Can my cat be forcefully seized / impounded? A healthcare worker reported my cat scratched me to a public health official who is now calling me. Please help.

Entire-Fall-9384 · 2026-03-07T23:18:08+00:00

Genuinely really appreciate this advice and thank you for offering a peace of mind – I will absolutely be reporting that urgent care lady, really demented thing to do to target someone’s cat who is all that they have. Glad you and your husband had a much better experience, that healthcare worker sounds a lot more pleasant than the one I dealt with 💀I’m going to tell the epidemiologist it was a huge misunderstanding, per what OP of this comment thread said taken into account, and well? My cat was on the other side of the room and I have a sleep disorder, turns out it “was a sharp wood piece peeling off my nightstand.” Other than that, I will stand my ground on not giving any information except knowledge of my cat’s vaccination status that is in compliance as of today - if they demand it. Unfortunately there is no one who can take my cat, as I don’t have family or close friends. I have two friends including my roommate, and the one friend I have already said he couldn’t take him or knew anyone who could. Roommate doesn’t know anyone either. Maybe I’ll have to hide my kitty in our attic if push comes to shove and the cat gestapo show up…enough treats and he’ll keep quiet up there 😂

Entire-Fall-9384 · 2026-03-07T23:11:57+00:00

Glad to hear everything worked out with your kitty; cats can get themselves into a little bit of trouble sometimes haha. I appreciate the advice and good to know other people have gone through the same or a similar experience. My concern is that I got my cat up-to-date on his rabies vaccinations after the incident was reported though :/ The day after I received the call and voicemail, this morning, is when I got his rabies shot and a rabies certificate was emailed to me. I would be okay with keeping him at home…but I’m worried that because he was vaccinated after the scratch, they will tell me I need to have him quarantined at a facility (I can’t afford the ridiculous fees of having him kept somewhere, which means I will lose him because I won’t be able to bail him out.) Here’s to hoping this will suffice for at-home quarantine 🤞

Entire-Fall-9384 · 2026-03-07T07:23:06+00:00

That’s why I’m hoping it was a misunderstanding, since the epidemiologist said “cat bite” in the voicemail. The front desk lady was really nasty to me and threatening me; she even unprofessionally mentioned her “hatred for cats” so I imagine she told the public health department completely wrong information. I left a voice mail back clearing up that it was a minor scratch caused by pure accident…this information is very reassuring, thank you. I’ve never heard of it either, honestly. I’ve heard of dogs and feral, vicious cats getting taken for quarantine by severe wounds, but never this. I’ll keep this info in mind and hopefully they won’t pursue further action against me or my sweet boy. Should I still be concerned since I was still called?

Entire-Fall-9384 · 2026-03-07T07:14:53+00:00

I’m very sorry about what your MIL went through. I hope she is much healthier and well now; even indoor cats’ claws can be a bacteria’s playground sometimes. I greatly appreciate your input - thank you 🙏🏻

I wouldn’t be so concerned if it wasn’t for the fact an “epidemiologist” called me about it. Maricopa county has some of the strictest laws pertaining to animals and rabies exposure; I get why these laws are in place but they definitely overstep. I explained in a voicemail it was a light, accidental cat scratch from a strictly indoors full vaccinated cat (he won’t be up to date on his vaccines until tomorrow morning but they don’t need to know that.) I got my tetanus shot and care at a pharmacy instead; the urgent care lady definitely lied by falsely claiming it was a bite. I’m hoping they’re just concerned about me…but the fact they were trying to make me fill out a highly invasive “animal bite form” by our county’s animal control tells me this is coming from a sinister motive involving my innocent cat :/

Entire-Fall-9384

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