Introduction
Rabies is a zoonotic (spread from animals to people) viral disease of warm blooded animals (you won’t see Rabies in birds and reptiles) that occurs world wide, with significant human health significance due to its fatal nature. Various outbreaks have occurred in the United States in the last decade. Adequate vaccination of dogs and cats is the primary line of defense in preventing outbreaks.
The main animals that infect humans are dogs, cats, cattle and horses, because they are exposed to these animals much more than wildlife. In addition to bite wounds, the virus can rarely be transmitted through the mucous membranes, as an aerosol, and through cornea transplants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the veterinary community, produce reports detailing the incidence of rabies in specific areas of the country. Thousands of animal rabies cases are reported every year, with the actual number of cases being much higher. The majority of rabies cases in animals in the U.S. occur along the East coast, with pockets of rabies in various other states.
Approximately 500 cases of human rabies are reported yearly, with the actual number again being probably much higher. Discrepancies in diagnosis and reporting make actual numbers hard to come by. Several countries are free of rabies, and institute extreme quarantine measures to prevent spread.
All warm-blooded animals, including humans, are susceptible. Raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes, account for 90% of the cases in the U.S., with raccoons making up the majority, followed by skunks, bats, and foxes. Forty years ago it was the domestic animals that accounted for the majority of the cases. More cats get rabies than dogs.
We have never seen a case of rabies in cats in our hospital, a testimony to the effectiveness of the rabies vaccine.
Can Cats Get Rabies?
They can because they are a warm blooded animal. That’s that roam outside are of great risk due to their exposure to other animals that are not vaccinated and a carrier the virus before their symptoms appear and they succumb to the disease.
Cause of Rabies in Cats
Rabies is caused by an RNA virus called belonging to the Rhabdoviriade family. A cat becomes infected when bitten by an animal that has the Rabies virus. This infection comes from the saliva of the infected animal. The Rabies virus travels along the peripheral nervous system to the brain and spinal cord where it causes damage that leads to the symptoms of rabies and eventual death.
When the virus passes to the salivary glands the animal shows symptoms, and will usually die within 7 days. It is during this time that it can infect another wild animal, a human, or a dog or cat.
Outdoor cats are more exposed to the wild animals that might be the reservoir for Rabies. If these cats are not vaccinated they run a high risk of getting Rabies.
Symptoms of Rabies in Cats
Clinical signs of rabies in the cat are quite variable, with a change in behavior being one of them more consistent findings. This behavior change can be as subtle as apprehension, or as extreme as biting in a normally friendly cat. A cat might chew at the site they were bitten when they became infected, and can even maim themselves.
There might even be a rapid decrease in appetite (hyporexia), incoordination, vocalizing, and dilated pupils.
As the disease progresses there might be increased irritability, viciousness, excitability, and eating unusual objects (pica) like wood. A cat may hide in dark or quiet places, and will bite when provoked. Central nervous system signs like seizures will exhibit, and there may be paralysis prior to death.
A phase of the disease causes paralysis of the muscles in the throat. This leads to excessive drooling and choking sounds due to an inability to swallow, and is the sign most people think of when describing rabies. It is also common for people to think their pet has something stuck in its throat, and cause themselves to be exposed to virus laden saliva when attempting to removed the suspected foreign body.
Feline Rabies Diagnosis
The disease is suspected in cats that show neurological signs consistent with rabies, and may or may not have been bitten by another animal. Since these signs are so variable, Rabies needs to be considered in any cat showing behavioral changes. Blood samples are not helpful in the diagnosis. The only way to confirm a diagnosis of rabies in animals is to have the brain examined. A test called Fluorescent Antibody (FA) is performed on the brain cells of a dead animal. This is usually performed by the county health department.
In humans tests for the virus are performed on saliva, serum, spinal fluid and skin biopsies. In some cases the test checks for antibodies to the rabies virus, in other cases it looks for the virus itself.
How are Cats with Rabies Treated?
Cats that have Rabies are not treated because they can shed the virus in their saliva for extended periods. Once a cat begins showing signs of Rabies the disease is fatal.
If a cat is current on Rabies vaccine status, another dose of the vaccine, if given before symptoms occur, might help.
State laws vary as to whether a cat that potentially has Rabies needs to be quarantined. In most cases an unvaccinated cat is humanely euthanized and the brain tested for Rabies, to make sure others in the household are protected.
Rabies Prevention in Cats
The vaccination of cats by a licensed veterinarian is the most effective means to control rabies. Every state has specific laws regarding vaccines. They are usually given at 4-6 months of age, repeated one year later, then every 3 years. Rabies vaccine is given to animals only under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed in that state.
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In humans a pre-exposure vaccine is given to high risk groups, usually veterinarians, animal handlers, and laboratory workers. By giving this vaccine prior to any exposure to rabies, a person that eventually gets exposed to the rabies virus will need less post-exposure treatment, and will partially protect people that were exposed to rabies without realizing it. Approximately 18,000 people per year received this pre-exposure vaccine, while 40,000 people per year receive the vaccine after they have been exposed.
Keeping your cat indoors is one of the best ways to prevent Rabies.
Signification of Rabies on Human Health
Rabies has extreme human health significance due to the fatal nature of this disease. Symptoms include fever, headache, anxiety, confusion, hypersalivation, paralysis, and ultimately even death. In the early 1900’s more than 100 people died annually from rabies in the U.S. That number is down to 1-2 per year, because of vaccination of domestic animals and post exposure treatment. Most people in the U.S. die from rabies because they were not aware they were exposed to the virus, and never sought treatment. Post exposure treatment in humans has to be instituted before any symptoms appear for it to be effective in preventing death.
Rabies in Cats FAQ’s
Can you get Rabies from a cat?
Yes you can, when bitten ,or exposed to the virus through an open wound or the membrane around the eye called the conjunctiva.
My vaccinated cat caught a bat, will it get Rabies?
The fact that it is vaccinated will go a long way towards preventing Rabies. You should call your public health department on what to do with the bat, and do not touch it unless necessary, and you are wearing gloves. Watch for any Rabies symptoms in your cat, and bring it to your veterinarian immediately if any symptoms appear.
How long does a cat with Rabies live?
This varies based on the amount and location of the Rabies virus when introduced into the body. Death can occur rapidly, or progress over a 10 day period of time.
How long does a Rabies Vaccine Last?
Depending on the vaccine and the age at which your cat is vaccinated, the Rabies vaccine lasts 1-3 years. In most adult cats it lasts for 3 years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an extensive section on rabies if you would like more information.