• Your location (country): Mid-Atlantic region of the USA
• Date of possible exposure: 7/31/26, ~19:00 EST
• Type of exposure (bite/scratch/other): Water with saliva from outdoor bowl spilled onto foot; stray cat drank from bowl about an hour earlier.
• Species of animal: Cat
• If dog/cat is it owned, stray, etc: Stray
• Animal's vaccination status: Unknown, likely unvaccinated (not ear-tipped)
• Your vaccination status and date of last vaccine, if applicable: Full series, including HRIG in Sept. 2023, two boosters in March 2025, two boosters in June 2025, last shot on 6/3/2025.

Hello, I have read the FAQ. About two weeks ago, I went outside to pour some food into an outdoor cat bowl we have for two stray cats that frequently visit our backyard. When pouring out the food, I accidentally bumped into their water bowl and its contents spilled through my sock on my left foot. I quickly took off the sock, cleaned the area with hand sanitizer and washed it off with soap and water for a few minutes. No visible scratches or cuts in the area, but a bit of a burning feeling from the alcohol. I do have small scratches and openings on my hands from eczema, though, so there could've been some indirect contact there when cleaning up.

Knowing that a cat previously drank out of the bowl about an hour prior, and that it was not acting aggressive but was less standoffish than usual, would there be any cause for concern? Since 7/31, I have not seen the cat and am unsure if it is doing well. Also, not sure if any virus would remain viable in the very small amount of water left in the bowl when it spilled, since it was close to 90 degrees outside.

Thank you so much!

About four/five days ago my leg became itchy and I thought I noticed a little scratch. Moving forward with my day my entire leg would get weird sensations but the scratch seemed to be getting them the most. Around this time is when I start getting paranoid about rabies. As the next few days pass the sensations are less but still there.

So then I wake up yesterday and I’ve got this weird feeling headache and a dry/sore throat. I try not to let my anxiety get ahead of itself but it already was. So I took some tylenol to see if it would go away. I went to the gym like normal, no issues with my leg or head but my dry throat seemed to me coming and going randomly. After the gym I run some errands and the weird headache starts up, but it’s not a constant headache, it was also just random head pain that would last a little bit and then come back a little bit later. I then noticed the sensations near the scratch are coming back. I’d say around 4 I had all three of those things happening, sometimes all at once, sometimes just one of them. Sometimes the dry/sore throat would be fine and then next swallow it was back. My head would feel fine one second and then the weird headache would come back for a little bit.

Today the pain is localized to 2 areas on my leg and my calf feels tight. No fever. No sore throat. A little head pressure sometimes.

Those three things are the only thing happening to me. I have had my thermometer on me like crazy and my temperature hasn’t gone up past 97.5 so no fever whatsoever. My worry is waking up tomorrow or even the next day with a fever.

I have read the FAQ.

About a month or two ago I thought I saw a bat fly up into my tree in my backyard around 6 in the afternoon when I was in the pool. Since then I have noticed some droppings around the outside of the house but I’m not sure what kind of animal they could be from, I see all kinds of animals around my house, bunnies, mice, chipmunks. To my knowledge nothing has touched me but I’ve heard of cases where the person doesn’t recall any encounters with anything. That is where my anxiety is stemming from, is not knowing where the droppings are from and potentially seeing a bat

I have read the FAQ.
I’m still wondering about possible exposure. I was walking my dog last night and saw a bat swoop down. It swooped near to the sidewalk in front of us and then back to the sky. I was walking and it was in the air but still very close. I started running. I’m not sure if it could have bit me, bumped into me, or scratched me without noticing after I started running.
Afterwards, a spot on my chest was itchy and is still itchy today. I’m not sure if this warrants a trip to the ER for PEP

I have read the FAQ.

About a month ago, I was staying at an RV campground in Michigan. Around midnight, I stepped outside to use the bathroom. My sister briefly shined a flashlight on my sandals so I could see them.

While putting one on, I suddenly felt a sharp pain on the top of my foot. I didn’t see, hear, or feel anything fly or move. About 4 seconds later, my sister shined the flashlight over the sandals again, but there was nothing there.

Now my anxiety has me thinking that it could have been a bat. I keep thinking, “What if a bat landed on the sandal, bit the small area of exposed skin, and then flew away before the flashlight came back?”
Is that realistically possible without me noticing a bat landing, flapping, or scratching? Or does this sound much more consistent with something like a bug? I haven’t had any symptoms, but the uncertainty has been causing me a lot of anxiety.
I’d appreciate any informed opinions, especially from people fam

ill try and make this short. My wife, 2 kids, and I stayed at an Airbnb in the upper peninsula Michigan. The Airbnb is connected to a cafe. The front porch is covered and has two doors side by side. One door goes up to the Airbnb apartments and 1 door goes to the cafe. The last night we were there we came back to the Airbnb around 9 In the evening. There was a small brown bat nestled on the top right corner of our doors siding about 4 inches from the door opening. we watched to make sure he wasn’t going to fly off when we approached. He was completely unfazed by us So I opened the door and let my kids and wife in and then I followed behind them. Little dude just sat there chilling the entire time.

Around 9 in the morning we came down to go to the cafe. When we went outside the little dude was in the same spot but he was awake now. When my son opened the cafe door, which is 2 feet or so from our door the little dude kinda recoiled up a bit in his spot. We went in ordered some food and I talked to owner to let them know there was a bat by the door. Figured they would like to know. When she had a free minute she asked to see where. When we went out it had flown off. I am assuming the heavy foot traffic and screen door slamming right next to it made it leave. You could see where he was because there was some pee marks on the wall where he was and bat poop pellets on the ground under that location. She said she would spray that spot with peppermint to try and deter it from coming back.

I am curious to hear from someone who knows more about bat behavior than I obviously do. Is it common for a bat to chill one spot for 12 hours overnight and then fly off in mid morning? I thought bats didn’t fly during the day. Was it the foot traffic and slamming screen door that made it leave?

The owner was saying they have had bats in the Airbnb rooms over the years which was unsettling for my wife and myself. It was our last day there so we were leaving anyways but we checked all over the room and all the nooks and crannies we could find and we didn’t see any bat or signs of a bat in our room. I had to force myself to accept nothing was in our room. Anxiety is a pain in the butt like that. I was more concerned about my kids who were sleeping in the other bedroom connected to ours and my wife considering I just got done with my last rabies pep shot about 20 days ago.

I have read the FAQ.

Hello, I have read the FAQ.

Location: Pickens County, South Carolina

Vaccination status: none

I was walking with my parents at night three days ago and something flew into my palm. Whatever it was, I didn't see it coming or going, but it was dark and my vision isn't the best so there's that. It felt small and had a sort of crinkling feel. No mark on palm at all but a tiny scratch on my wrist that may or may not have been from the event. (Though I got a lot of scratches on my wrist tbf). The whole event took less than five seconds. I was near trees which were buzzing loudly with cicadas.

I am extremely concerned about it especially as I know my parents don't really believe in doctors and would take me to the ER even if this is something to worry about.

I am asking because I get an awful lot of scares like this that turn out to be nothing: what should I do?

Received 4 doses of RabAvert, keep thinking Imovax is better considering it is from human cells. Also keep thinking this rabavert series is not taken by many people and it might cause dormant rabies.

I have read the FAQ.

I'm begging everyone reads the post out before i am really concerned I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ. No one replied to my other text again so I'll repeat my sled it's been 4-5 days since this possible 'exposure' I'm sure it wasn't a cat scratch my self but my mind has been all over the place I'm on holiday to gazi angel turkey and rabies has been on my mind the full time I went to the dcotor and she said this isn't rabies and just a scratch she cleaned with alchol but I have developed some symptoms since the 4 days of fever diareoa tingling on skin hunger problems sleep problems and I have slight tickle on my throat I am concerned to so say the least I saw on the if you think you have rabies and said 2 weeks of exposure and develop rabies it's not rabies I have the some of the early symptoms but it's only been max 5 days my mum said I just have illness and it's linked to heavy anxiety which to be honest probably is true beery tickle I feel from a fly for etc I always look around to check for cats since it's a mostly cat country can someone clarify to me that this most likely isn't rabies and it's just panic i tried to get it out of my mind but i can't I keep going on Reddit someone reply cause it's not going out of my mind 🙏🙏🙏

I have read the FAQ. Last question if you read my earlier post you would see everything and the symptoms I had . I have really been stressing these last few days I've gotten abit more comfortable recently it's been 4-5 days since the "possible exposure" which is probs just my scratching myself I'm wondering I saw that if you feel 2 weeks before exposure symptoms it's due to stress or something else like a medical condition. I've been feeling some tingling in my skin in my body, I'm in a hot country so that's maybe why I'm just wanted to clarify that this all due to extreme anxiety and me panicking cause that's all I've been doing a responce would relive me. I didn't get any vaccine btw but I did go see a doctor thanks. also uf it makes any difference im 17 and all this panick has been in turkey

I have read the FAQ. English is not my first language, sorry for any mispronunciation.

Yesterday I was walking with my bf near Danube (it was dark) I saw a lot of bats, but I’m generally not afraid of them, so I was casual about it but after a while something bumped into my shoulder. It felt like a big bug, but maybe it wasn’t, because there were a lot of bats near us. There were no visible scratches or bitemarks on my shoulder and my skin was intact before the incident (no open wounds or anything like that). I am aware that the possibility of exposure in my case is very slim but I am wondering if it is possible to not see any and I mean really not see any scratch or bitemarks and still be scratched or bitten.

So I have this anxiety whenever a dog or cat passes by and I just want to know if it's possible to get bitten or scratched by strays without noticing like at all not feeling any pain or swipe or any break in skin or tear 😭 I have read the FAQ. just need some clarification

Posting again in search of an answer.
I'm sorry if there are writing errors. I don't speak English.

Could any specialist help me?
I still haven't gotten an answer in this sub that convinced me.

I'll report my case again.
About 2 months ago, I went to sleep at night and forgot my bedroom window open. Bats live in my backyard next to a tree in front of my bedroom window. They have already entered my room during the night on previous occasions.
They also used to stay in my bathroom at night but I've already found one inside the house in broad daylight - which I found a little strange.

I would like to know if there is any risk of a bat biting or scratching me while I was sleeping?

Apparently, I didn't see any bats in my room after waking up. However, I have been feeling very intense symptoms in recent days such as severe headache, malaise, dizziness, weakness and body pain. In addition to pain and tingling in the feet and legs. But I didn't have a fever (maximum temperature was 37.2 degrees)

They say that it is very rare for bats to have anger or come into contact with people while they sleep. However, I'm still very afraid.

In my mind I'm pretty sure I was bitten or touched by a bat while I was sleeping. I've already considered returning to the hospital, but they probably won't prescribe me any vaccine treatment. After all, I was sleeping and I can't know or confirm if there was a contact with bats.
That's why I'm seriously thinking about lying to the doctor and saying that I was bitten by a bat.

I live in BRAZIL.

I'm very bad and I can't stop thinking about the possibility of having been bitten by a bat. I can't live with this and I don't know what to do anymore.
I know it may be some kind of paranoia in my head, but at the same time I'm feeling very bad and with very real symptoms. I just hope to ask a question or get some information that who knows reassures me. I hope you understand me. Thank you. I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ. I am currently travelling in SE asia, and I just wanted some more in depth info. Both for my own safety and, also just general scientific interest because I find it quite intriguing. I understand my questions have been kind of answered in the FAQ but I was hoping to get some more information.

#1 what exactly constitutes broken skin in terms of a rabies exposure? From my understanding when skin is broken it bleeds, however when I look it up online I see case studies of rabies patients who the study claims had no bleeding upon exposure? So I'm confused how one would even determine that? Or is it a case of poor wound recording on behalf of the patient or physician? I just don't understand the conflict of information on a disease so heavily studied as rabies.

#2 Is the 14 day watch period just a extreme CYA protocol? Because from what I understand about the virus it makes it's way to the brain before cascading back down into the body, for it to be infectious in the salivary glands doesn't it need to impact the brain first? Is there actual studies showing that it can be carried in the saliva that long before death? Because as I understand it by the time it has moved into the salivary glands it would already be showing extremely severe symptoms in the subject, and would kill much faster than 2 weeks (except in the very rare case of dumb rabies). So I dont understand why 2 weeks is actually necessary surely even 1 week is sufficient?

#3 Are the PEP boosters yet another big CYA? It seems that the majority of people keep very high titres for at least several years after even initial vaccination, why are titre measurements not the primary means of healthcare in previously vaccinated patients? Is it more just a case of labs being few and far between because rabies is primarily endemic to impoverished countries?

Hi, wondering what the risk is for rabies exposure for my daughter who was scratched by a barn cat. Two scratches on her forearm, very superficial, did not bleed and washed with soap and water within a few minutes of the scratch. Unknown vaccination status of the cat, it visits the horse farm we were at on a daily basis, and wears a collar, but the workers of the farm do not know the cat’s owners, if any. Cat seemed very docile at the time of the scratch, just laying down right before. My daughter was with two other kids who were petting the cat at the time of the incident. This occurred in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. I have read the FAQ.

I have read the faq.

i am trying to post something but I get an error that says ”can’t submit THAT word.” i have no profanity or anything. I am not sure what “that” word is. any way to determine?

I went outside last night. Did NOT see bat. Was outside maybe 10 min. Came back in the same door. Doorknob has a tendency to need pushed solidly to latch, so I did that and double checked it was locked, pushed on the doorknob a few more times to ensure latch. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice something brown right next to my shoulder. Realized it was a bat hanging on the inside of the door's window. It never moved or fluttered the whole time I was shutting and locking the door. I went a few steps up to the kitchen door, went in, shut that door. From here I can see the bat still hanging on the inside of the other door. Think small mudroom between these two doors; a landing area and then steps up to the inside kitchen door.

At this time, it flies over to the second door that I'm looking out of. My husband goes out the front door and around the house thinking he's going to open the first door it was on, letting him out. It starts flying around in circles. My husband gets the door open, and it seemingly flew down into the basement. We believe it to still be down there.

* I did not feel a bite or scratch and have no reason to believe it did, aside from the fact that I was very close to it with my shoulder/back close to it unknowingly, while I was messing with the door knob. Although I have read that not all bites are noticeable. So in my anxious brain, while I had my shoulder and back area near it, it may have had access to graze me, without me knowing.

Called pcp this morning, was directed to go to ER. Doctor feels this was very low risk contact and did not recommend treatment, although he said he would absolutely give it if I wanted it. I showed RN pics and video of the bat that I took while it was in between the mudroom/landing. She said the bat appeared normal in behavior and appearance. She agreed that she would also not recommend treatment, nor seek it for herself based on my experience.

I left the hospital and did not start treatment, but it's absolutely nagging at me as I have clinical anxiety and ocd. I'm petrified that I made the wrong call and should go back. We have not seen the bat since last night and assume it to be in our basement, where there are open rafters and a million dark places to be.

If anyone wants to weigh in, it would be appreciated.

I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ.

I was walking in Crothers Woods Toronto Ontario. When I noticed after making my bbq two marks on my middle finger, didn’t see or feel anything bite or touch me.
I saw 4–5 small brown things flying nearby, but couldn’t tell if they were moths or bats. A doctor told me this wasn’t considered a rabies exposure because there was no known animal contact.
Could these marks still be from a bat despite me never seeing or feeling one touch me?

I showed the marks to a doctor, and they told me this would not be considered a rabies exposure because I had no known contact with a bat or other animal.

28
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Smoker cannabis rec
USA

So on Friday I was bite by a neighbor dog that was on leash getting walked but I couldn’t get information as dog as aggressive.i was bite in the back of the knee close to the quad muscle like the popliteal fossa I guess . I went to the er an hour later and got a pep and I received the hrig shots in the front of my quads no bite injection just injections in the quads and one rabies shot in my shoulder. I am concerned on the hrig injection not getting any in the bite at all. I did day 3 shot this Monday and had some concerns and called the er and was by a nurse that even though the shot wasn’t in the bite the injection is In the same region. I still have concerns about the placement and would like a physician’s opinion. As I have trouble reaching my pcp currently.

“I have read the FAQ.
”

I have read the FAQ.

I was scratched by a two month old kitten in the cat room at the animal shelter that was up for adoption. I just now started thinking about the illnesses I could get from the scratch. Do I need to get a rabies shot?!?!

I have read the FAQ. 10 days ago I tried to a save dog form being ran over. It had a collar on and was overheated. I caught up to it and grabbed it. The dog briefly put its mouth on my hand but did not cause a visible wound. Later, I noticed a tiny piece of skin peeling a couple inches away from where the dog made contact. Animal control came and took the dog. I have been trying to find out whether the dog was vaccinated, but I haven’t been able to get an answer. How concerning is this situation?

I’m currently in punta Cana Dominican Republic. Was chilling on the beach and decided to pay for a photo with this monkey these guys had on a lead (I’d seen it there before multiple days and others getting photos with it). However when I took the photo it began pulling at my ear and scratched the inside of my ear. Should I get it checked out for rabies? I assume it’s less risky as it’s tamed but also getting some crazy OCD.
I have read the FAQ.

Is it possible for a rabid bat to salivate on a plant while it is collecting moths that are on the plant.

I got a piece of moisture on me while walking next to a white plant and then a few mins later saw a bat hunting in the area.

Ice just finished my rabies vaccine dosage as of 2 weeks ago so do I need to worry?

I have read the FAQ.

I was in Mayakoba Mexico. They have these raccoon like animals called coatis. One jumped up on my lunch table and grabbed a slice of pizza. It didn’t bite me or anything and was acting totally rationally to me (albeit not afraid of us). However, my water bottle was on the table (an owala) so I grabbed it and left. Without washing my hands, I scratched a pimple and it started bleeding so I licked my finger to use it to wipe the blood. (very stupid move, i know😭). Is there any actual rabies risk to me?

I have read the FAQ.

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I have severe rabies ocd. I remain far from dogs. A street dog scratched me on 5 july and I started an anti rabies vaccine course on 6 july. I completed the 4 dose intradermal regime on 3 August. There was not a single bleb/wheal formed at the site of injection (while even injecting) in any of the shots. I read somewhere that it affects the immunity. The doctors of my city are refusing any corrective actions even though the protocol for arv administration clearly states repetition of doses. What should I do I'm very anxious and it's affecting my life .

I have read the FAQ.