My daughters and husband pulled up to a Red Lobster today and saw two wet, scruffy kittens in the parking lot. One dashed under the building, but I was able to grab the other. She bit me and scratched me before I could scruff her. The bites aren't deep punctures--looking more like deep scratches, really--but they're sore.
So...now in addition to the three pet cats (all rescues) we have, we now have this wild-eyed little ball of long, orange fur in a cat carrier in the garage. And I have no idea what to do with her. She's wild as all-get-out, and I really need advice.
I do not intend to keep her. As I said, we've got three others and live in a small house on an even smaller budget. But the best outcome would be for her to have a forever home elsewhere. But she'll have to be socialized first; she's quite the whirling dervish now!
And, of course, I'm worried about rabies (or other nasty bugs). I washed my wounds in hot water and soap about 5 minutes after I was bitten, and I've put Bacitracin on them.
So, here are my questions:
1) I think she's about 4 months old. Can she still become a loving, sweet, docile kitty, or will she be semi-feral and wild all her life?
2) Can we be sure she doesn't have rabies without killing her and testing the remains?
3) I've heard that if they're observed for a period of time, that's another way of telling they don't have it--but how long?
4) And should I start rabies shots in the meantime?
For now, I've got her in a very small, hard cat carrier in the garage, with a dish of water, Meow Mix, and a tiny litter box and a soft cloth to lie on. Even if I have to take her to the vet and have her euthanized, I figure her last night will be a safe, dry, calm one with a full belly. And no matter what happens, she won't be out in some horrible parking lot making more babies born to suffer. Right?
I'm pretty upset right now. Crying, actually. I hope someone here offers me some advice.
Thank you.
So...now in addition to the three pet cats (all rescues) we have, we now have this wild-eyed little ball of long, orange fur in a cat carrier in the garage. And I have no idea what to do with her. She's wild as all-get-out, and I really need advice.
I do not intend to keep her. As I said, we've got three others and live in a small house on an even smaller budget. But the best outcome would be for her to have a forever home elsewhere. But she'll have to be socialized first; she's quite the whirling dervish now!
And, of course, I'm worried about rabies (or other nasty bugs). I washed my wounds in hot water and soap about 5 minutes after I was bitten, and I've put Bacitracin on them.
So, here are my questions:
1) I think she's about 4 months old. Can she still become a loving, sweet, docile kitty, or will she be semi-feral and wild all her life?
2) Can we be sure she doesn't have rabies without killing her and testing the remains?
3) I've heard that if they're observed for a period of time, that's another way of telling they don't have it--but how long?
4) And should I start rabies shots in the meantime?
For now, I've got her in a very small, hard cat carrier in the garage, with a dish of water, Meow Mix, and a tiny litter box and a soft cloth to lie on. Even if I have to take her to the vet and have her euthanized, I figure her last night will be a safe, dry, calm one with a full belly. And no matter what happens, she won't be out in some horrible parking lot making more babies born to suffer. Right?
I'm pretty upset right now. Crying, actually. I hope someone here offers me some advice.
Thank you.