Can You Get Rabies From a Cat: The Whole Truth About the Deadly Disease

12.06.2024 08:09

There are many diseases that can be transmitted from a cat to a person. One of these diseases is rabies.

This disease occurs in all warm-blooded animals, but most often it “influences” animals living in the wild – foxes, hedgehogs, mice, as well as stray cats and dogs.

If the pet is a domestic one, then its only chance of becoming infected with rabies is during contact with a carrier of the disease.

Thus, cats that have free access to the street, especially in rural areas, are at risk.

What does a mad cat look like

Rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system of an animal or person.

Cat
Photo: © Belnovosti

If we talk about cats, then the disease manifests itself in a change in behavior (the animal may become too affectionate or aggressive), refusal to eat, fear of water, and increased salivation.

This is followed by convulsions, paralysis and death caused by respiratory failure.

A similar picture is observed in people infected with the rabies virus. This disease always ends in death, since there are currently no methods for its treatment.

How is rabies transmitted from a cat to a human?

Rabies can be transmitted through a bite or, less commonly, a scratch. In some cases, contact with animal saliva can lead to infection.

If a person has been in contact with an animal that shows signs of rabies, they should immediately go to the hospital for urgent vaccination. Do not wait for symptoms to appear, because once they appear (the incubation period can last from two weeks to sixty days), rabies becomes incurable and leads to the death of the patient.

Earlier we talked about why cats are active at night.

Elena Shimanovskaya Author: Elena Shimanovskaya Editor of Internet resources


Content
  1. What does a mad cat look like
  2. How is rabies transmitted from a cat to a human?