It is essential to know the symptoms that will indicate that your cat may suffer from rabies and how to act to avoid it.
When talking about rabies disease, it is usually quickly associated with dogs, as well as with other mammals such as bats or even rats. But Few owners have a cat and associate rabies with their pet, because you don't usually talk much about what is known as feline rage. However, cats can also be infected with this disease and, as with any other mammal, that inevitably implies the death of the animal.
You should know that the only way to prevent your cat from getting rabies and eventually dying from that disease, is to vaccinate. There is a vaccine that allows it to be totally immune, which must be repeated every year at the dose dictated by the veterinarian, this vaccine is mandatory by law. While it is true that rabies is not a disease as common in cats as in dogs, the risk is still there, especially if your cat can walk at will.
If you haven't vaccinated your cat before and you think he might have rabies, lor first you have to do is take him immediately to the vet. Unfortunately, if the result is positive there will be no choice but to sacrifice to the animal, since any bite could cause you to become infected, and there is no cure for rabies in humans. That is why owners are forced to vaccinate their pets from rabies, to prevent any misfortune.
How do I know if my cat has rabies?
In the event that your cat is up to date with all vaccinations, the possibility that he has been infected with this disease is practically non-existent. Even so, it is always good for you to know everything about rabies so you can be alert.
Anger It is an infectious and viral disease, capable of affecting all mammals. It is very serious, since it affects the central nervous system and ends up causing a acute encephalitis, to this we must add that you can spread between species, which humans themselves are at risk. It also has no cure in any species. This disease has several stages: the incubation period, the prodromal period, the furious phase and the paralytic phase.
During the incubation period, which can last even several months, the cat does not present any type of symptoms, normally, the first evidences of the disease are usually started a month. When the prodromal period begins, which is just at the end of the incubation, the cat is much more tired that usually and can get to vomit, in addition, you will have periods in which you will be very excited. This will last around two days, but it can be extended to more than a week, and that is when the owners begin to realize that something is happening.
After this phase, usually known as furious phase, which is very characteristic of rage. The cat will be angry, it will be very easy to attack, his character will change completely. And here it will be at direct risk to human health that accompanies him, since a bite could be enough to spread the disease. Although you should know that contagion can also be caused by a scratch or a lick, with which the real risk exists from the moment of contagion.
The last phase is the paralytic, and it will be when the cat begins to suffer spasms, falls into a coma and ends up dying. It is not pleasant to live, it is not something that no owner wants for your pet, and that is why you have to be aware before that phase arrives, in order to avoid so much suffering.
My cat has the rage. What I do?
If your cat starts to have Atypical behavior, is very irritable, drools excessively, vomits or dislikes water, you should start worrying. The problem with rabies is that it can be confused with another disease, and that ends up seriously endangering the life of anyone who is near an infected cat.
The moment you start to suspect, you should quickly take your cat to the veterinarian to do the relevant tests. Isolate the animal, and try not to come into contact with other human beings (with you either) or with other animals, remember that rabies is a disease that spreads very quickly. Unfortunately, if it is positive, you must say goodbye to your cat. There is no cure for rabies, there is no treatment, and the only option the veterinarian will give you will be euthanasia. Although you may feel very sorry to say goodbye to your pet, its end will be the same, which is better to avoid as much suffering as possible and simply let it go. It will be the veterinarian who gives you the instructions, and the one who explains how to follow in each specific case.
The vaccine is the solution
Regardless of whether your cat may or may not leave home, and regardless of whether it is in contact with other animals on a regular basis, you should vaccinate him of rabies at the relevant time. It is very important that the vaccine is given, and that the necessary dose be repeated every year, and there is no possible excuse in this aspect because what is at stake is the life of your cat, as well as the health of all who are around you.
Having a pet carries a great burden of responsibility, and among that responsibility is caring for the health of the animal whenever necessary. If you go to the veterinarian as you adopt or buy your cat, you will probably know how to report all the risks of not having the vaccines up to date. While it is true that in Spain rabies is considered an eradicated disease, any small rodent could end up transmitting it to your cat, even if it does not leave the house. Remember: with the vaccine, you can avoid any problem of this type, and your cat will not be in danger.
What is feline rage?
The feline rage is a viral infectious disease which can affect all mammals and is caused by a family virus Rhabdoviridae. It is a serious pathology, because it causes the death of the infected animal, affecting the central nervous system causing acute encephalitis. It is also a zoonotic disease, that is, it is a disease that can be spread to humans, apart from other animals, such as dogs or rabbits.
Contagion of feline rage
The rage in cats it is spread mainly through the bite of an infected animalHowever, it is also possible to transmit it through scratches or of the licked of an open wound. It is important to note that this pathology does not arise spontaneously in the environment, but is transmitted from an infected animal to another. The virus is present in the secretions and saliva of these animals, so a simple bite is enough to transmit the virus.
It is vitally important to ensure that our pets do not come into contact with wild animals or that they feed from infected corpses and, at the same time, we must provide them with adequate preventive medicine by vaccination.
While it is an increasingly controlled disease, rabies is present in some wild animals, such as foxes and bats, although epidemiological risk is much more common in land mammals, such as Dogs and cats, since it is more frequent that they bite our cats or come into contact with them than wild animals.
Stages of rabies in cats
To better understand feline rage and its effects on felines, we advise you to inform yourself about the stages of rabies in cats:
- Incubation period: is asymptomatic, the cat has no obvious symptoms. This period varies greatly, and can last from one week to several months. The most common is that they begin to show symptoms from the month after infection. In this period the disease spreads throughout the body.
- Prodromal period: At this stage changes in behavior already occur. The cat is tired, with vomiting and excitability. This phase can last between two and 10 days.
- Excitement phase or furious phase: It is the most characteristic phase of rabies. The cat is very irritable, with very abrupt changes in behavior, being able to bite and attack.
- Paralytic phase: generalized paralysis, spasms, coma and finally death.
The period between phases is alterable, for this reason it is not easy to know how long a cat lives with rage, because may vary by individual. It is common to observe behavioral changes initially until the nervous system is very affected and seizures and other nervous problems begin.
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Anger It is a disease that occurs in animals and is transmitted by bite to another animal or some person. Although this disease is usually associated with dogs, the reality is that any mammal can suffer and even in cats it can be very common. But to prevent the feline from suffering, it is necessary to prevent and one of the methods is the vaccine before six months and of course the reinforcement that must be carried out every year.
What is rage?
Rabies is a viral infectious disease that affects all mammals and, therefore, cats can also suffer from it. It is a serious disease that usually causes death, as it affects the central nervous system causing acute encephalitis in patients. It is spread through the bite of an infected animal or from wounds during a fight with an animal suffering from rabies. It is important to note that it does not arise spontaneously, it must be transmitted by another animal, therefore if your cat suffers from this disease it means that at some time it has been in contact with another infected animal or its remains. The virus is present in the secretions and saliva of these animals, so a simple bite is enough to transmit the virus. Bats that fly during the day, erratically and colliding with objects may suffer from rabies, so you never let your cat get close to them. Unfortunately, rabies is a disease that has no cure. It is rare and causes the death of most infected cats.
Vaccine against feline rabies
The rabies vaccine is the only method of rabies prevention. The first dose is applied at three months of age and then there are annual reinforcements. Normally dogs are vaccinated periodically but not cats, so you should consider whether your cat is exposed to risk areas or if it comes into contact with wild animals. If so, the most convenient is vaccination. There are regions in the world with greater risk than others. In Europe, rabies is practically gone, but occasionally an isolated case arises. Find out about the presence of the disease in your place of residence to be alert and prevent your cat from getting rabies. Rabies vaccination is mandatory in some countries. This vaccine is mandatory to go out with your cat in the country or to participate in competitions or exhibitions in Spain. But if your cat never goes outside, your veterinarian may not consider it necessary to administer it.
Stages of the disease
There are several phases in rabies in cats: • Incubation period: it is asymptomatic, the cat has no obvious symptoms. This period varies greatly, and can last from one week to several months. The most common is that they begin to show symptoms from the month after infection. In this period the disease spreads throughout the body. • Prodromal period: in this phase changes in behavior already occur. The cat is tired, with vomiting and excitability. This phase can last between two and 10 days. • Excitement or furious phase: it is the most characteristic phase of rage. The cat is very irritable, with very abrupt changes in behavior, being able to bite and attack. • Paralytic phase: generalized paralysis, spasms, coma and finally death. The period between phases may vary in each cat. The most common is to start with behavioral changes until the nervous system is very affected and seizures and other nervous problems begin.
Symptoms of feline rabies
The symptoms are very varied and not all cats have the same: • Abnormal meowing • Atypical behavior • Irritability • Excess salivation (drooling) • Fever • Vomiting • Weight loss and appetite • Water aversion • Seizures • Paralysis Some cats not they suffer from vomiting, others do not drool excessively, and others may suffer a nervous picture and die suddenly. On the other hand, aversion or fear of water is a symptom of animals that suffer from rabies, so the disease is also known as hydrophobia. However, cats do not like water normally so it will not be an obvious symptom. Many of these symptoms, especially in the early stages, can confuse us with other diseases. If your cat has any of these symptoms and has suffered a fight recently, go to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Only he or she can get you out of doubt
Treatment
Rabies has no treatment. It acts very quickly and is lethal to cats. If your cat has been infected, the first thing your veterinarian will do will be to isolate it to prevent it from infecting other cats. Depending on the progression of the disease, euthanasia is the only option. For this reason prevention is very important, since it is the only way to protect our cats against this disease. Pay special attention to your cat if he leaves home and is in contact with other animals. Remember that rabies affects dogs, cats, ferrets, bats and foxes. Any fight of your cat with these animals can cause a contagion. If your cat is prone to fighting, we recommend vaccinating him.
What to know about feline rage
It is a viral and infectious disease that any mammal can suffer, although it is more common in dogs. Feline rabies is severe and, because it affects the central nervous system and causes encephalitis, it can cause the animal to die.
For a cat to become infected, it must be bitten by another infected pet or mammal. In the case of felines we must be very careful, since they usually fight each other when there is a female in heat or for territorial reasons. When wounds become infected and exposed, the virus is more likely to enter the body.
It is good to know that rabies is also found in saliva and secretions, so it does not take more than a simple bite to get it.
The good news is that feline rabies can be prevented with vaccination. The vaccine is applied at four months of life of the animal and then repeated every year as reinforcement.
In the event that you find a stray cat and take it to the veterinarian, it will be one of the first preventives to be placed. This is because It is a very serious disease and, once it is spread, the animal is likely to get worse and die.
Symptoms and signs of feline rage
The first few days after the spread of rabies you will not notice anything strange in your pet, since the virus is incubating and developing inside, and at that stage it is asymptomatic. Subsequently, there will be certain changes in your habits and your health. These are some of the typical signs of feline rage:
1. Strange behavior
Since the virus primarily affects the central nervous system, the cat is likely to be more irritable., more nervous or less tolerant of contact with people. It is normal that he wants to attack his owners or other pets, that for anything he gets angry and that he hides.
Aggression, anxiety and restlessness are the main changes if you have been infected with rage. But in the event that the animal has been something ’wild’ before - if it is street - it is likely to become a docile and friendly pet overnight.
2. Physical symptoms
Sometimes behavioral changes can be attributed to other issues such as the time of year, the arrival of another pet, zeal, etc. But nevertheless, There are physical symptoms of feline rage that do not give rise to doubt.
Among these signs we can highlight the fever, excessive drooling, loss of appetite, increased water intake, excessive vocalizations, changes in meowing, apathy, reluctance and lack of personal hygiene. All this appears in the first phase of the disease.
Rabies Prevention
Unfortunately, we cannot talk about treatment because It has no cure. He acts very fast and always has the same tragic end. So much so, that the diagnosis of rabies is made in most cases when the animal has already died. But fortunately, we can prevent it, putting the corresponding vaccine from 6 months of age and subsequent annual booster shots.
Another thing that can be done is prevent him from going outside at night to decrease the chances of an infected cat contagious. Why at night? Well, cats are nocturnal animals, so the chances of meeting one of their species in the moonlight are much higher than during the day.
Rabies is a very dangerous disease, but it can be easily prevented by giving the corresponding vaccine. 🙂
3. Severe alterations
In the second stage of feline rage, the animal's behavior is much weirder than at the beginning, and that is why it is known as the 'excitement or nervous phase'. The cat will run or walk compulsively and aimlessly, will be increasingly aggressive, He will have coordination problems, suffer seizures and will bite himself, especially the tail.
Already in the last stage of rage - called paralytic - the symptoms are more than serious and irreversible. You may suffer breathing difficulties, paralysis of any part of the body or in its entirety, suffocation and foaming in the snout. Unfortunately, after that there will be nothing more to do for the animal and it will die shortly.
Because feline rage has no cure - so far - The best way to prevent the cat from becoming infected is through early vaccination.
Diagnosis of rabies in cats
Suspecting that a cat may suffer from feline rage is due isolate the animal and quickly contact a veterinarian. The specialist will perform serological analysis and other relevant tests to determine whether or not the animal suffers from this viral infectious disease.
In case of death, the veterinarian will perform a direct staining test for fluorescent antibodies (DFA) of brain tissues, which shows viral agents. In a few hours we will receive the results that will determine whether or not the animal suffered from rabies.
Prevention: the rabies vaccine in cats
The rabies vaccine It is the only real rabies prevention method. The first dose is applied at three months of age and then annual reinforcements are applied. Generally dogs are vaccinated periodically but not cats, so you should consider if your cat is exposed to risk areas or if it comes into contact with wild animals. If so, it is best to follow the feline vaccination schedule.
There are regions of the world with greater risk than others. In Europe rabies is practically eradicated, but occasionally an isolated case arises. Find out about the presence of the disease in your country to be alert and prevent your cat from getting rabies. In some countries vaccination is mandatory Against rage
This vaccine is mandatory to go out with your cat in the country or to participate in competitions or exhibitions in Spain. But if your cat never goes outside, your veterinarian may not consider it necessary to administer it.
This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case he presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Rabies in cats - Symptoms and contagion, we recommend that you enter our Viral Diseases section.
What is feline rage and how is it spread?
Rabies disease is infectious and viral and all mammals can suffer it, for this reason cats can also get sick. Rabies is a serious disease that can cause death, since it affects the central nervous system and causes acute encephalitis.
The contagion is caused by the bite of an animal that suffers from this disease or the wounds that your pet may suffer if you fight with an animal that has this disease. It should be noted that rage has to be spread by another animal, does not appear suddenly.
For this reason, if your cat suffers from this disease, it means that on occasion he has had contact with another infected animal or with remains of animals that have suffered rabies. The virus is found in the saliva and secretions of these animals, that is why just a simple bite to spread the virus.
How to prevent rabies in cats
For prevent rabies in cats, you must put the rabies vaccine at 4 or 5 months of lifeand then perform the annual booster vaccination. In the same way, you can minimize the risk of your cat becoming infected with rabies by preventing them from leaving the house.
It is likely that bats that fly erratically and hit objects, suffer from this disease, so you do not have to let your pet approach them. Unfortunately, rabies has no treatment or cure. It is a rare disease and most of the felines that suffer from it, end up dying.
Symptoms of rabies in cats
If your cat often leaves home and is related to other animals, you should pay attention to this disease, you have to inform yourself about it and you should try to prevent it by taking the measures>
1 Rabies is a virus that directly damages the nervous system of the cat, that is why one of the signs that your pussy may be infected are the behavioral changes. The symptoms they can appear between four and six weeks after the bite, it all depends on the age of your cat and the place where the sick animal bit your pet. How much virus is transmitted to your pet is called incubation phase.
2 As soon as the symptoms manifest, rabies has three phases. The first phase, which can last from 2 to 10 days, is called podomic period. Your pussy can manifest all or any of the following symptoms:
- Fever (you can see how to know if my cat has a fever)
- Excessive drooling
- Aggressive look
- Important changes in his behavior and temperament: aggressiveness, restlessness, anxiety. Suddenly, the more aggressive felines can become docile and, on the other hand, the docile can become wild
- Depression and loss of appetite
- Excessive vocalizations and changes in the sound of meowing
3 The second phase of rabies is called furious or arousal phase. During this stage the cat with rage You may have the following symptoms:
- Run and walk compulsively and aimlessly
- The aggressiveness of the previous phase continues
- Itchy body that makes him bite himself (you can see because my cat bites its tail)
- Seizures and lack of coordination
4 The last phase is called paralytic phase. In this point a cat with rage will show these symptoms:
- Breathing difficulties
- Paralysis
- Choking and death
- Foam formation in the snout
5 Rabies is a deadly disease for the cat and for any other mammal, that is why if your cat contracts it, it will be difficult to save it. But it is imperative that you isolate your cat from the rest of the animals and the people who live in your house, since it could spread rage to any pet or person.
For prevent rabies It is essential that you vaccinate your pussy at four to five months of age against this disease. Also, to ensure the health of your cat you have to apply the annual booster of this vaccine.
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