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Yesterday, my wife was sitting at our computer (we've got a recliner for our chair at the computer). The cat was sitting in one of the windows that sits about 5 1/2 feet from the floor. Usually the cat will jump from the window to the back of the recliner and to the floor. This time however, she missed, hitting my wife squarly in the eye. She got a cut on her eyebrow that I took her to the ER to have cleaned and checked. I was totally shocked when the Security Forces came in and filled out a report! Today I got a call from the base vet-clinic and they want to remove the cat from the household for TEN DAYS!!! For fear of rabis!!! Keep in mind the cat has never been outside the house! I'm so frickin' pissed right now, I could just spit!
Posts: 1660 | Registered: Jan 2000
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Awwww. Poor kitty will probably be traumetized for life by being removed like that. I'm glad the cut on your wife's eyebrow wasn't serious though.
Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Do you have current rabies immunizations on record with a vet? That should help.
Also it was good you took her to the doctor. We have a guy here, that has 3 or 4 housecats that are all indoor cats only. However, one bit him likely right after licking its rear, and he ended up with an awful flesh eating bacteria that didn't respond well to antibiotics. His forearm swelled up to more than double its size. They hospitalized him for two days, for observation because they would have lost him if it went out of control and it could do so rapidly. He was walking around work in a massive bandage and sling for a while.
The cat is completely up to date on it's shots. And the ONLY way to get rabbis is to have contact with the saliva. The cat didn't hang around to lick the wound!
Posts: 1660 | Registered: Jan 2000
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While that isn't exactly true about the only way to contract rabis is from direct salivary contact..I would have to agree that this seems like an over reaction by the veterinary clinic. If the that animal is up to date on it's immunizations then I wouldn't think that the ten day observation is necessary. Are they aware of the animals up to date immunization record? Another consideration: is there a military rule that requires this? Bare in mind this is just the opinion of a vet-tech, not a docter so I may be wrong... But it is better to be safe than sorry..and as far as stessing the kitty, I think the owner will probably fair the worse...
Posts: 181 | Registered: Jan 2004
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Tom, I wondered when somebody would mention that. I was laughing too hard at the saliva comment to do it. Posts: 4569 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Yeah, I realized my spelling error while at the clinic just now. I won't fix it so that anybody that reads the thread will get the joke.
After about a half and hour of debating the issue with the head Veteranarian (sp? again my spelling abilities have abandoned me). I was able to convince them that there decision was completely lacking common sense. They agreed to let me keep the cat on "Home Quaranteen." I am so relieved.
Posts: 1660 | Registered: Jan 2000
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You know, when I was 17 I reached into two fighting dogs and tried to pull them apart. Not the smartest thing I've ever done - I still carry the scars today.
Well, one of the dogs was mine, and I was panicky she was going to get killed because the other dog was biting her throat. So, I pulled her away by the scruff of the neck and she turned and clamped down on my arm. Crush injury to the forearm, with tooth punctures was the actual diagnosis, I think. One of the teeth went down to the bone. (Sideline - when they were cleaning the wound, they put a q-tip into that deep puncture wound, and the q-tip went all the way in, until you could barely see any of it. My boyfriend at the time had to leave before he fainted.)
anyway, the point to all this - they asked me if the dog that bit me was mine. I said yes. They asked if the dog had its shots, I said yes, and there was never another word about it.
So, seizing your cat seems to be a little much, I'm glad they are letting you keep her.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I got bit by my husband's wild barn cat once. The cat promptly disappeared for 2 weeks. The ER never reported it, so the animal warden never came out. I got a tetanus shot. I figured when the cat came back if it wasn't dead, it must not have been sick either.
I'm glad your cat is on home quarantine. It doesn't make sense to take it away if it's a tame house cat.
Posts: 1379 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Warning: this may or may not be true, but it is my understanding.
Military housing has its own rules (this part I know is true! hehe. I have a little booklet of rules given to me by the Housing Department to prove it). Perhaps one of the rules is that if an animal (your pet or someone else's) scratches (bites, or otherwise breaks the skin) a person, that animal needs to be quarantined to be sure that animal does not have rabies.
It is my understanding (anecdotal experience) that home quarantine is standard procedure when it is your own animal, as long as current rabies shots are verified. (an aside: when you in-process, you are supposed to report all animals that live in your home, and keep their records up to date. This rule is very often broken.)
The military likes to involve itself in its member's lives, sometimes in petty ways. When a bite (scratch, or other broken skin) from an animal requires medical attention, it is reported to the Military Police. The Military Police (or Security Forces, for some branches, alarming name, huh?) enforce housing laws sometimes. I don't know why they found it necessary to come to your house and secure your animal, though, must have been a slow day on Post (or Base, or Fort, depending where you are). They should have counseled you to talk to the Veterinary Services people about Home Quarantine and its restrictions.
Sorry about your wife's scratch, and your cat's (probable) distress at being removed from the house. Cats are creatures of habit, and like things 'just so'. Poor kitty. Poor wife. Poor you.
Make sure you pack your kitty's favorite toy and rub that toy all over you so it will keep your scent. It helps calm the kitty down.
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Which makes the saliva comment really, really funny. *laugh*
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