I was scratched/possibly bit by a stray cat that sometimes hangs around feral cats that I have been helping for a little over a year. I am scared from rabies after reading about it. I didn't learn about the diseases cat transmit until I got scratched and started reading since the incident. I didn't get professional medical assistance and I am very scared of contracting a deadly disease.
I was getting an item that was left out in the back yard and I saw the yellow cat jumping off fence from the neighbor's side He most likely was looking for the feral cats . He walked by the house and when he saw him he approached me. He usually would stand , stair at me and meow. I was in a rush, so I ignored him and walked away. Suddenly it felt like he was biting me. It was the first time that happens to me from an animal so I walked away fast.
The scratch/bite happened on my outer left knee to the back of the knee (I apologize if the photos are graphic).
Is this a scratch and a bite/ or just a scratch?
May 6th scratch/bite
same area May 12th
He also scratched the back of my leg, about 6 inches - 12 inches above my foot. (unfortunately no photo for that area from day of the incident) here it is as of (may 12th 2022)
May 6th - scratched me also front leg, 6 inches below the knee (barely visible now)
Cat that scratched me kept meowing most of the night, sounded like a cry. I checked on him 6 a.m May 7th and I found him with another feral cat and shortly left after and I haven't seen him since then.
I am now scared to even get close to these cats about what I read online about the disease specially rabies.
Here is the story behind the cats that I have encountered (First animals I have ever dealt with and I am a male in mid 30s).
I have been helping two feral cats a little over a year as I found them living under my shed march 2021. They were little and seemed hungry I felt bad so I fed them soft food (mostly canned tuna) then soft food a few months then introduced them to cat food and they accepted it. they have been living and the roaming the neighborhood but come often to me asking for food. (I have never had a pet or ever dealt with animals before them)
September 2021
October 2021
nov 2021
during the winter it got cold, so I allowed them to live in the shed and setup warm areas for them to live hoping they would survive.
December 2021
January 2022 - female knocking on door asking for food
In January 2022 this cat showed up and started and showed interest in the female and started to hangout with both cats.
January 2022
January 2022 - (new cat with the male feral)
He started mating with the female cat. Between January 2022 - and early april 2022 but he would only show up roughly 4-6 weeks for a 3-4 days then disappear. He allowed me to pet him and the second day I encountered him in January he walked around me and stood by my feet. Seemed to want attention. From the little I know about cats, he seemed like a stray cat. I tried giving him cat food (hard crunchy type) I tried giving him a piece of grilled salmon that I was eating and he refused. The only thing he accepted from me was milk.
Fast forward to May 1st. He showed him and I had not seen him in nearly a month. He made a little strange noise like coughing, gargling, (not sure how to describe it) like something is stuck in his throat but he is hanging with the two cats as he usually does normal.
He showed up May 1st and hung around until May 6th
May 2nd
May 4th
May 6th (The day of scratch/bite)
they mated that day as well. The other male was hanging around near them.
May 6th at night after he attacked me about 1 - 2 hours after. I had cleaned the wounds with soap, water and alcohol.
The next morning 6 a.m (may 7th 2022) . He was meowing most of the night, sounded like crying. 6 a.m I went to check on him and saw him hanging with a third feral cat that I saw one of the neighbors feed him. I watched them for several minutes then I saw him walk away and I have not seen him again since then.
I was getting an item that was left out in the back yard and I saw the yellow cat jumping off fence from the neighbor's side He most likely was looking for the feral cats . He walked by the house and when he saw him he approached me. He usually would stand , stair at me and meow. I was in a rush, so I ignored him and walked away. Suddenly it felt like he was biting me. It was the first time that happens to me from an animal so I walked away fast.
The scratch/bite happened on my outer left knee to the back of the knee (I apologize if the photos are graphic).
Is this a scratch and a bite/ or just a scratch?
May 6th scratch/bite
same area May 12th
He also scratched the back of my leg, about 6 inches - 12 inches above my foot. (unfortunately no photo for that area from day of the incident) here it is as of (may 12th 2022)
May 6th - scratched me also front leg, 6 inches below the knee (barely visible now)
Cat that scratched me kept meowing most of the night, sounded like a cry. I checked on him 6 a.m May 7th and I found him with another feral cat and shortly left after and I haven't seen him since then.
I am now scared to even get close to these cats about what I read online about the disease specially rabies.
Here is the story behind the cats that I have encountered (First animals I have ever dealt with and I am a male in mid 30s).
I have been helping two feral cats a little over a year as I found them living under my shed march 2021. They were little and seemed hungry I felt bad so I fed them soft food (mostly canned tuna) then soft food a few months then introduced them to cat food and they accepted it. they have been living and the roaming the neighborhood but come often to me asking for food. (I have never had a pet or ever dealt with animals before them)
September 2021
October 2021
nov 2021
during the winter it got cold, so I allowed them to live in the shed and setup warm areas for them to live hoping they would survive.
December 2021
January 2022 - female knocking on door asking for food
In January 2022 this cat showed up and started and showed interest in the female and started to hangout with both cats.
January 2022
January 2022 - (new cat with the male feral)
He started mating with the female cat. Between January 2022 - and early april 2022 but he would only show up roughly 4-6 weeks for a 3-4 days then disappear. He allowed me to pet him and the second day I encountered him in January he walked around me and stood by my feet. Seemed to want attention. From the little I know about cats, he seemed like a stray cat. I tried giving him cat food (hard crunchy type) I tried giving him a piece of grilled salmon that I was eating and he refused. The only thing he accepted from me was milk.
Fast forward to May 1st. He showed him and I had not seen him in nearly a month. He made a little strange noise like coughing, gargling, (not sure how to describe it) like something is stuck in his throat but he is hanging with the two cats as he usually does normal.
He showed up May 1st and hung around until May 6th
May 2nd
May 4th
May 6th (The day of scratch/bite)
they mated that day as well. The other male was hanging around near them.
May 6th at night after he attacked me about 1 - 2 hours after. I had cleaned the wounds with soap, water and alcohol.
The next morning 6 a.m (may 7th 2022) . He was meowing most of the night, sounded like crying. 6 a.m I went to check on him and saw him hanging with a third feral cat that I saw one of the neighbors feed him. I watched them for several minutes then I saw him walk away and I have not seen him again since then.
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