My unvaccinated indoor cat bit me. Do I need a rabies shot?

Question

My SO and I recently adopted a Bengal cat 8yo named Bonnie whose original owner did not vaccinate. So her last rabies vaccination expired in 2012. We have set an appointment for her vacs but she bit my SO last night. He is concerned and is wondering if he should get a shot for rabies. What is the likelihood of rabies if Bonnie was strictly indoor and had no interactions with an infected animal? Thank you. Pet's info: Cat | Bengal | Female | spayed | 10 lbs

Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH · Accepted Answer

Rabies can only be contracted by being bit by animal that is shedding the virus. The biggest concern for indoor only cats is if a bat has gotten into the house because we do not always know if that bat has bitten a cat. If Bonnie is not vaccinated for Rabies, then she may need to be quarantined for a period of time (usually 10 days) to make sure that she does not develop any signs of Rabies. That quarantine may be able to be in your house if you don't have any other animals or may need to be at a vet clinic or shelter. I would recommend contacting your veterinarian to discuss the specific legal requirements in your area. Depending on your state, she may not be able to be vaccinated for Rabies until after her quarantine period. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answers your questions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

My unvaccinated indoor cat bit me. Do I need a rabies shot?

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