A few cases of rabies occur in cats each year, mainly because some are not vaccinated or immunizations have expired by the time the felines come into contact with other wild animals that have contracted the disease. If you approach a stray cat and suspect it has rabies, you can pay attention to certain signs of the disease. Always proceed with great caution when you are near a feral cat if you think it may be infected and do not attempt to catch it if you are concerned that it may have contracted the virus. Contact the veterinary office of the local health authority in your area, an association for the protection of animals or call the police.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Detect Signs of Anger
Step 1. Pay attention to the early signs
The first phase of the disease can last from two to ten days, during which the cat looks sick but does not exhibit specific symptoms. The main signs of the early stage of the disease are:
- Muscular pain;
- Restlessness;
- Irritability;
- Chills;
- Fever;
- General malaise, which is a general feeling of illness or discomfort;
- Photophobia, fear of bright lights
- Anorexia, disinterest in food;
- He retched;
- Diarrhea;
- Cough;
- Inability or reluctance to swallow.
Step 2. Check your cat for bites or signs of a struggle
If you think he has come into contact with an infected animal, look for bites or other signs on his body that might suggest a fight. The rabies virus can live on your cat's skin or fur for up to two hours, so wear gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants before grabbing your cat. When a rabid animal bites another, its saliva can transmit the virus to the healthy specimen; once pathogenic microorganisms enter the body, they travel through the nervous system, reaching the spinal cord and brain. Take your kitty to the vet immediately if you notice the following signs:
- Bites;
- Scabs;
- Scratches;
- Tousled hair with traces of dry saliva;
- Abscesses.
Step 3. Check if it is the "dumb" or paralytic form of anger
This is the most common form among cats; the affected specimen appears lethargic, confused and sick, is not aggressive and rarely tries to bite. Among the main symptoms you can note:
- Paralysis of the paws (inability to move), facial muscles or other parts of the body
- Lowering of the jaw, which gives the cat a stupid expression;
- Excessive salivation that creates foam around the mouth
- Difficulty swallowing.
Step 4. Act more cautiously if your cat exhibits aggression
In this case, the animal is often belligerent, exhibits unusual attitudes and develops mouth drool. Most people who imagine an animal sick with rabies think of these behaviors, but in reality the furious form is less common in cats than the paralytic one. If you are concerned that your feline friend has contracted this type of infection, contact the ASL veterinary office for help, as the animal is sure to attack and you should not try to catch it yourself. Among the main symptoms of furious anger consider:
- Abundant salivation, which appears as foam around the mouth
- Hydrophobia, fear of approaching water or even terror of simply hearing its noise;
- Aggression, for example, it bares its teeth when it is ready to bite;
- Restlessness;
- Disinterest in food;
- Tendency to bite or attack
- Unusual behavior, such as biting your body.
Method 2 of 3: Treating a Rabid Cat
Step 1. Call the ASL veterinary office if you see a cat that looks infected
Don't try to grab it yourself; if you notice signs of the disease, it is best to contact the competent bodies, so that the animal is entrusted to a veterinarian without the risk of it being able to bite you.
You must contact the proper authorities even if your cat is behaving strangely or aggressively
Step 2. Get him checked out by a vet
If your cat has been bitten by another cat or other animal, place it in a carrier and take it to the vet as soon as possible. Your doctor will ask you questions about possible rabies exposure (if you've smelled wild animals in the garden or there are bats in your area) and examine the cat.
Keep in mind that there are no tests to be performed on live animals that can define with certainty whether the cat is infected or not; to obtain a sure diagnosis it is necessary to take the brain from the body and dissect it into small parts to examine it under a microscope in search of Negri's bodies
Step 3. Make sure he is given the rabies booster
If your cat has been vaccinated against the virus in the past, you should have a booster immediately after the bite. this strengthens his immune system and fights the disease. However, he should be observed for the next 45 days for symptoms of the infection; you can proceed safely at home as long as the cat remains confined and does not come into contact with other animals or people, if not family members.
Step 4. Be aware that sometimes it is necessary to practice euthanasia
If the cat had not previously been vaccinated and was bitten by a surely rabid animal, it is often advised to proceed in this way; this is because rabies is a very serious threat to people's health and there is a high chance that the cat will contract it.
- If the owner of the cat refuses to proceed with the euthanasia, it is necessary to quarantine the animal and keep it under observation for six months; this isolation can take place at a veterinary clinic and the costs are borne by the owner.
- If the animal survives the disease during this time, it can go home; the only thing needed at this point is to put him on a rabies vaccine one month before releasing him.
Method 3 of 3: Protect the Kitty from Anger
Step 1. Update your cat's vaccinations
Making sure that the cat is subjected to the booster against rabies is the most effective and economical way to avoid the disease; in some countries this procedure is a legal obligation.
Set up a vaccination schedule with your vet to make sure your pet is always protected; some vaccines must be given annually, others every two years, and still others every three
Step 2. Keep it indoors
Another way to prevent your feline friend from getting rabies is to prevent contact with wild animals. keeping it indoors is the best method, as it is not exposed to neighboring cats or other potentially rabid wild animals.
If your cat is used to spending time outdoors, only let him out under close supervision and avoid getting close to unfamiliar animals
Step 3. Discourage wildlife from entering the garden
Animals that live in nature are the most common vehicle for this disease; if your property is not attractive to them, the cat is less likely to become infected. Here are some tips to stop them from getting close:
- Close all garbage cans with tightly fitting lids;
- Make sure there are no suitable places as a hiding place for squirrels, raccoons or other wild specimens, such as on the porch;
- Install a fence to prevent access to stray animals;
- Keep trees and bushes pruned.
Advice
Remember that age is not a factor in determining whether a cat has anger or not; even puppies can become infected
Warnings
- Treat any bites by washing the wound with soap and water, and call your doctor even if you think the animal doesn't have rabies. these lesions can become severely infected if not treated immediately.
- Be very careful when you are around bats, raccoons, foxes and squirrels, as these are the animals that transmit rabies the most.
- Do not disturb wild animals, including puppies. Even young specimens can transmit this infection; if you find some that seem abandoned by their mother, call the competent veterinary ASL or the forest ranger and ask for an intervention from the staff.
