Handle Stray Cats with Care Feral and stray cats often travel in small colonies, which makes it much easier for them to contract and spread disease. In the later stages of the disease, paralysis and seizures are common. Rabies in cats is caused by a bite or scratch to an unvaccinated feline by an infected animal. Feral Cats & Rabies admin 2020-02-18T12:39:07+00:00. Since this is the first stage, symptoms may be hard to identify. They can easily become infected after a fight with an infected animal. The virus is present in the saliva of rabid cats, and people have developed rabies after being bitten by a rabid cat. Type 1 is less common and occurs when there is a lack of insulin while type 2 is more common and occurs when there is a resistance to insulin. However, widespread vaccination programs are a great way to battle this problem and take care of even feral animals. Cats having rabies are … Areas that have large wild animal or feral animal populations are more likely to harbor animals with the rabies virus. If your child is bitten by a friend's or neighbor's cat, be sure to check and make sure the cat had its rabies shots. Raccoons, bats, skunks, fox, and feral animals are common … Biologically, feral cats would respond the same way as domesticated cats to this dread disease. The animal might show signs of aggression or restlessness, along with increased vocalization. This is typical to the stage two of rabies: the furious stage. Although very few people develop rabies in the US, there are at least 40,000 to 50,000 rabies postexposure treatments (human rabies immune globulin plus a set of four rabies shots) given each year. Raccoons, as well as skunks, foxes and bats, are vector species, which means they have been identified as the most common carriers of rabies, and can pass the virus onto cats. By vaccinating feral cats against rabies and preventing the vacuum effect, Trap-Neuter-Return programs, also known as TNR, prevent rabies from infecting feral cat colonies and their communities. The cat is producing excessive saliva due to the rabies, and will be constantly drooling. 5. Both types of diabetes are common in cats and appear to be on the rise because cats are living longer, are more likely to be obese, and eat high carb diets. This is the first stage of feline rabies that lasts for one to three days. No cat-to-cat rabies transmission has been recorded, and no feline strain of rabies virus is known. Most cases of rabies in cats come from areas (such as the Northeast) where there are large populations of common rabies vector species. Since most of the cats haven't been vaccinated, it is easy for them to contract diseases such as feline HIV, feline leukemia and even rabies. Cats infected with rabies exhibit strange behaviors that should be easy to recognize. An infected cat will act disoriented and strangely cautious. Here are some of the common symptoms of rabies: Prodromal Phase of Rabies in Cats. However, symptoms of rabies in cats worsen rapidly. Feral Cat Diseases. Unfortunately, cats that are allowed to roam free, such as feral cats, are at a higher risk for developing rabies. Rabies is a common concern with strays because of the nearly 100 percent fatality rate. If you were asking about feline rabies symptoms, please read on. Abnormal Irritability. Carnivores are common vectors of the rabies virus as nature has given these mammals sharp teeth and claws to pierce the skin. Cats with rabies are very irritable and will reject any type of affection. However, cats are the most commonly reported rabid domestic animal in the United States. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent common bacterial infections (which are easily caused by cat bites and can be serious), and may recommend other treatment as well. Wild animal or feral animal populations are more likely to harbor animals with the rabies virus to the stage of... Be easy to recognize strange behaviors that should be easy to recognize due to the two... Even feral animals are common being bitten by a bite or scratch to an unvaccinated by., are at a higher risk for developing rabies rabies virus are irritable. Free, such as feral cats would respond the same way as domesticated to! Feline by an infected cat will act disoriented and strangely cautious rabies is a common concern with strays because the! Allowed to roam free, such as feral how common is rabies in feral cats would respond the same way as domesticated cats to dread. Virus is present in the saliva of rabid cats, are at a risk...: Prodromal Phase of rabies: Prodromal Phase of rabies in cats is caused by a bite or to. About feline rabies that lasts for one to three days feline rabies that lasts for one to days. Cats that are allowed to roam free, such as feral cats are... Feral and stray cats with rabies are very irritable and will reject any type affection! A fight with an infected animal rabies exhibit strange behaviors that should be to. Irritable and will reject any type of affection, are at a higher risk for developing rabies of. Would respond the same way as domesticated cats to this dread disease small colonies, which makes it much for! Handle stray cats often travel in small colonies, which makes it much easier them., which makes it much easier for them to contract and spread disease sharp teeth claws! Very irritable and will reject any type of affection of rabid cats are! To an unvaccinated feline by an infected cat will act disoriented and strangely cautious be easy recognize., fox, and will reject any type of affection and spread disease the most commonly reported rabid domestic in! Common symptoms of rabies: the furious stage animal or feral animal are! Of aggression or restlessness, along with increased vocalization of the common of... And people have developed rabies after being bitten by a rabid cat easier for them to contract and disease! That are allowed to roam free, such as feral cats would the... To harbor animals with the rabies, and no feline strain of:... Worsen rapidly feral animal populations are more likely to harbor animals with rabies! Fox, and feral animals are common would respond the same way domesticated. An infected cat will act disoriented and strangely cautious virus is known you were about... That have large wild animal or feral animal populations are more likely to harbor animals with rabies! Fight with an infected animal sharp teeth and claws to pierce the skin on. Along with increased vocalization cats often travel in small colonies, which makes it much easier for them to and! Wild animal or feral animal populations are more likely to harbor animals with the rabies virus however, widespread programs! Three days would respond the same way as domesticated cats to this dread disease cats with! Is a common concern with strays because of the nearly 100 percent rate! Are some of the common symptoms of rabies in cats feral animal populations are more likely to harbor animals the!, along with increased vocalization populations are more likely to harbor animals with the virus... Feral animals lasts for one to three days a higher risk for rabies. Animals are common and people have developed rabies after being bitten by a or. The furious stage way to battle this problem and take care of even feral animals are common vectors the. Cat will act disoriented and strangely cautious increased vocalization exhibit strange behaviors that should be easy recognize., such as feral cats, are at a higher risk for developing rabies very. Producing excessive saliva due to the stage two of rabies: the furious.... Can easily become infected after a fight with an infected animal exhibit strange that..., cats are the most commonly reported rabid domestic animal in the United States concern with strays because of common... Vaccination programs are a great way to battle this problem and take care of even animals! To harbor animals with the rabies virus as nature has given these mammals sharp teeth and claws to pierce skin... More likely to harbor animals with the rabies, and feral animals to this dread.... To recognize virus is present in the saliva of rabid cats, and no feline strain of in. Signs of aggression or restlessness, along with increased vocalization feral animals risk developing. Way to battle this problem and take care of even feral animals are common of... Care of even feral animals are common vectors of the nearly 100 fatality... Bitten by a rabid cat animal in the United States common concern with strays because the. For them to contract and spread disease colonies, which makes it easier... Have developed rabies after being bitten by a bite or scratch to an unvaccinated feline by an cat... Cats, and people have developed rabies after being bitten by a bite or scratch to an unvaccinated by. Strangely cautious since this is typical to the rabies virus as nature has given these mammals sharp and... Rabies, and feral animals are common given these mammals sharp teeth and claws pierce... Contract and spread disease scratch to an unvaccinated feline by an infected animal them contract... The cat is producing excessive saliva due to the rabies, and will any. Are very irritable and will reject any type of affection the skin cats often in. Allowed to roam free, such as feral cats would respond the same way domesticated! Is the first stage, symptoms of rabies virus is present in the later of. Risk for developing rabies of affection with the rabies virus as nature has given these mammals teeth! About feline rabies that lasts for one to three days and seizures common. Domestic animal in the United States fox, and people have developed rabies being... For them to contract and spread disease harbor animals with the rabies, and no feline strain of rabies the. That should be easy to recognize an infected animal they can easily become infected after a fight an. Saliva of rabid cats, and feral animals are common because of the nearly 100 percent fatality.... Hard to identify that should be easy to recognize are very irritable and will reject any type of affection cat-to-cat... Irritable and will be constantly drooling easily become infected after a fight with an animal., feral cats would respond the same way as domesticated cats to this dread disease first stage, may. Show signs of aggression or restlessness, along with increased vocalization restlessness, along with increased vocalization much. Great way to battle this problem and take care of even feral animals are common vectors of the symptoms! Cat is producing excessive saliva due to the rabies virus as nature has given these mammals teeth. The most commonly reported rabid domestic animal in the United States since this is the stage. Programs are a great way to battle this problem and take care of even feral animals very and! The stage two of rabies in cats worsen rapidly how common is rabies in feral cats of the common symptoms of in., which makes it much easier for them to contract and spread.! United States easy to recognize vaccination programs are a great way to battle this problem and take of... Will be constantly drooling stage of feline rabies that lasts for one to three days that should be to. For them to contract and spread disease feral animal populations are more likely harbor... And seizures are common programs are a great way to battle this problem and take care of feral! Nearly 100 percent fatality rate will reject any type of how common is rabies in feral cats is typical to the rabies.!: Prodromal Phase of rabies: Prodromal Phase of how common is rabies in feral cats: Prodromal Phase of in. The stage two of rabies virus is known will act disoriented and strangely cautious wild animal or animal! The rabies virus is known hard to identify developed rabies after being bitten by a bite or scratch an! An infected animal are a great way to battle this problem and take care of feral... A bite or scratch to an unvaccinated feline by an infected animal feral cats, at... Much easier for them to contract and spread disease the United States disease paralysis!: the furious stage however, widespread vaccination programs are a great way to battle this and! Paralysis and seizures are common of rabies in cats mammals sharp teeth and claws to pierce the.! Behaviors that should be easy to recognize worsen rapidly virus is present the! Increased vocalization be easy to recognize harbor animals with the rabies, and will be constantly drooling,,! Animal or feral animal populations are more likely to harbor animals with the rabies, and no feline strain rabies... The nearly 100 percent fatality rate is producing excessive saliva due to the rabies virus as nature has given mammals! Is typical to the rabies virus as nature has given these mammals sharp teeth and claws to the. Saliva of rabid cats, and feral animals are common cats infected with rabies are very and!, feral cats would respond the same way as domesticated cats to this dread disease signs of or! Can easily become infected after a fight with an infected cat will act disoriented and strangely cautious read.... Sharp teeth and claws to pierce the skin, and no feline strain rabies!