Bats/Rabies Dogs and Cats

Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease. It can be spread to people and pets through the bites and scratches of an infected animal. Rabies primarily affects the central nervous system, leading to severe brain disease and death if medical care is not received before symptoms start.

In the United States, more than 90% of reported cases of rabies in animals occur in wildlife. Rabies is found in many wildlife species, which include: Bats,Raccoons,Skunks and Fox According to CDC “Wild animals account for more than 90% of reported cases, with bats (35%), raccoons (29%), skunks (17%), and foxes (8%) most often exposing Americans to rabies.”
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Why Has Rabies Remains Uncommon in Pets

Pet Supervision: Domestic pets are typically supervised or kept in fenced areas, reducing unexpected interactions with grounded or injured bats.

Mandatory Vaccines: Most states require routine rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats.

Indoor Lifestyle: Many cats and dogs in the U.S. live primarily indoors, limiting their contact with nocturnal wildlife like bats.

Rabies

Rabies is a serious and deadly viral disease that can affect mammals, including dogs and humans. It is caused by the rabies virus. Once signs of rabies appear, the disease is almost always fatal.

Rabies is found in many parts of the world, including North America, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.

Some places are considered rabies-free, meaning the disease is not normally found there. These include:Antarctica,Australia,Fiji,Finland,Iceland, Ireland,Japan,New Zealand,Norway,Sweden,United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) Rabies-free countries use strict quarantine and animal-control laws to prevent rabies from being brought into the country and to protect people and wildlife from the virus. A country’s rabies status can change, so the list of rabies-free areas is reviewed and updated regularly.

Rabies and Dogs

Rabies is a fatal viral infection that attacks a dog’s central nervous system, causing severe brain inflammation, paralysis, and death

How the Infection Spreads

Transmission: The virus spreads through the saliva of an infected animal, almost always via a bite or scratch.
Progression: The virus replicates near the wound, travels along the nerves to the spinal cord, and reaches the brain. Once inside the brain, it moves to the salivary glands.
Incubation: Symptoms typically appear 3 to 12 weeks after exposure, though it can range from a few weeks to several months.

The Three Stages of Rabies

1. Prodromal Stage (Early Phase, Lasts 2–3 Days)

Sudden personality and behavior changes (friendly dogs may become nervous or shy; quiet dogs may become restless or anxious).
Fever and reduced appetite.
Constant licking or chewing at the original bite wound site

2. Excitative or Furious Phase (“Furious Rabies”, Lasts 1–7 Days)

Extreme agitation, restlessness, and unprovoked aggression.
Snapping or attacking imaginary objects, other animals, or people.
Pica—an abnormal appetite causing the dog to eat or chew non-food items like stones, earth, or wood.
Not all dogs experience this furious phase; some skip it entirely and go straight to paralysis.

3. Paralytic Phase (“Dumb Rabies”, Lasts 2–4 Days)

Progressive weakness and paralysis starting in the hind legs and moving through the body.
Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles, causing an open jaw, a dropped tongue, and an inability to swallow.
Excessive drooling and “foaming at the mouth” because the dog cannot swallow its saliva.
Changes in vocalization or a strained, altered bark.
Coma, respiratory failure, and death—which typically occurs within 7 to 10 days of the first visible symptoms.

Is Rabies Vaccination Effective?

Vaccination is the cornerstone of rabies prevention. Vaccination promotes the production of antibodies but is only effective if given before the virus enters the nervous system. Modern rabies vaccines for dogs, cats, horses, and ferrets are extremely safe and effective.

There is no treatment for a dog with rabies. If rabies is suspected, the dog must be kept in isolation and prevented from escaping or injuring someone. A dog shedding the rabies virus in the saliva will develop clinical signs within days, so a 10-day quarantine of the dog will be observed. A dog that is normal or healthy after 10 days is not considered contagious at the time of the bite.

NOTE…Your veterinarian is required by law to notify the local, state, or provincial animal disease regulatory authorities. These authorities will determine the steps necessary to properly protect the public.

Rabies Threats To Cats

Rabies is a fatal viral infection of the central nervous system. Despite missing a unique “feline strain” of the virus, cats are consistently the most frequently reported rabid domestic animals in the United States Bats are a primary wildlife reservoir for the rabies virus, and cats are the most frequently reported rabid domestic animal in the United States. Bites and Scratches: Rabies spreads through the saliva of an infected animal. Bats have small teeth, so a bite mark can be very hard to see on a cat.

Check Vaccine Status: If your cat is fully vaccinated, they will usually need a booster shot within a short window (such as 96 hours) and a period of observation. Unvaccinated cats face strict, long-term quarantines or worse if exposed.

Symptoms of Rabies in Cats

Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is 100% fatal, typically causing death within 5 days. The disease progresses through three distinct stages:

Disease Stage	Key Clinical Signs & Behaviors
1. Prodromal Stage	Sudden personality changes (e.g., a shy cat becomes needy, or a friendly cat turns aggressive), fever, and hiding.
2. Furious Stage	Extreme aggression, erratic behavior, severe nervousness, constant crying, depraved appetite, and seizures.
3. Paralytic (Dumb) Stage	Drooling due to paralyzed throat muscles, dropped jaw, progressive weakness, coma, and respiratory failure.

Prevention and Emergency Protocols

Because there is no antemortem test or cure for rabies in live animals, prevention and immediate action are vita

The Best Defense: Routine rabies vaccinations are the single most effective safeguard. Legally mandated in most states, regular boosters bridge the safety gap created by lower feline vaccination rates.

If a Encounter Occurs: Act immediately if you find your cat near a bat, even if you see no visible bite marks.

Do not touch the bat with your bare hands. If safely possible, trap it under a box so animal control can test it for rabies. Safely Capture the Bat: If you can do so safely without touching the bat directly (use thick gloves or a container), try to trap it. Public health officials can test the bat for rabies, which can clarify the risk for both your cat and your household. You can also call a professional wildlife trapper to come remove the bat which in best.
Call your vet immediately. Vaccinated cats must receive a booster shot within 96 hours followed by home observation.
Be aware of quarantine rules. Unvaccinated cats exposed to a potentially rabid animal face strict 4-to-6 month facility isolation at the owner’s expense, or structural euthanasia.

NOTE… Watch for Human Exposure: If anyone in your home might have touched the bat, contact a doctor immediately.

Protecting Against Rabies

Staying away from wildlife, especially bats, is key to preventing rabies in people. Bats carry rabies virus in every U.S. state except Hawaii, and can spread the virus year-round. However, anecdotal case reports suggest that people may not be fully aware that bats pose a rabies risk – and so they may not seek life-saving rabies PEP if they are bitten or scratched by a bat. If people wake up with a bat in the room, CDC recommends that they assume they may have been exposed to rabies and see a healthcare provider right away to determine if they need to receive PEP for rabies.

Rabies

Is Rabies Vaccination Effective?

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