Cat scratch or bite in Istanbul (Turkey) — do I need a rabies vaccine?

If a stray cat has a notched/clipped ear, it usually means the animal was vaccinated against rabies as part of a sterilization program. If the ear is not clipped, it's safer to get vaccinated.

Even if the infection risk is extremely low, it's better to be safe and get vaccinated rather than risk it.

One challenge: the rabies vaccine course usually requires multiple doses and should start right away — continuing a course started in Turkey once you're back in another country (e.g. Russia) may not always be possible, according to other travelers.

According to one traveler, in the past a single vaccine dose was sometimes enough, but this info may be outdated — Turkey is officially classified as a rabies-risk country, so it's best to confirm the correct protocol with a local doctor.

One traveler's experience: in Russia they got the antirabies vaccine plus a tetanus shot — a long and unpleasant process. Doctors explained that days 0, 3, and 7 of the course are critical; if you can observe the animal and it stays healthy, the course can sometimes be stopped early, but if the animal isn't under observation, it's better to complete the full course.

After this experience, one traveler decided to stop petting street cats in Istanbul and only photograph them, even though the city is full of friendly stray cats.