Rabies is a deadly viral disease that attacks the nervous system of mammals, including cats and people. Once symptoms appear, it’s almost always fatal. The good news is that it’s easily prevented by vaccination. Here’s what every cat owner needs to know about rabies.
What Is Rabies?
Rabies is caused by a virus that enters the body, usually through a bite, travels along the nerves to the brain and causes severe, fatal inflammation of the brain. From there, it spreads to the salivary glands, which is how it’s passed on.
How Is Rabies Spread?
The virus is found in the saliva of infected animals, so it’s spread mainly through:
- bites from an infected animal;
- infected saliva getting into a scratch, an open wound or the eyes, nose or mouth.
Where Is Rabies Found?
- United States: rabies is present in wildlife, most often raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes. Cats are the domestic animal most often reported with rabies in the US, mainly because many outdoor and stray cats are unvaccinated. Many states and local governments require cats to be vaccinated against rabies.
- United Kingdom: the UK is free of classical rabies in land animals, although a rare, related virus is found in a small number of bats. Pet cats in the UK don’t need a routine rabies vaccination unless they’re traveling abroad, but the vaccine is required for international travel.
Even indoor cats can be exposed: a bat can get into the house, or a cat can slip outside. In areas where rabies is present, vaccination is the only reliable protection.
Signs of Rabies in Cats
The time between a bite and the first symptoms (the incubation period) can range from a couple of weeks to several months. Signs can include:
- sudden changes in behavior: an affectionate cat may become aggressive, or a shy cat unusually friendly;
- restlessness, irritability and attacking without reason;
- excessive drooling or foaming at the mouth;
- difficulty swallowing;
- a change in meow;
- staggering, weakness or paralysis, often starting in the back legs;
- seizures;
- fever and loss of appetite.
These signs can also be caused by other illnesses, so only a vet can assess the situation. There’s no test for rabies in a living animal, and no cure once symptoms appear.
What to Do If Your Cat May Have Been Exposed
- Don’t touch the wound with bare hands. Wear gloves if you need to handle your cat.
- Call your vet right away, even if your cat is vaccinated. Your vet will advise on a booster vaccination and any legal requirements, such as observation or quarantine, which vary by state and country.
- Report the incident if your vet or local authorities ask you to. If it’s safe and possible, tell animal control where the wild animal was seen, but don’t try to catch it yourself.
If you’ve been bitten or scratched by a cat or other animal that might have rabies, immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, and see a doctor or go to the emergency room as soon as possible. Treatment given promptly after exposure (post-exposure prophylaxis) is highly effective at preventing rabies in people.
How to Protect Your Cat
- Vaccinate your cat if you live in an area where rabies is present, or if your cat will travel abroad. Kittens are usually vaccinated at about 12 to 16 weeks of age, then given boosters as your vet advises, typically after one year and then every one to three years, depending on the vaccine and local laws.
- Keep your cat’s vaccination certificate in a safe place. You may need it for travel, boarding, licensing or if your cat bites someone.
- Keep your cat indoors or supervised outdoors, especially at night, when wildlife is most active.
- Don’t feed wildlife or stray animals near your home, and keep trash secure.
- If you find a bat in your home, don’t handle it with bare hands. Contact your local animal control or health department, especially if anyone, including your cat, may have had contact with it.
Read more about cat health records and travel documents.
