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Every year, the United States reports several cases of rabies in cats. Cats contract rabies when they are not vaccinated or when their vaccines have expired, leading to exposure to wild animals carrying the rabies virus. If you encounter a cat suspected of having rabies, there are specific signs of the disease you can look for in the animal. Always handle the situation with extreme caution and avoid attempting to capture potentially infected cats. Immediately contact animal control, local wildlife organizations, or the non-emergency police line.
Steps
Recognizing the Symptoms of Rabies
Observe the early symptoms of rabies. The incubation period can last from two to ten days. During this time, the cat may show subtle changes in behavior and physical condition. Early-stage symptoms of rabies include:
- muscle pain
- restlessness
- irritability
- shivering
- fever
- general unease, a common state when cats feel unwell or agitated
- photophobia, an extreme fear of bright lights
- loss of appetite or disinterest in food
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- coughing
- inability or unwillingness to chew or swallow
Check for bite marks or signs of a fight on the cat's body. If you suspect your pet cat has been exposed to a rabid animal, inspect its body for bite marks or signs of a scuffle. The rabies virus can survive on a cat's skin or fur for up to two hours, so wear gloves, long sleeves, and pants before handling the cat. Infected saliva can transmit the virus to healthy animals through bites. Once the virus enters the body, it travels through the nerves to the spinal cord and brain. Take the cat to a veterinarian immediately if you notice any signs such as:
- bite marks
- scabs
- scratches
- matted fur with dried saliva
- pus-filled sores
Look for symptoms of 'dumb' or paralytic rabies. Dumb rabies is the most common form in cats. A cat with dumb rabies will appear lethargic, confused, and depressed. In this form, cats are rarely aggressive and seldom bite. Symptoms of dumb or paralytic rabies include:
- paralysis (inability to move) in the legs, jaw, or parts of the body
- a drooping jaw, giving a 'dumb' appearance
- excessive drooling or foaming around the mouth
- difficulty swallowing
Be extra cautious if the cat has furious rabies. Cats with furious rabies are aggressive, exhibit abnormal behavior, and froth at the mouth. While this is the behavior most people associate with rabies, furious rabies is less common in cats than dumb rabies. Call animal control for assistance if you suspect a cat has furious rabies. A cat with furious rabies may attack, so do not attempt to capture it yourself. Signs of furious rabies include:
- excessive drooling or foaming around the mouth
- hydrophobia, or fear of water or the sound of water
- aggression, such as baring teeth as if ready to bite
- restlessness
- lack of interest in food
- biting or attacking
- abnormal behavior, such as self-mutilation
Treating a Rabid Cat
Contact animal control if you notice a cat showing signs of rabies. Do not attempt to capture a rabid cat yourself. If you observe symptoms of rabies in a cat, the best course of action is to contact animal control. This ensures the cat is taken to a veterinarian without putting you at risk.
- You should also contact animal control if your pet cat exhibits strange behavior or becomes aggressive.
Take the cat to a veterinarian. If your cat has been bitten by another cat or animal, place it in a carrier and bring it to a veterinarian as soon as possible. The vet will ask about potential rabies exposure (such as persistent odors in the yard, contact with raccoons, or any bats in the area) and monitor your cat.
- Remember, there is no live animal test to confirm rabies. Diagnosis requires examining brain tissue under a microscope to detect Negri bodies.
Request a rabies booster shot for your cat. If your cat has been previously vaccinated, it will receive a rabies booster immediately after the bite. This helps the immune system fight the virus. Monitor your cat for rabies symptoms for 45 days. This can be done at home as long as the cat is confined and isolated from other animals and people.
Be aware that euthanasia may be necessary. If your cat is unvaccinated and bitten by a rabid animal, euthanasia is often recommended. Rabies poses a serious threat to human health, and the likelihood of the cat contracting rabies is high.
- If the owner refuses euthanasia, the cat must be quarantined and monitored for six months. This quarantine must occur at a veterinary clinic, with all costs borne by the owner.
- If the cat does not die from rabies during this period, it can return home. A rabies vaccine must be administered one month before release.
Protecting Your Cat from Rabies
Ensure your cat is up-to-date on rabies vaccinations. Vaccination is the most effective and valuable method to prevent rabies. In many countries, rabies vaccination is legally required.
- Schedule regular vaccinations with your veterinarian to maintain the vaccine's effectiveness. Some vaccines require annual, biennial, or triennial administration.
Keep your cat indoors. Another way to protect your pet cat from rabies is to isolate it from wild animals. Keeping your cat indoors is ideal because it prevents exposure to nearby animals that may carry rabies, such as stray cats, raccoons, or other wildlife.
- If your cat is accustomed to going outside, only allow it outdoors under close supervision. Ensure it does not approach any unfamiliar animals.
Prevent wild animals from entering your yard. Wild animals are common carriers of rabies. If your yard is unattractive to wildlife, your cat is less likely to encounter infected animals. Here are some steps to deter wild animals from your yard:
- Securely cover all trash bins.
- Eliminate potential hiding spots for skunks or raccoons, such as under decks or sheds.
- Install fencing to keep wandering animals from sneaking into your yard.
- Maintain your garden and trim overgrown bushes.
Tips
- Remember that age is not a determining factor for rabies infection. Even kittens can contract rabies.
Warnings
- Treat bite wounds by washing them thoroughly with soap and water, and contact a doctor immediately, even if you don’t suspect the animal has rabies. Untreated bites can lead to serious infections.
- Exercise extra caution around bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. In the U.S., these animals are the most common carriers of rabies.
- Leave wild animals alone! This includes young animals. Even baby animals can carry rabies. If you find abandoned young animals, contact animal control or a wildlife rehabilitation center for assistance.
