In October, the state of Kansas issued alerts that two outdoor cats were found to have rabies. And they weren’t the first cats found to test positive this year in Kansas.
Rabies is a fatal disease for people or any mammal exposed through a bite or scratch of a rabid animal. Rabid animals don’t behave like normal animals. They may be overly friendly or unusually aggressive. The signs of rabies are inconsistent, but they include hiding, a wobbly gait, seizures, and abnormal vocalization.
Early stages of rabies can be difficult to notice, but if you think your cat is acting unusual in any way and suspect possible rabies contact, isolate the cat and report this to your veterinarian immediately.
While rabies in house cats is rare, if a rabid bat or raccoon makes their way inside, your unvaccinated cat is may be taken from you for a required strict quarantine at your expense (times vary by state). Under the strictest laws, your cat could face euthanasia.
While there is an expensive preventative series of shots that humans can receive to prevent disease after exposure to a rabid animal, no similar preventative protection exists for unvaccinated animals. Keep up with your cats’ rabies vaccines, even if they are indoor-only. That annual booster can literally a be a lifesaver.
