In continuation from Wednesday…

After winding paper towels around our bloody limbs, we went outside and I asked the wildlife rescue person for her contact information.  I told her that I needed that kitten to be tested for rabies.  At that time I had no idea that the cat had to be destroyed and the brain matter examined in order for rabies to be determined.  She reluctantly provided me with her number with a promise that the kitten would be vetted the next day.

Our trip to the hospital yielded quite a bit of information about the dangers of contracting rabies.  It was highly recommended by the medical personnel that we undergo the rabies vaccination series as we could not be guaranteed that the kitten would be turned over to county authorities.  Being that rabies is 99.9% fatal if contracted, it is best to begin the vaccination regime as soon as possible we made the choice to undergo the painful series of shots.

Once given in the stomach, the rabies vaccine is now given in muscle tissue.  Legs, arms, hips and buttocks are the favored spots to be jabbed.  The needles are extremely large and the serum that is injected feels like a pile of burning pudding.  The immune globulin is by far the worst shot that is given.  We must continue to undergo the shots for two weeks in order to complete the series.

Our personal experience with the aftermath of the vaccines is about the same.  We both feel very ill.  Our muscles contract uncontrollably.  There are constant aches and pain, blurred vision, headaches, dizziness, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, chills, and difficulty concentrating.  We are told this is an allergic reaction, but we must still undergo the vaccine to be safe.

As a side note, the wildlife rescue lady never did turn over the kitten, nor did she have it vetted. The reality is, you should never approach a wild animal or feral cat.

You never know when an animal will become frightened or become aggressive.  You cannot always tell if a wild animal has rabies, especially if it is at the beginning stages of the disease as the animal will appear to act normally.  Any wild animal that is trapped in your attic, walls, shed, garage, or crawl space should only be handled by a NJ pest control professional like Stern Environmental Group.  We will be able to humanely remove feral cats, raccoons, squirrels and opossums from your home quickly and efficiently.