Rabies Reactions & Sphynx Cats

The Sphynx is a breed of cat known for being hairless. Sphynx cats have generally good health and a strong immune system. However, rabies will adversely affect the Sphynx just as it would in any other breed of feline. Rabies, a lethal virus, carries with it a feared reputation because of the fatal consequences which it holds.

  1. The Breed

    • The Sphynx cat, often considered a hairless and hypoallergenic breed, actually has a fine, down-like coat that covers its body. These hairs can still affect humans with allergies to the common feline. The contemporary breed known today originated in 1966 with a hairless kitten named Prune, born in Canada. In 1975, a hairless kitten was born in Minnesota. More kittens like these surfaced across the United States and Canada, becoming more common after the 1975 kitten. According to Pet Place, a rare genetic mutation that appears in feline's genetics once every 15 to 20 years causes these hairless kittens. The rare kittens were paired together to exploit the genetic mutation and create the Sphynx cat known today.

    Rabies

    • Rabies, an aggressive inflammatory virus, targets the gray matter of a cat's brain and affects its nervous system. Transferred by the saliva of animals, rabies will lie dormant in the system of an animal for a time between two weeks and one year. No cure is available for rabies in felines.

    Symptoms

    • Once the virus becomes active in the Sphynx, telltale signs that rabies has set in will surface. According to PetMD.com, the following symptoms are associated with the virus: paralysis, seizures, extreme hydrophobia, unusual shyness or aggression and excessive salivation. When a cat begins to exhibit any of these signs, he must be taken to the veterinarian immediately, as rabies can affect any mammal that the cat comes into contact with.

    Diagnosis and Treatment

    • According to PetMD.com, the feline must be quarantined for 10 days to determine if the rabies virus is present. Once found to have the rabies virus, the Sphynx must be euthanized or quarantined for six months, depending on the jurisdiction for the area. In the case of quarantine, recovery has never been recorded.

    Vaccine

    • The Imovax Rabies Vaccine, required by law in felines, will prevent the rabies virus from infecting the cat. Administered by injection, the Imovax vaccine can cause the rabies virus in rare cases, rather than prevent it. However, the risk of infection by vaccine is significantly lower than the risk of infection in a non-vaccinated feline.