Feral and stray cats often travel in small colonies, which makes it much easier for them to contract and spread disease. Cats having rabies are … Carnivores are common vectors of the rabies virus as nature has given these mammals sharp teeth and claws to pierce the skin. Since most of the cats haven't been vaccinated, it is easy for them to contract diseases such as feline HIV, feline leukemia and even rabies. The animal might show signs of aggression or restlessness, along with increased vocalization. Abnormal Irritability. Both types of diabetes are common in cats and appear to be on the rise because cats are living longer, are more likely to be obese, and eat high carb diets. However, cats are the most commonly reported rabid domestic animal in the United States. Biologically, feral cats would respond the same way as domesticated cats to this dread disease. 5. Since this is the first stage, symptoms may be hard to identify. Feral Cat Diseases. Although very few people develop rabies in the US, there are at least 40,000 to 50,000 rabies postexposure treatments (human rabies immune globulin plus a set of four rabies shots) given each year. Here are some of the common symptoms of rabies: Prodromal Phase of Rabies in Cats. The virus is present in the saliva of rabid cats, and people have developed rabies after being bitten by a rabid cat. Handle Stray Cats with Care If you were asking about feline rabies symptoms, please read on. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent common bacterial infections (which are easily caused by cat bites and can be serious), and may recommend other treatment as well. However, widespread vaccination programs are a great way to battle this problem and take care of even feral animals. Cats with rabies are very irritable and will reject any type of affection. Unfortunately, cats that are allowed to roam free, such as feral cats, are at a higher risk for developing rabies. Raccoons, bats, skunks, fox, and feral animals are common … No cat-to-cat rabies transmission has been recorded, and no feline strain of rabies virus is known. Raccoons, as well as skunks, foxes and bats, are vector species, which means they have been identified as the most common carriers of rabies, and can pass the virus onto cats. In the later stages of the disease, paralysis and seizures are common. This is the first stage of feline rabies that lasts for one to three days. Most cases of rabies in cats come from areas (such as the Northeast) where there are large populations of common rabies vector species. Rabies is a common concern with strays because of the nearly 100 percent fatality rate. The cat is producing excessive saliva due to the rabies, and will be constantly drooling. If your child is bitten by a friend's or neighbor's cat, be sure to check and make sure the cat had its rabies shots. By vaccinating feral cats against rabies and preventing the vacuum effect, Trap-Neuter-Return programs, also known as TNR, prevent rabies from infecting feral cat colonies and their communities. Feral Cats & Rabies admin 2020-02-18T12:39:07+00:00. Type 1 is less common and occurs when there is a lack of insulin while type 2 is more common and occurs when there is a resistance to insulin. Cats infected with rabies exhibit strange behaviors that should be easy to recognize. This is typical to the stage two of rabies: the furious stage. Rabies in cats is caused by a bite or scratch to an unvaccinated feline by an infected animal. They can easily become infected after a fight with an infected animal. However, symptoms of rabies in cats worsen rapidly. Areas that have large wild animal or feral animal populations are more likely to harbor animals with the rabies virus. An infected cat will act disoriented and strangely cautious.