Rabies is a fatal disease of the central nervous system caused by a virus in the Rhabdoviridae family. It is a fragile organism that survives in the saliva and bloodstream of its host, dying within 24 hours in the air. Rabies is almost always transmitted by an infected animal's bite. Feline rabies accounts for the highest number of cases reported yearly among all domestic animals and humans.
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Symptoms
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The typical incubation period of rabies in cats is two to six weeks. There are three stages of infection, each with its own set of symptoms. Change in behavior and fever occur with the prodromal phase, usually within two days of infection in cats. In the furious phase, animals can become hyper-aggressive and cats are particularly prone to this. The cat also might display symptoms of sensitivity to auditory and visual stimulation. He will likely be disoriented and might start having seizures. Many cats die in the second phase, without progressing to the paralytic stage. In the paralytic stage, the muscles in the head and throat freeze, making it impossible for the animal to swallow. She might drool excessively and will have little movement. The virus eventually causes death due to respiratory failure.
Diagnosis
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As of July 2009, the only test available to diagnose rabies is a postmortem exam of the brain. The only other alternative is to monitor the exposed pet for a set amount of time while they are in quarantine. Rabies usually progresses and kills a cat within a few weeks at most. Some dogs and humans, however, have incubated rabies for six to 12 months before showing symptoms, so the quarantine period is six months. If your cat is bitten by an animal that is rabid, or suspected of being so but can't be tested, she will need to be quarantined in isolation with no symptoms for six months before she is considered safe.
Treatment
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There is no treatment for rabies, so public health officials recommend any non-vaccinated animal exposed to rabies be euthanized immediately. Only about 10 percent of all cats in the United States are vaccinated against rabies. Dogs have a much higher vaccination rate because most cities and states require mandatory rabies vaccinations due to the greater risk of dogs biting people. Cats are required by law to be vaccinated in many areas, but this law isn't as strictly enforced.
Prevention
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The only way to prevent rabies is with the rabies vaccine administered to kittens at 12 weeks and then yearly or every three years, depending on the variety of booster shot your vet uses. Side effects include mild to moderate sleepiness, appetite suppression, irritability and a lump at the site of the injection. Most side effects last only a day or two. If your cat has a severe reaction to the rabies vaccine, such as respiratory distress, it might be advisable to avoid future vaccinations and make your cat an indoor companion only.
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