Rabies in Cats

What is rabies?raccoon_rabies


Rabies has been recognized and described since approximately 2300 BC.


How widespread is rabies?

Rabies occurs in every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Most countries are affected. The majority of countries that are rabies-free are islands.

Countries or islands that are currently accepted rabies-free are:



Republic of Ireland

St Pierre et Miquelon Islands



St Vincent





New Zealand


Cayman Islands


Turks and Caicos Islands


St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla

United Kingdom


St Lucia



St Martin (Netherlands Antilles)


These rabies-free countries have relied on strict quarantine laws to keep the disease out, and particularly to stop the virus from getting into the wildlife of those countries. Great Britain and some other rabies-free countries have recently changed their quarantine regulations for fully vaccinated and microchip identifiable cats and dogs that meet certain conditions.


How is the virus transmitted?

Rabies virus does not survive long outside a mammal's body. Since the virus can be shed in the saliva of infected animals, the virus is usually transmitted when the saliva of an infected animal is introduced beneath the skin of a bite wound. In North America the skunk, raccoon, fox, and bat are important reservoirs for the virus, whereas in Europe, foxes are the main source of infection for people and other animals. In Asia, Africa, and Latin America the main reservoir is not wildlife, but stray, free-roaming dogs. In these areas, human infection is more common.




The speed at which clinical signs develop depends upon:


2.  The severity of the bite.



What are the clinical signs of rabies?



2.  This phase is then followed by so-called furious rabies that is by far the most common type observed in the cat. During this phase, excitement predominates and it is at this stage that the cat is most dangerous, both to other animals and to the owner. The cat becomes increasingly nervous, irritable, and vicious. Muscle spasms will often prevent swallowing and there is excessive drooling of saliva.


A noted feature of rabies in cats is the widely dilated pupil throughout all stages of the disease.


How is rabies diagnosed?rabies_in_cats-2





Is it possible to survive a bite from a rabid animal?





Is post-bite vaccination always effective in people?




Is post-bite vaccination used in exposed cats?




What is the treatment for rabies?



Can I catch rabies?

Yes, the disease is zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted from an animal to hummans. However, it is only transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal. The virus is present in the saliva of the infected animal only for a limited time.



In February of 2018 the World Health Organization issued a new rabies vaccination and post-exposure recommendation. Those who have been bitten and have not previously been vaccinated for rabies should receive immunoglobulin (antibody) promptly, followed by a series of vaccines. Those previously vaccinated do not require immunoglobulin, but will still receive several vaccines again the virus.


Should my cat be vaccinated?



Are there any ill effects from rabies vaccination?

Rabies vaccines are safe and there is no risk of the vaccine causing rabies. The formation of lumps or cancers (sarcomas) has been associated with some types of killed vaccines in the past, but these cases are extremely rare. Safer vaccines that are less prone to creating tissue reactions are available, so talk with your veterinarian if you are concerned with this remote possibility.


