How to determine if a cat has rabies

Rabies vaccination is a free service provided by all state-funded veterinary clinics without exception.

How to recognize rabies in a cat

Contributor(s): Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and treating companion animals. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked in the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Number of sources used in this article: 11. You will find a list of them at the bottom of the page.

About 55-60,000 people die from rabies each year in the world. [1] X Source of information This is most often due to bites from rabies-infected animals. Cats that have not been vaccinated or whose last vaccination has expired can become infected by contact with rabid wild animals. If you yourself have been in contact with a cat you suspect has rabies, know that you should pay attention to a number of symptoms characteristic of the disease. Be sure to use extreme caution if you think a cat might have rabies and do not try to capture a rabid animal yourself. Contact a trapping service, your local animal control station, or even the police.

Identifying symptoms of rabies

• Muscle pain;
• restlessness;;
• irritability;
• chills;
• fever;
• general malaise (a painful condition and discomfort);
• photophobia (fear of bright light);
• anorexia (loss of interest in food);
• vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• coughing;
• inability or unwillingness to swallow anything.

• Paralysis (loss of motor function) of the legs, muzzle muscles and other parts of the body;
• Sagging lower jaw (which gives the animal a "dorky" look, but it's not funny at all);
• increased salivation, which leads to the formation of foam around the mouth;
• difficulty swallowing.

• Increased salivation and foaming around the mouth;
• water phobia, expressed as the cat's fear of approaching water and even fear of the noise of water;
• aggression, including grinning, which indicates a willingness to bite;
• restlessness;
• loss of interest in food;
• attacks and biting;
• Inappropriate behavior, such as the urge to chew on itself.

Can a domestic cat have rabies?

An out-of-town cat has several routes of infection: it can come across a dead animal and, with wounds in its mouth, become infected by eating (this is unlikely, but possible) or by being bitten by an infected animal. If the bite marks on the body are visible, in the first case it is difficult to suspect infection. Cats will often fight in the street, and owners may not pay attention to their injuries.

Rats and mice could theoretically act as carriers as well. Although, again, this has not yet been confirmed in practice. In villages and suburban areas, there are more rodents than in high-rise areas.

Even if the cat never leaves the house, there is always the danger that a sick animal will get into the house itself. Moreover, wild animals, being infected with the rabies virus, start reaching out to people and pets, visiting plots and houses. So, if you observe a similar picture, you know: most likely, the animal that came from the forest is infected.

Contact of a cat with a fox is possible. The fox in the video may or may not be rabid. But in any case, the owners should not have filmed the video, but stopped the contact.

In apartment buildings there is also a possibility of rabies infection, although it is much lower than in the private sector. The danger can come from rodents living in basements. If a cat cat catches a mouse or rat, it is better to take away its prey immediately. As we have already said, cases of rabies transmission from rodents are not confirmed in practice, but it is still better to be reinsured.

The most common vectors of rabies are foxes and dogs. But the body of the dog has a medium degree of susceptibility to the virus, while the body of the cat – a high degree.

Rabies in cats and cats living at home can also occur through contact with any street or stray animals. It would seem, how can an apartment cat come into contact with such animals? There are different cases. For example, sometimes bats fly into apartments. If this seems unlikely to you, we answer: it depends on where. Even in large cities, there are entire neighborhoods where bats fly into apartments all the time. Of course, most often not directly into the room or kitchen, but on balconies they are noticed. Here are the stories of two eyewitnesses.

Does rabies occur in kittens?

Kittens are more susceptible to the rabies virus due to their immunity and small size. The risk of infection depends on the living environment. If a kitten from birth lives in an apartment that excludes rodents, the risk of getting rabies is almost zero. It is another matter if a kitten is picked up from the street. In the street it could have been bitten by an animal infected with rabies. Also kittens can theoretically transmit rabies virus through the placenta, but in practice, sick cats can not give birth or do not survive to give birth.

Once in a new home, even before signs of the disease, a rabid kitten may bite the new owner and transmit the virus through saliva. Therefore, for your own safety, to detect rabies in a kitten, you should take it to the veterinarian for examination, and then, instead of immediately taking it home, it is better to put it into quarantine. After quarantine, when it is clear that the kitten is healthy, he can be taken home. Such an option is not bad, because at the same time in the quarantine kitten will be treated for fleas, given antihelmintic preparation and can even give basic vaccinations. This way, the new home will be clean and healthy for the pet.

The quarantine period won't be long, because signs of rabies appear much faster in a kitten than in an adult cat: most often within a week of contact with the source of the virus. Such a short incubation period of rabies in kittens is due to the fact that the movement of the virus through the stem cells is 3 mm per hour, so the small, not yet robust body is affected within a few days. By quarantining a kitten, you give it the opportunity to undergo preventive measures in a secluded environment, and you will protect yourself and your family from terrible diseases.

The symptoms of rabies in kittens are most often manifested by restlessness, lethargy, gastrointestinal disturbances, loud meowing that quickly turns into loss of voice due to throat spasm, seizures, paw paralysis, progressive central nervous system damage, which soon leads to death.

How cats contract rabies

The rabies virus is contained in the saliva of sick animals. When bitten, the virus enters the wound with the saliva. The virus "prefers" muscles, less often blood. In the muscles is the primary reproduction of the virus, then by the peripheral nerves it travels to the brain, where it is again subjected to reproduction and by the motor nerves comes to the salivary glands, less often – to the eyes.

It is impossible to control a cat on a free walk, because these animals love the most secluded places. Many of the felines are good hunters, so they attack rodents, moles and hedgehogs. Especially since their biological cycles (nocturnal lifestyle) are the same. The cat gets into a fight and can get deep bites with skin and muscle damage. This is how the virus enters the pet's body and infection occurs.

Cats are territorial animals and are often even better guardians than dogs. A cat will defend its home and land to the last moment, even from strange companions. There is no animal more terrible than an enraged cat. In fights, a pet can be injured by teeth and claws from stray sick cats. The wounds serve as a "gateway" for the virus to enter the body. Bite wounds from sick dogs can also lead to rabies infection.

A domestic cat can be infected with rabies when saliva containing the virus comes into contact with damaged mucous membranes and skin. Very rare but probable cases of transmission are airborne, when the concentration of the virus in the air is very high.

Symptoms of rabies in cats

Many people associate rabies with aggressive and biting animals. But these clinical signs do not appear immediately in an infected cat. There are cats that become ill after being bitten, and there are animals that are immune to infection with the rabies virus. The incidence of rabies in cats varies:

A young cat with a bite in the neck and muzzle area will show clinical signs of rabies more quickly. The virus spreads through the body after a bite. This is the incubation period of the disease (also called latent), which in cats can last from 9 to 51 days, on average about 2.5 weeks. During the incubation period, there are no clinical symptoms.

1. Subclinical. The precursors of rabies appear. Short stage (lasts one day). A sick cat's body temperature rises, reflexes are disturbed, pupils dilate, and behavior changes: calm animals become agitated, and aggressive ones become suspiciously affectionate and sociable. Already during this period, cats can bite everyone in a row.
2. Clinical, or agitation stage. In this stage, which can last up to 7 days, sick cats are the most dangerous. Signs of rabies in this stage are:
   • aggression, nervousness, excitability, the cat lunges at others;
   • trembling in the muscles, uncoordinated movements;
   • disturbance of coordination, the cat sits in strange poses;
   • drooling and foaming from the mouth;
   • impaired swallowing, ingestion of food and water.
3. Stage of paralysis and coma with fatal outcome. This stage may occur without the development of striking clinical signs.

The danger of rabies in cats is that a number of symptoms are non-specific, that is, can be observed with many diseases. Failure to seek help in time can lead to rabies infection of others from a sick cat.

Incubation period

Thus, the amount of virus that has entered the body is important. For example, if a large area has been affected by wounds or bites, the pathogens will need less time to multiply.

The affected area is also important: in the case where the pathogen has reached the areas on the head, it will almost immediately invade the nerve endings.

Not unimportant is the age of the pet. In kittens, whose immunity has not yet fully formed, the first signs of rabies appear within 1 week. For adult pets, this period increases up to 3-6 weeks.

On average, the Rabies virus makes itself felt in 3-4 weeks. However, there are known cases of incubation period lasting 6 months and even 1 year.

Symptoms and stages of the disease

The main danger of rabies is that A cat is contagious even a few days before the first symptoms appear. And at this time, a person can already contract the Rabies virus from his or her pet.

Violent form

The most common form is the rabid form. It has several stages. On average, the disease lasts 3 to 10 days.

The first stage is the prodromal or early stage. It lasts for about 3 days. During this time, the cat becomes lethargic and inactive. It tends to hide in dark places and makes contact with obvious reluctance. Another possibility is that the cat, which has never been overly affectionate before, will increasingly show warm feelings toward its owner. Gradually the pet becomes fearful. Another common manifestation is the urge to eat inedible objects.

The second stage is manic. The cat develops muscle spasms. She hardly drinks water, she has abundant salivation. The cat becomes aggressive: it may attack people and other animals. Over time, she becomes depressed, hiding in hiding places. The manic stage lasts for 3-5 days.

Finally, the depressive stage …the depressive stage…which lasts about 48 hours. The cat begins to have paralysis of the muscles and limbs. This is followed by death.

The paralytic form

In the paralytic form of rabies, the cat becomes overly affectionate and even obsessive. But gradually this condition is replaced by lethargy and apathy. Next comes paralysis. Its signs are a sagging jaw, abundant salivation, tongue out of the mouth. The duration of the paralytic form is about 7 days.

Atypical form

This form runs with signs of gastroenteritis – vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes the pet is observed seizures. It is difficult to diagnose the disease, because the signs are similar to the symptoms of other diseases.

How rabies is transmitted in cats

There is no innate immunity in cats to this disease, it can only be acquired as a result of vaccination.

From the moment the virus enters the body to the appearance of a clear clinical picture there is always a certain time, which is called the incubation (latent) period. It depends on the age of the cat. In adults it can be from three to six weeks, in small kittens – never more than 7 days. The duration of the incubation period also depends on the overall condition of the animal, the depth, size and area of the bite. For example, with bites to the head, the latent period is significantly shorter.

Rabies in domestic cats can have quite different symptoms. The clinical picture will depend on the form of pathology.

Forms of rabies

The violent form is fixed most often, the first signs of rabies in cats in this case are as follows:

• Changes in the behavior of the animal – sometimes the cat looks lethargic, avoids contact with people, its appetite is absent. Sometimes, on the contrary, the animal behaves too intrusive and affectionate, constantly resting its head against the owner's legs.
• An increasing feeling of anxiety, increased fearfulness. The cat is constantly scratching and gnawing at the bite site.
• Perversion of appetite – the cat eats common food poorly, but greedily swallows inedible objects (stones, straw, wood chips…).

As the pathology progresses, the main signs of rabies in cats appear:

• Difficulty swallowing, caused by spasms of the smooth muscles of the pharynx, accompanied by profuse secretion of saliva. Sometimes owners think that the animal has choked on something.
• Increased aggression, even to the point of rage – the cat lunges at people and animals. At the same time, these attacks are followed by a state of depression and exhaustion. And at the slightest shout, noise, bright lights, the attack of rampage resumes.
• Emaciation and loss of voice.
• Lower jaw drooping, tongue falling out of the mouth, accompanied by profuse saliva secretion.
• Strabismus, dilated pupils, sometimes corneal clouding.

In the latter stages of the disease, paralysis of the limbs and torso sets in. On average, the active phase of rabies can last from 3 to 11 days. Death of the animal comes from paralysis of the respiratory and cardiac muscles.

The paralytic (silent) form of rabies lasts for a short time, recognizing rabies in a cat in this form can be seen by the following signs:

Paralysis of the lower jaw, paws, torso develops as early as 2-3 days after the onset of symptoms.
In the paralytic form of rabies, the cat does not behave aggressively and does not react in any way to its owner.

The atypical form of the pathology is rare and characterized by a long course (up to several months). It is accompanied by lethargy, lethargy and depression. The cat eats poorly, and gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, constipation, vomiting) may occur. Atypical rabies is accompanied by exhaustion, convulsive trembling, and atrophy of the muscles.

Transmission of the rabies virus

In a separate article, we will consider the signs of rabies in cats and what different forms of the course of the virus.

Regardless of the form of the disease in an animal, even if it does not show aggression, close and touch it is not necessary. Despite the fact that most cats suffer exactly the aggressive form, some of them catch the paralytic form of rabies. Then it seems to the owner that the animal can be taken in his hands and locked up. In practice, even cats with the paralytic form of rabies attack humans if they are touched.

Therefore the first tip: before making a plan to catch the animal it is better to leave the room where it is. And the cat itself – to lock up in that room. Then you can put the cat in a metal cage. When attempting to lock up an aggressor, you should wear mittens, which are difficult to bite, and protect your body with outer clothing. It is also better to protect your face with a mask – that's where the animal will be aiming. If the animal is so aggressive that you are afraid of not being able to cope, it makes sense to call the rescue.

Infected cats, even peaceful ones, should not be provoked by loud noises or bright lights. It is better to retreat away from the animal without unnecessary stimuli. Touching it is not necessary, as it can be seen as an excuse to attack.

Rabies prevention in cats

Since rabies in domestic cats is not curable and the causes of rabies in cats vary, it can only be prevented. Fortunately, effective prevention exists. It is she is the key to ensure that the pet will be healthy.

The only effective prevention of rabies in cats is vaccination. The vaccine is first given to kittens at the earliest three months of age or just after the change of teeth. If the vaccine was not given in childhood, it can be given at any time during adulthood. To strengthen the immunity it is necessary to vaccinate adult animals every year, because the intense immunity to the virus persists for one year after vaccination. It is best to revaccinate (re-vaccinate) the day before or even a little earlier. The pet is given a veterinary passport where all vaccinations with dates and brands of preparations are recorded.

Vaccinations are given only to clinically healthy cats that have been previously treated for parasites. To free the cat from helminths, it is necessary to give it at least 14 days, but no later than 1 month before the supposed vaccination.

Also, in order to prevent rabies, owners should try to prevent pets from associating with stray animals, that is, not to let them out of the house alone. Walks with cats are allowed only in the presence of the owner. At the same time, the owner must walk the animal on a leash.

The threat of infection in the CIS countries is real. Episodic outbreaks of rabies are registered even in large settlements, so you cannot categorically ignore preventive measures, explaining such a refusal by the insignificant risk of infection. As we have already said, the risk exists even in the city.

By the way, in localities where there is a threat of rabies, specialists of the state veterinary service conduct free preventive vaccinations of cats and dogs. Owners of cats who cannot afford to pay for the vaccine can take advantage of such a service.

Atypical rabies in an adult cat

The most difficult to diagnose and dangerous for humans, because the incubation period of rabies in cats is hidden. At first, the animal shows signs of digestive distress, which makes it necessary to go to the veterinarian and undergo examination. Symptoms:

Can a cat infect its owner? Getting rabies when flowing in this form of rabies in a pet, the owner is at great risk, because he is not aware of the danger. The duration of the pathology in this form is up to 3 months.

Analysis and diagnosis

When identifying whether or not an animal has rabies, it is important not to confuse the symptoms with other abnormalities in health, because an incorrect diagnosis can cost a person his life (if the cat attacks him).

The difficulty in diagnosis is that it is impossible to say for sure whether or not there has been an infection until the death of the individual. The rabies testing of saliva and cerebrospinal fluid in cats does not always allow a 100% certainty that the virus has not penetrated the cells.

If infection is suspected, the pet should first be isolated from humans and other animals for a period of 10 to 30 days. After death or putting to sleep, the corpse of a four-legged animal is dissected and the brain tissue is examined to determine the presence of the pathogen.

If the result is positive, Babes-Negri bodies in the form of bubbles with fluid will be found. In Russia, most often tests are not organized for pets, and only signs and symptoms are evaluated.

When an animal is admitted to the veterinary clinic, it is evaluated according to several parameters:

1. Whether there are bite marks on the body, whether the cat tries to lick certain areas of the coat;
2. Whether any changes in behavior are noticeable;
3. What is the reaction to stimuli, is there any aggression;
4. whether or not there is a fear of water, light;
5. the amount of saliva secreted;
6. presence or absence of appetite;
7. preferred body position;
8. coordination of movements.

Preventive measures

The most effective way to minimize the risk of infection in a cat is vaccination. The cost of vaccination against the virus is 700-900 rubles.

The market of veterinary medicines offers several effective means, which reduce the risk of rabies infection. In particular, we are talking about "Nobivac Rabies", "Quadricet", "Rabican", "Leukorifelin". All of them practically have no side effects, but the most popular is the first of the listed drugs.

At what age is it recommended to start vaccinating? As soon as the kitten is 3 months old. And it is necessary to vaccinate the pet every year. You can read about how to inject the cat yourself in our article.

Rabies vaccination is a free service that is provided by all state-funded veterinary clinics without exception.

Important! In all civilized countries of the world it is obligatory to vaccinate cats against rabies. And if the owners of the pet ignore this rule, they won't be able to leave the country with it. Also a pet will not be allowed to exhibit, if there is no corresponding vaccination mark in the veterinary passport.

Useful video:

Veterinarian's opinion on rabies in cats: the course of the disease and its symptoms.

Today, the rabies virus poses perhaps the greatest threat to animals and humans. Episodic outbreaks of rabies are particularly prone to metropolitan areas, and it would be naive to expect that living remotely from them will guarantee their own safety for life and health.

Every day about 100 people die of hydrophobia. The number exceeds 50,000 per year, and the number of animals killed is in the millions. Such terrifying statistics are due to the fact that in 99% of cases, pets infected with rabies do not survive.

This is the reason why it is necessary to systematically vaccinate pets to minimize the risk of hydrophobia infection.