Be carefull cat owners. Dumb thing I did.

[John White]

We have 5 wonderful cats that we have had for over 5 years, All cats some one had dropped off. We neutered and spayed them. ( one rides to work with me and rides with me on my service calls) We got these large styro foam boxes that steaks come in. Cut a small hole in the side and put warm bedding inside. They are in our garage and we leave the walk in door cracked so they can go in and out. Every night I go out and put their food away around 7 pm. Then before I go to bed I go out and make sure they are accounted for. (we have coyotes in our area). I always reach inside their box and pat them on the head. Two of them wear collars, other three wont leave them on. I went out last night to put them to bed and as always reached inside of box to pat one, I was patting it on the head and I didn't feel a collar, I thought maybe one of the cats without a collar had taken her bed. So as I was feeling around its neck "bam" it nailed me. I thought you crazy cat, I must have startled it. Went inside to get the blood stopped and get peroxide on it. Got a light and went back outside to look in the box. A coon was inside there. I got a base ball bat and chased him out and gave him a good whack as he was leaving. I had shut the door and tried to capture him but I think he crawled up under one of the cars inside garage. I set a trap and left the door open but I think he escaped. I don't think it had rabies. I would bite you too if you were feeling around my neck when I was asleep. So I wont be giving anyone the middle finger for awhile.:laughing:

 

[oosik]

You are VERY fortunate for, at least, a couple reasons. The coon didn't come out of the box and follow up on the initial bite. And, if you are lucky, he isn't carrying rabies.

As an ex-Health Dept official. The official procedure - trap and hold the coon for at least ten day. Then examination by a qualified vet to ensure the first stages of rabies aren't exhibited.

STRONGLY suggest you follow up with your local physician. You have been exposed to a situation exactly similar to a bat bite.

This is no joke nor a laughing matter. However - it IS your decision.

 

[CobyRupert]

You are VERY fortunate for, at least, a couple reasons. The coon didn't come out of the box and follow up on the initial bite. And, if you are lucky, he isn't carrying rabies.

As an ex-Health Dept official. The official procedure - trap and hold the coon for at least ten day. Then examination by a qualified vet to ensure the first stages of rabies aren't exhibited.

STRONGLY suggest you follow up with your local physician. You have been exposed to a situation exactly similar to a bat bite.

This is no joke nor a laughing matter. However - it IS your decision.

With HUGE ramifications.

"I don't think it had rabies" - are you going to bet your life on it?

 

[oosik]

For God's sake - Man. If you have a family - think of them, even if you have no regards for your own life.

 

[s219]

It's safer to assume it did have rabies, from your perspective. Sorry to hear about this.

 

[shooterdon]

You did not do a dumb thing by assuming the cat was in the box.

Not taking the possibility of rabies into consideration could be. If you trap the raccoon, have it looked at. If you cannot trap it, you have some thinking to do.

 

[EddieWalker]

When I was stationed at the Embassy in Cameroon, I had a puppy that became lethargic and sickly. A guy who worked at AID came over and gave him some medicine, but two days later, he passed away. The AID guy offered to take the body to the Cameroon Health Department and have them check for rabies. Nobody thought that the puppy had died from rabies, but since he offered, I agreed that it was a good idea. He came back positive with spinal rabies, a less common location for it. No aggression, nothing at all to suggest that he had rabies, but the results where positive. Since rabies was so common there, all the Marines and Embassy staff gets pre exposure along with all the other shots that are given when arriving there. I had to get three more shots spread out over three months, along with everyone else that had contact with that dog.

What was interesting was hearing all the stories about rabies, and how horrible it is. Most amazing is how long it can remain dormant inside of you after you are affected!!!!! And once it becomes active, there is only one person in all the world that has ever survived it. Scary stuff.

 

[oosik]

Hey - dying of rabies is not the way anybody would choose. I've seen videos of the final stages. Easy to see why those poor souls would be looking for a loaded gun.

When I was Director of Environmental Health in Anchorage - we had a three day field training course on rabies, containment and procedures. When they showed that four minute video on rabies final stages - even with twenty people in the room - you would have heard a mouse peeing on a cotton ball.

 

[jbrumberg]

Years ago one of my dogs tangled with something in the woods at night. He returned when called and in checking him out I discovered a couple of puncture wounds and I was exposed to and in contact with blood/saliva. I took the shots. If I remember there were 4 or 5 shots in the arm not the abdomen like older treatment protocols. The shots gave me severe headaches, but headaches are a lot better than the end stages of rabies. If I remember correctly once one exhibits symptoms it's too late. Get the shots.

 

[RNeumann]

Did any of the cats get whacked by the coon? Might need to make an exit hole for the cats so they aren’t trapped if something else tries to get in the home.

As for the injury and the potential bugs.......it’s just a flesh wound!

Flesh Wound Clip - YouTube