Every year, the United States' world of health is colored by several cases of rabies virus infection in cats. Generally, rabies is prone to attack cats who are not vaccinated (or whose vaccination process is delayed), and/or have physical contact with other animals infected with rabies. Worried that your cat has rabies? Basically, there are some signs of rabies in cats that you should watch out for. If your cat is suspected of having rabies, make sure you are always careful when you are around him (never try to catch him alone!). Instead, immediately contact animal control (if available in your area), wildlife rescue groups, or local police.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Detecting Signs of Rabies in Cats
Step 1. Watch for early signs of rabies
The early stages of rabies can last from two to ten days. During this time, the cat will generally look sick with non-specific symptoms. These non-specific early symptoms are:
- muscle ache
- nervous
- easy to get angry
- fluctuating body temperature
- fever
- unexplainable discomfort
- afraid to be photographed, as a representation of fear of light
- anorexia or loss of interest in food
- gag
- diarrhea
- cough
- difficulty swallowing
Step 2. Examine the cat's body for bite marks
If you suspect your cat has had physical contact with an animal infected with rabies, try examining its body for bite marks. In fact, the rabies virus can survive on a cat's skin or fur for up to two hours. Therefore, make sure you always wear gloves, long sleeves, and long pants when examining his body. The rabies virus is transmitted through saliva. That is why rabies is transmitted through bites. After entering the body, the rabies virus will immediately spread through the nerves to the spinal area and brain of the cat. Take your cat to the vet immediately if you notice any of the following signs:
- bite marks
- scab
- scratch marks
- messy fur with dried saliva marks
- festering wound
Step 3. Watch for signs of “daze” or paralysis
Rabies often appears in the form of "daze" and paralysis. In other words, a cat infected with rabies will constantly look lethargic, confused, and sick. In this type of rabies, the cat is generally not vicious and will not even attempt to bite. The symptoms include:
- paralysis (inability to move) the legs, facial muscles, or other parts of the body.
- lower jaw dropping, thus making the face look stupid and dazed
- excess saliva that forms foam around the mouth
- difficulty swallowing
Step 4. Watch out for the dangerous symptoms of rabies
Cats infected with the dangerous rabies virus often act aggressively, behave oddly, and foam at the mouth. Although these signs are very identical to rabies, you will not find them in the "paralyzed" type of rabies. If your cat shows dangerous signs of rabies, contact animal control immediately. Be careful, cats infected with rabies are dangerous and vulnerable to attack, so never try to catch them alone. Signs of dangerous rabies are:
- excessive saliva that looks like foam around the cat's mouth
- water phobia, which is the fear of being near water or even the fear of hearing the sound of water
- aggressiveness, such as always showing teeth as if ready to bite
- anxiety
- loss of interest in food
- likes to bite or attack
- displaying strange behavior, such as biting one's own body
Method 2 of 3: Treating a Cat Infected with Rabies
Step 1. Call animal control if your cat is suspected of having rabies
Remember, never try to catch it alone! Instead, contact a specialist so that your cat can be taken to the vet immediately without risking your safety.
You should also contact animal control immediately if your cat starts acting strangely and/or aggressively
Step 2. Take your cat to the vet
If your cat is bitten by a fellow cat or other animal, immediately put it in a cage and take it to the vet. Most likely, your vet will ask you some questions about a possible rabies infection (skunk smell in your yard, physical contact with a raccoon, potential bats in your area, etc.) and check your cat's health.
Always remember that there is no accurate rabies test for living animals. To accurately detect, the cat's brain must be completely removed from the body, then the doctor will take a part of the brain sample to be observed under a microscope
Step 3. Ask for a booster shot (additional vaccinations) for your cat
If your cat has previously been vaccinated against rabies, try requesting additional vaccinations as soon as your cat is bitten. Additional vaccinations are useful to help his immune system fight the rabies virus. Your cat will also need to go through a 45-day observation process. Don't worry, this process can be done in your home (as long as the cat is not in physical contact with humans or other animals).
Step 4. Prepare yourself for the possibility of euthanasia
If your cat has never been vaccinated against rabies and is proven to have received a bite from an infected animal, your doctor will most likely recommend euthanasia, especially since rabies is a serious threat to human health. In addition, your cat has the potential to become crazy and aggressive afterward.
- If the owner refuses this option, the cat usually needs to go through a six-month quarantine and observation process. The quarantine process must be carried out at a veterinary clinic for a certain fee.
- Your cat will only be allowed home if it is proven that it is free of rabies. After that, he only needed to receive the rabies vaccine one month after being allowed to go home.
Method 3 of 3: Protecting Cats from Rabies
Step 1. Make sure your cat is vaccinated regularly
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection with the disease. In some countries, rabies vaccination is even required by law.
Establish a regular vaccination schedule with your veterinarian. The vaccination process generally has to be done once every year, every two years, or every three years
Step 2. Do not let your cat roam outside the house
Another way to protect your cat from potential rabies is to prevent it from coming into contact with wild animals. Keeping your cat out is an ideal way to protect it from street cats, raccoons, or other animals that could potentially become infected with rabies.
If your cat is used to roaming outdoors, allow her to do so under your supervision. Never allow your cat to be near unfamiliar animals
Step 3. Block stray animals trying to enter your yard
Rabies virus is often carried by wild animals that do not have owners. If your yard isn't attractive to wild animals, your cat's chances of making harmful physical contact will decrease. Some things you can do to prevent wild animals from entering your yard are:
- close all trash cans
- make sure there are no hiding places for skunks or raccoons, like on your roof
- put up a fence to prevent wild animals from roaming in the yard
- diligently pruning trees and bushes
Tips
Remember, the potential for infection is not related to the cat's age. In other words, even kittens can be infected with rabies
Warning
- Clean the bite marks on the cat's body with soap and water. Even if you don't think your cat has rabies, make sure you call your doctor. Be careful, bite marks can become infected if not treated immediately.
- Be wary when near bats, raccoons, skunks, or foxes. These animals are the most common source of rabies in the United States.
- Avoid wild animals even if they are small! Be careful, baby animals can also carry the rabies virus. If you find a baby animal that has been abandoned by its mother, immediately contact animal control or a wildlife rescue group to take care of the animal.
