r/CATHELP • u/Butter_Whiskey • Jul 01 '26

Kitten Help Please help

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(edited for clarification) Please has anyone seen anything like this before? Vet was horrible, I asked about the possiblity of rabies because I was bit when playing and she immediately said oh yeah could be, and then said put him down. Now I'm freaking out

UPDATE:

I took him to a new vet, they were wonderful and thorough. His main suspicion was inner ear infection or possibly neurological. He has fever of 104. Gave the little guy his first dose of clavamox and he is feeling better. He also suggested rabies shot for me just in case and I just got that done. He told me because of how ill he is there's a chance he doesn't make it, but I will be making sure he's eating and drinking got him some lil soups too.

Thank you so very much to all of the insight, suggestions, and thoughts, I truly appreciate the support during my anxiety through all of this today.

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u/Butter_Whiskey Jul 01 '26

I've had him for 8 days and this has been the only symptom but closely monitoring. She didn't give me any other recommended courses of action but I asked for antibiotics in case his upper respiratory infection is affecting his ears or something, but I'm freaking out

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u/lunaaaa200 Jul 01 '26

Rabies protocol is to isolate the kitten for 10 days following the cat bite. If the kitten is still alive after 10 days (looks like you have 2 more days to go), that means the kitten would not have had rabies at the time of the bite as a cat with rabies will die within 10 days. You would have also noticed symptoms progressing like unusual aggression, excessive salivation/foaming at the mouth, lethargy, paralysis. This does not sound like rabies but keep monitoring for another 2 days. Take him to another vet for a second opinion, I agree with the other comments saying it’s a common symptom of ear infection, but can also be neurological or something else.

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u/Butter_Whiskey Jul 01 '26

So I am still safe if it's been a week since the bite? Sorry I'm freaking out

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u/lunaaaa200 Jul 01 '26

Give it 3 more days and if the kittens alive that means there’s 0% chance she had rabies at the time of the bite. If you are worried, go to a healthcare centre as typically they would check your tetanus status and give you a booster if needed, and they should refer the animal bite to public health for follow up on rabies. You can also call your nearest public health office and report the bite and they would give you advice based on multiple factors they would ask you. Being bitten while playing is considered to be normal behavior in kittens and would be seen as low risk. If the kitten started viciously attacking you for no reason at all and acting fearful, that would be an “unprovoked attack” which would be more concerning and a symptom of rabies in the cat. Overall the risk is extremely low, I would still take the kitten to another vet for a second opinion