We all love animals: someone keeps dogs in the house, someone has cats. Do not forget that these living beings are just as susceptible to various diseases as people. Most ailments are curable, but there are also fatal diseases for the animal. One of these is rabies. The disease is no less dangerous for humans.
Rabies in cats is an acute infectious disease caused by a neurotropic filterable virus. With a disease, the central nervous system is depressed, almost always the animal dies. The disease affects wild carnivores (raccoons, wolves, arctic foxes, foxes) and rodents. Of the domestic pets, pets walking unattended and in contact with stray (wild) animals are at risk of becoming infected.
The causative agent of rabies is excreted with saliva before the manifestation of the main clinical symptoms of the disease, so infection can occur when it gets on the damaged surface of the body of a he althy animal. The main and most common route of infection is the bite of a sick animal. The most serious danger is bleeding deep muscle wounds, bites in the neck and head (since they are closest to the central nervous system). The virus that causes rabies in a cat is excreted in saliva almost 10 days before the onset of the characteristic signs of the disease, so during this period the animal is most dangerous in terms of infection.
The main symptom of this terrible disease are changes in behavior and aggression. The first symptoms will appear 4 to 6 weeks after infection. Distinguish violent and quiet course of the disease. Rabies in cats often manifests itself in a violent form. At first, the animal sometimes shows playfulness and affection for the owner, then hides in dark places, becomes shy, alert, can bite and scratch, grab hard objects, breaking its teeth. Attacks of rage are replaced by depression, you can observe a change in voice and a hoarse meow.
The cat refuses to eat the usual food, but it can grab and swallow a stone, a piece of wood, paper. Paralytic phenomena begin to appear: a violation of swallowing, difficulty in recovering, increased salivation, convulsions, refusal to eat, paralysis of the lower jaw, paralysis of the muscles of the limbs, and then of the entire body. A sick animal dies within 5 days. Rabies in cats is not treatable. They are put to sleep, the corpses are disposed of. The remaining food and accessories of the animal are destroyed.
The main preventive measures are: rabies vaccination, correctmaintenance of cats, their protection from the aggression of stray and wild animals. If you suspect your cat has been bitten by a rabid animal, contact your veterinarian immediately.
For a pet to be he althy, regardless of whether he goes outside or is only in the house, the rabies vaccination is mandatory for him. The first time it is done at the age of 12 weeks. Then revaccination is carried out annually. These simple procedures will help keep your pet he althy and alive, as well as keep you and your family safe.
