Anyone who has ever seen the movie Old Yeller is familiar with the deadly and tragic disease of rabies. Although well-known and infamous, vaccination programs have helped make rabies less common in domestic dogs and cats. However, it is still important to be aware of the symptoms of rabies in cats, as many wild animals can be infected and easily transmit the disease to you or your cat if you are not prepared.
Rabies is a viral, zoonotic neuroinvasive disease. In layman’s terms, this means that rabies is a virus transmissible to humans that affects the brain. It is most commonly spread from infected animals to humans and other animals through bites. Left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal to both humans and animals.
In North America, the most common sources of rabies infections are foxes, raccoons, skunks, wolves, coyotes, and bats. These animals are highly susceptible to the virus, which is often prevalent within their populations. By contrast, cats, humans, and dogs are naturally more resistant to the disease. It is estimated that only about 15% of bites from affected animals will result in rabies in humans and domestic animals. However, because rabies is almost always fatal, any bite to you or your animal from one of these common sources should be reported to your doctor or veterinarian so that appropriate medical care can be provided.
Most cats that become infected with rabies have been bitten by one of these wild animals, usually during hunting or fighting. The rabies virus is shed in high levels in saliva, and after a bite, it begins to spread through the nerves of the newly infected animal, moving toward the brain. Rabies is a slow-moving disease, with the typical onset of symptoms occurring 2–6 weeks after infection in cats, and 3–6 weeks in people. In some cases, however, the virus moves more slowly, and animals may begin to show symptoms as long as 6 months after being bitten.
Once the virus reaches the brain, the symptoms of rabies in cats will begin to appear.
The first phase is known as the prodromal phase, during which early, non-specific symptoms may begin to manifest. Affected cats may become more nervous than usual or show signs of increased anxiety or apprehension. Behavior changes may occur, with normally friendly cats becoming more withdrawn or easily annoyed, and normally standoffish or aggressive cats suddenly becoming quiet and affectionate. In wildlife, this is when typically skittish animals may lose all fear and venture out of their habitat, approaching humans. Spikes of fever may develop, leading to episodes of normal behavior and energy alternating with lethargy and depression. The prodromal phase typically lasts one to two days.
After the prodromal phase, the symptoms of rabies in cats become more specific, and the cat enters the furious phase. This phase can last from 1 to 7 days, during which the animal becomes progressively more restless and aggressive, reacting strongly to visual and auditory stimuli. The cat may become vicious, and disorientation may lead it to attack or bite without warning or provocation. As this phase progresses, seizures may begin as inflammation in the brain worsens. Depending on their severity, some animals may die as a direct result of these seizures.
Within 2–4 days of the first signs, animals may enter the paralytic stage. Nerves in the head and throat become impaired, and animals will begin to exhibit the classic symptom of excessive salivation due to their inability to swallow. Labored breathing and difficulty with jaw movement may also develop, as the virus destroys the animal’s ability to breathe and control muscles. Eventually, the animal will die from respiratory failure, struggling to breathe without the muscle strength to do so.
At this point, rabies is diagnosed based on clinical signs, vaccination history, and the animal’s clinical history. The only way to definitively confirm rabies is to submit the deceased animal’s brain to a laboratory for testing.
Before 1885, virtually every person or animal that contracted rabies died as a result of the virus. However, since the development of the rabies vaccine by Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux, rabies prevention in animals and treatment for humans exposed to the virus have become possible, making this vaccine an extremely reliable and life-saving invention.
Because there is no post-exposure treatment available for dogs and cats, and because rabies is almost always fatal, the best way to safeguard your cat against rabies is through vaccination. Required by law in many states for all dogs and cats, rabies vaccination programs have been essential in reducing the number of rabies cases in domestic animals. Vaccinated dogs and cats have almost no chance of contracting the disease if bitten, making rabies vaccination a vital part of any pet owner’s strategy against disease.
Currently, rabies in cats is far more common than in domestic dogs in North America, perhaps because fewer cats (less than 10%) are vaccinated, and their natural prey drive makes them more likely to engage with potentially infected wildlife.
Rabies vaccinations are available through your veterinarian, as well as at various shot clinics and other venues in your community. Vaccination protocols for rabies are typically started at 16 weeks, when a kitten receives its first vaccination. That vaccine is then boosted one year later, and every 3 years thereafter. However, some communities and states have their own regulations regarding the frequency of rabies vaccines, so it is important to consult your veterinarian to ensure you are vaccinating your cat according to your state’s recommendations and requirements.
Rabies is a devastating and notorious illness that can be easily transmitted to unvaccinated cats via the bite of an infected animal. To prevent this deadly disease in your cat, establishing a vaccination program is crucial to ensure your cat is not at risk.
