downstairs when I feed him and he cries for her and it hurts to watch. He eats more when she's there, though, so I figured maybe it's better for him to see her once in a while...? Or it's torture being able to see her but not touch her, but the fact still remains that he eats more when she's around, so I'm going to keep doing it.
Just a few more days...

 

I think it is so very cool that your kitten is doing better and although I know the whole process is really tough on you, I know you will follow through to the end and he will grow up to be a happy and healthy boy.

It is good to see there are still good people like you in upstate New York, since I was born and raised in Liverpool, NY which is a suburb of Syracuse and remember that I was never alone there in my love and concern for all animals, whether they be squirrels (who love peanut butter on crackers), cats, dogs, horses, cows, deer and on and on...

When your little one is completely better, I think you should post a photograph of him so we can all associate a face with his most perfect (purrfect) name...

 

Hey, what can I say? They are my weakness. I'm a crazy cat-lady in the making, but never will I ignore their needs again... This has just been the pits.
A picture. Good idea. I won't take one now, because he's all depressed in his cage, but when he gets out, I'll post some "reunion pics" of him and his mum.

 

ewwww... rabies is one hell of a horrible to die!
i am happy for you and your kittie that, it it looks like it is going to turn out alright for you all!

where i live, we have alot of coyotes, and the state, game and wildlife department, is just starting air drops of food laced with the rabies vaccine. there have been outbreaks of rabies, in other countys south of where i live.

i have four cats and two dogs myself; and no way do i let my "furry faced childern" go outside unsupervised. the cats never go outside! coyotes will kill dogs that are smaller or the same size as the are, and they do eat cats.

cats do adapt quite well to living indoors. i am really sorry that you had to learn that lesson the hard and scary way.
my "babies" are not pets to me, i'm their gardean. cats and dogs are eternal childern they never grow up. as their mommys and daddys they need us to protect them.

yes, please, post a photograph of your baby once he gets well, for us all to see.

here is hoping for the best for you both!

 

Well, I don't know what to think, now. Cowzer is all healed up, but now his brother is drooling and seems to have something wrong with his mouth!
They must be getting into something outside. Cow and Patches are the only ones who stray far from the house, and they've both experienced symptoms. All of the others are okay. Cow's cleared up after a few days of isolation. It has to be environmental...
You know, I just read that catnip can make a cat drool... haven't read anything about the weird jaw quivering related to it, though.
Ack!
So I've put them together. At least now Cowzer has some company...
Yes, I'm still keeping him in isolation. I'm a horrible person, I know. I just worry.
2 more days...

 

You're not horrible, you're doiung whats safest for everyone. You think humans like being kept in isolation? No, but it can be necessary. Don;t be so down on yourself about it.

I've been following this story and from what you're saying it does seem enviornmental. Are they outside cats? Maybe you should just keep them indoors from now on.

Hopefully the other kitty stops showing those symptoms as well and all is fine in the end. You can look back on this and consider it a valueable lesson learned. And yes, can't wait to see a pic

 

I think I might let Cow out of the cage tonight... Patches, I don't know...
I know I'm not really horrible, lol. It just makes me feel that way. Patches cries more than Cow does, because he actually trusts us, which makes it a million times worse.
I'm going to investigate the house and surrounding area some more when I get home. We can't have slobbering cats everywhere...

 

I and many people would never think you are a horrible person by watching out for your critters and your animals in a responsible manner. I had a feeling it was something other that rabies as I told you in my earlier posting and have a feeling it may be a plant or some other foreign material they may be ingesting. I have a bunch of catnip growing on my porch in large pots which I raised from seeds and have never found any of my kittens or cats having such a reaction, so it might be wise for you to follow your kittens around when you have the chance and see what they might be getting into either plant or chemical based that is causing their distress.

Good luck and I too, once again, look forward to seeing pictures of them all after you have them feeling good enough for a photographic session which I know you will no matter what it takes...

 

I let them both out last night. Only got pictures of Cow so far, though. I will get some picture of Patches when I get home, but who knows when they'll find their way off of my camera.
Patches is better today. No drooling. Still a bit of tongue stuff. Cow seems to be completely healed...
I'm trying to keep them all in anyway right now, because the temp has been dropping steadily the past few days. It's really been ridiculous. Going down into the negatives soon.
I'll be back with pics tonight, I think.

 

I'm glad they seem better. Can't you just make them in door only cats? It would be much safer for them.

 

It was all over a girl!
There's a female in heat outside. All the boys are acting crazy now, but no more drooling, thank goodness.
I don't like the idea of indoor only... I know a lot of people would rather keep them in because it is safer, but they are animals, and I think they need outside time.
I don't hold it against anyone for keeping their animals inside... I just prefer not to.
Pics are coming. Technical difficulties...

 

I'm so glad to hear everything worked out okay and that the kitties are doing better. I would probably fall apart if my Squirtimus (my kitten) showed any signs of rabies.

 

I'm so happy to hear that your babies turned out to be okay. I've had my scares with my own babies, bites, parvo, you name it. It doesn't always turn out good, but I'm so happy that it did for you. You are a wonderful person for doing what you could to help them. Bless you and your babies.