What is rabies in cats? Rabies is a virus that negatively affects the central nervous system of mammals. It is almost always fatal, and death usually occurs within a week of symptoms. The disease is spread through the bite of an infected animal. It’s a zoonotic disease, which means it can be passed from animals to humans. If bitten by an animal with rabies, humans are as susceptible to the virus as animals. Most cases involved non-domesticated animals such as skunks, raccoons and bats. Domestic pets such as cats and dogs can also be infected. Symptoms of Rabies Rabies has a variety of symptoms, not all of which are present in every infected animal. The first sign you may see may be a change in your cat‘s behavior;
- It may become withdrawn, anxious, shy, or afraid.
- Your pet may also lick and bite the wound. These initial symptoms may lead to further behavioral changes, such as restlessness, agitation, difficulty walking, and atypical responses to noises and sights. The “blistering in the mouth” symptoms commonly associated with rabies are caused by paralysis of the muscles responsible for swallowing and vocalization. This prevents the cat from swallowing, so there will be excess “frothy” saliva. Rabies Transmission When an animal or person is bitten by an infected animal, saliva spreads the disease through the nerves and spine into the brain. In the absence of any symptoms, the incubation period is 3 to 24 weeks. Once the brain is infected, the rabies virus replicates to the salivary glands and symptoms begin to manifest. In rare cases, the virus can be spread through eye, nose or mouth contact. Biting is the most common mode of transmission of the disease. Diagnosing Rabies To determine how concerned a cat is with the rabies virus, the veterinarian will look for signs of symptoms and review the cat’s medical history. However, a definitive diagnosis can only be confirmed by brain tissue samples and direct fluorescent antibody testing (dFA) after death of the animal. Humans can be diagnosed by testing saliva, hair, skin, and blood samples, but these are uncertain, and this type of test doesn’t work on animals. If your cat has been exposed to the rabies virus, it will need to be quarantined so that it can be recognized when symptoms develop. This is especially true for unvaccinated pets. Any cat that develops symptoms will be euthanized. Rabies Treatment There is no cure for rabies, and there is no cure for the virus. When animals show advanced symptoms of rabies, euthanasia is the only option. Death is almost always the result of the disease, and euthanasia can prevent your pet from suffering and prevent the spread of disease to other animals and humans. When humans are exposed to rabies, they must start a treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This treatment consists of a series of injections of rabies vaccine and immune globulin. PEP will not work after humans show signs of infection. Even in humans, the disease is almost always fatal when symptoms appear. Rabies Prevention 1. Rabies prevention is very simple and the best way to prevent infection with the virus. Your cat should receive routine rabies vaccines. The frequency of this routine varies between one and three years. Your veterinarian can explain the legal requirements for rabies vaccinations and help you make the best choices for your pet. There is also a human vaccine, but the guidelines and process are different from those for animals. People who work with wild animals or pets, as well as people who travel to areas at high risk for rabies, can be vaccinated.
- After vaccination, keeping your pet away from rabies will help prevent the possibility of infection. When your cat is outdoors, keep it within sight of you and don’t let them roam in areas where wild animals live. Keep your cat away from animals you are unfamiliar with, and if your pet does get bitten by an animal, take him to the vet right away. Prevention of human rabies is also important. Teach children to be cautious with animals. When a person is bitten by an animal, they should see a doctor immediately. When an animal or human is bitten by an animal, get as much information about the animal as possible. You should obtain the owner’s contact information, pet vaccination history, and any rabies exposure the pet may have had. If the bite is from a wild animal, there may not be much information available, but the local health authority must be notified.
Rabies is easy to prevent, although it is a dangerous and deadly virus. The two most important things to remember;
- Make sure your pets receive routine rabies vaccinations and always minimize the risk of exposure.
- What rabies is, symptoms, expected progression and outcomes, and how to prevent rabies will keep you and your entire family (pets and people) safe.
