[skeem2005]

We have a male tomcat that is dying. He's been under the weather for a couple of weeks, and his illness is finally taking him. I suspect rabies because I see a brown, crusty residue around his mouth, which may be caused by dried saliva. He is currently moaning in pain. He can't move and his limbs are twitching, but that is characteristic of most dying creatures.

My family and I left for a weekend, and when we returned we found him lying in the cold wet grass outside (he'd been there for a few hours I suspect). My first reaction was to move him to a drier place, so I picked him up out of the grass. After handling him I noticed a small knick on my hand that was bleeding, but I was not scratched or bitten. I cleaned my hands with soap and water several times.

We live on a farm in rural Wisconsin with many other farm cats and stray raccoons. This tomcat was aggressive when healthy and fought with other cats. My mother absolutely refuses to have his remains tested for rabies because we cannot afford it. I'm curious of the chance this cat does have rabies Assuming it does, what are the chances I could have contracted the virus.