{"id":2183870,"date":"2024-12-17T10:53:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T09:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2183870"},"modified":"2025-01-23T21:00:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-23T20:00:06","slug":"rabies-in-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/rabies-in-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabies in Cats: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rabies is a viral infection that affects humans and animals, including cats. The virus attacks the nervous system, which may cause death in infected humans.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vaccinated cats may have lower risks of getting infected by rabies. However, there\u2019s still a chance that they can get infected or possibly be carriers of the virus. The risks are higher for outdoor and unvaccinated cats.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a cat owner, it\u2019s vital to know the causes, symptoms, preventive methods, and what you must do in case your cat gets exposed to the virus. You must be an informed pet owner, especially when living in a city like Dubai, where rabies vaccination is mandated by the local government.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Rabies in Cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Rabies in cats is caused by the rabies virus. It affects the nervous system of mammals, such as cats, dogs, and even humans. It\u2019s usually fatal when the symptoms begin to appear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The virus spreads through an infected animal\u2019s saliva, often through bites. When a <\/span>rabid animal<\/span><\/a> bites a cat or other animals, the virus gets into the bloodstream and goes into the brain. This causes inflammation and brain damage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Indoor, domestic cats have the least risk of getting rabies. Still, incidences of roaming can expose an indoor cat to rabies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The risks are higher in regions where there are many unvaccinated <\/span>stray cats<\/span><\/a>, such as Dubai. If your pet gets in contact with rabid, unvaccinated cats in your community, there\u2019s a chance it will acquire rabies.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Do Cats Get Rabies?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Rabies is mainly transmitted through bites from rabid animals, which can be stray animals or wildlife. A cat that gets bitten by a larger rabid predator or another cat can get infected with rabies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to remember that rabies can\u2019t be transmitted through cat scratches. If a cat scratch breaks the skin and hisses or licks at the wound, then there\u2019s a risk of getting infected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The virus symptoms may not show up for weeks or months after exposure to the rabies virus. This is why some pet owners might not easily notice that their cats are already infected.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rabies
Rabies in Cats: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rabies Symptoms in Cats<\/span><\/h2>\n

Rabies in cats appear in three stages, which have different symptoms. Here are the three stages of a rabies infection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stage 1: The Prodromal Stage<\/span><\/h3>\n

The prodromal or initial stage is when cats exhibit minor behavioral changes. These signs include:<\/span><\/p>\n