Last night, the kitten started snapping at the air around her. She’s been in the trap since she nailed me and I feel bad for her, but putting such an aggressive kitten into a carrier is not an option. The symptoms she is and has displayed MIGHT be rabies. The uncoordinated gait, the falling over, the twirling eyes. So now, instead of this kitten being given a fighting chance at another life, I have to have her put down and tested for rabies.
I highly doubt this is rabies. There hasn’t been a case of rabies in our area for over ten years, but it would be irresponsible of me (since she bit me) for me to dismiss the idea of rabies -not to mention fatal to both of us.
So this is my quandary this morning. I have to put this beautiful kitten down and wait to hear that she is negative and then deal with all the guilt that will follow. I wish there existed another way to test for rabies besides testing the brain.
My finger is red this morning and slightly numb. I go to see the doctor tomorrow morning about my foot. I’ll ask him to look at it then. One thing about being bitten- it’s made me forget my foot hurts! 🙂
I can’t even conceive that this is rabies though. And if it is, this means all the cats in the colony will be destroyed- not just trapped-neutered and released.
The poor little kitten. It sounds like she may have problems that can’t be cured, even without rabies. Get yourself checked!
How awful! I REALLY hope it is not rabies. But you need to have that bite looked into regardless – as I’m sure you know, we kitties have pretty toxic bites and they can do a lot of harm.
I hope it is not rabies for your sake and the colony, however it sounds like she is not in a good place and you may be giving her the best gift, the gift of love enough to let her go. As harsh as that may seem right now. And you know how much I love kittens… But you have to find out for sure, and get yourself checked out.
Actually, there is a very new test that has been developed that can test an animal’s saliva for rabies, but it is just being rolled out now, and it is very doubtful that it would be available in time to save this kitten.
Here is the news release link. I had seen the info a few days and filed it away, not knowing I would refer back to it so soon.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/137890.php (If you prefer not to use a link, Google ” testing for rabies without killing” – it shows up in the first few results.)
My thoughts are with you, and I am praying that it is not rabies. And, as the others have said, you are no doubt giving this kitten the last gift one can give – of peace from her torment. Hugs to you.