Do cats with rabies still eat?

Cats with rabies generally do not eat. If a cat has suspicious clinical symptoms and is highly suspected of infection, it is recommended to isolate completely and stop feeding. If the animal begins to show neurological symptoms, most will die within a week, depending on the speed of the disease's progression.

How do cats get infected with rabies?

Rabies is a highly contagious disease caused by the rabies virus. Cats are usually infected by being bitten or scratched by infected dogs or cats. Cats suspected of being infected with the rabies virus should be particularly cautious, and never be bitten or scratched by them. If scratched or bitten, go to the hospital for emergency vaccination as soon as possible, as rabies is a zoonotic disease. Being scratched could also lead to human infection with rabies.

Symptoms of cat rabies

The clinical symptoms are similar to those in dogs, but cats with aggressive behavior account for 75% of the cases, and the pre-clinical phase rarely lasts longer than 24 hours. The aggressive phase lasts for 1 to 4 days. Afflicted cats usually hide in secret places. When humans or other animals approach, they will attack fiercely. The cat's pupils will dilate, its back will arch, its claws will extend, it will continuously meow, and its meow will gradually become husky. As the disease progresses to the paralytic phase, the cat's movements will become increasingly uncoordinated, followed by paralysis of the hindquarters, then paralysis of the head muscles, and finally die into a coma.

How to deal with cat rabies

Cats with obvious rabies symptoms cannot be cured and should be euthanized to prevent transmission to other animals or humans. Almost all animals infected with rabies die, so there is no issue of post-illness immunity. The best way to deal with this disease is to prevent it by getting vaccinated on time (get a rabies vaccine once a year).