Comprehensive Guide to Rabies in Cats: Symptoms, Transmission, and Prevention

Rabies is a viral disease that can infect all mammals, including cats and humans. This contagious disease has been around since 2300 BC and is now present in over 100 countries. It affects the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for killing millions of animals every year. The word “rabies” evokes fear in people because the fatality rate of this disease is so high.    

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Transmission of rabies in cats

Although there are different ways of transmitting rabies disease in cats, the bite of an infected animal is the most common cause. Other than that, the virus can also enter the body of your feline through an open wound or mucous membranes. The following is a sequence of events that can allow the rabies virus to infect your kitty.

• An infected animal (most probably another cat) bites your pet.
• The viral particles are transferred to your cat through the bite wound.
• The virus starts multiplying within your cat’s body and travels from the wound site to the central nervous system. This includes the spinal cord and brain.
• The viral particles then travel down into the parotid salivary gland to contaminate the cat’s saliva.
• The associated changes (physical and behavioral) start to appear as the rabies virus continues to multiply in the brain.
• Your cat is now also a carrier of the virus and can transfer it to other pets or yourself.

What are rabies symptoms in cats?

The clinical signs of rabies don’t show up immediately and that’s what makes this fatal disease even more dangerous. Experts believe that the saliva of the infected animal has the virus 1-5 days before he/she shows any symptoms. The signs and symptoms of rabies in cats develop gradually and can be divided into the following stages.

Prodromal stage

In this phase, the temperament and behavior of the infected cat tend to change. For instance, a quiet cat might suddenly become aggressive whereas a confident feline may become nervous. Other signs that may appear at this stage include:

• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Repeated licking at the site of the bite wound
• Edginess

Furious stage

This is the phase where most people start to realize that there’s something wrong with their pet. The cat is most dangerous in this stage, for other pets as well as the owner. The feelings of excitement and aggression dominate your cat as he/she tries to attack anything in its surroundings. In addition to this vicious behavior, felines also experience other such as:

• Excessive drooling due to muscle spasms
• Disorientation
• Trembling
• Seizures
• Incoordination

Paralytic stage

This stage usually occurs 7 days after the furious stage. During this phase, the neurological symptoms shift from active to passive, as the paralysis starts to develop. Ultimately, the cat will comatose and die, when the breathing muscles malfunction.

Diagnosis of feline rabies

Unfortunately, it’s NOT possible to diagnose rabies in a living cat (or any other animal). This is because it can only be diagnosed by the direct examination of the brain. The Direct Fluorescent Antibody Test is the best method for diagnosis, but it can ONLY be performed after death. For this reason, you can only have strong suspicions that your feline is infected by this deadly virus.

NOTE: The rabies virus can incubate in a cat’s body for up to a year before becoming active.