How concerned about rabies

[Anonymous]

So much good and bad information has been posted here.

(1) ear tip cropping means this pet has been spayed or neutered and likely received one rabies vaccination.
(2) if he/she is feral, you will never make it an indoor cat. Stop trying. I realize you are coming from a place of good, but once feral, always feral. You can provide food and water and give the porch as a shelter, but do not bring him inside
(3) rabies is definitely out there. Especially in stray cats. This cat is probably okay given the likely vaccination, but a cat can be asymptomatic for rabies from the time of exposure for up to 6 months!! During this time they are NOT contagious! It usually doesn’t take that long however. Most animals are symptomatic about 2-4 weeks after exposure. Meaning when an animal is bitten by a rabid animal it takes some time for the rabies virus to move from the location of the bite to the central nervous system. Once the CNS has been infected, the pet starts showing odd neurologic behavior. It is at this point that the newly infected animal is now contagious. (The germ has to go from bite wound to CNS and salivary gland). Once an animal is symptomatic, death is within 7-10 days. This is why quarantine is 10 days long. If the animal is alive and clinical signs are not worsening after ten days , it isn’t rabies.

(3) Getting a rabies vaccine for a human is not easy nor typically covered as a preventative measure by insurance. If you are in a job with potential exposure like veterinarian or Animal Control, yes. If you are someone who has an asymptomatic stray cat that you have touched, no. Rabies vaccination is not the same as post-exposure treatment.

I hope this helps some!! Your veterinarian is probably a better source for information that your MD.