Yes, cats can get rabies, and it is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but vaccination makes it very rare in well-cared-for pets today.

What rabies is (in cats)

  • Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system (brain and spinal cord) of mammals, including cats and humans.
  • It is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can pass from animals to people, which is why it’s treated as a serious public-health concern.
  • Once a cat shows clinical signs, there is no cure, and the disease is considered fatal.

Think of rabies as a virus that travels along the nerves from the bite wound to the brain, then spreads to the salivary glands, turning the animal into a very dangerous biter.

How cats catch rabies

  • The usual route is a bite from a rabid animal; the virus is carried in the saliva and enters through broken skin.
  • Common wildlife carriers: raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes, depending on where you live.
  • Even indoor cats have some risk if a bat or small infected animal gets into the home.
  • Unvaccinated cats and cats allowed outdoors are at higher risk.

Can cats give rabies to humans?

  • Yes, an infected cat can transmit rabies to people, usually through a bite that allows saliva to contact broken skin or mucous membranes (eyes, mouth).
  • Transmission from scratches is possible but considered very rare; the main risk is from bites.
  • Any suspicious bite from a cat or wild animal is treated as a medical emergency for humans, and post‑exposure rabies shots are usually recommended.

Signs of rabies in cats

Rabies can look different in each cat, but there are two classic patterns: “furious” and “dumb” (paralytic).

Early, vague signs (can last days):

  • Behavior change (friendly cat becomes irritable or aggressive; shy cat becomes unusually clingy)
  • Fever, reduced appetite, low energy
  • Hiding or restlessness

Furious form (the stereotypical ‘rabid’ cat):

  • Sudden aggression, attacking people, animals, or objects
  • Hypersensitivity to light, sound, or touch
  • Excessive vocalization, disorientation

Paralytic (dumb) form:

  • Weakness, difficulty swallowing, drooling or foaming
  • Lower jaw drooping, voice changes
  • Progressive paralysis, coma, then death

Death often occurs within about 7–10 days after obvious neurological signs start, sometimes sooner.

How common is rabies in cats today?

  • In many places (like the US), rabies vaccination is required by law for pets, which keeps the disease relatively rare in vaccinated house cats.
  • However, among reported domestic pets with rabies in the US, cats actually account for more cases than dogs, largely because some cats are unvaccinated and roam outdoors.
  • Wildlife remains the main reservoir, but every suspected exposure is taken very seriously due to the fatal nature of the virus.

Diagnosis, treatment, and what happens after a bite

  • There is no reliable test for rabies in a living cat ; definitive diagnosis is usually done after death by examining brain tissue.
  • Once a cat shows neurological symptoms compatible with rabies, there is no treatment and the disease is considered uniformly fatal.
  • If an unvaccinated cat is potentially exposed (but no human has been exposed), vets may recommend immediate vaccination and very strict, long quarantine.
  • If a vaccinated cat is exposed, a booster shot and a shorter, supervised observation period are often advised.

What you should do if…

1. Your cat might have been bitten by a wild animal

  1. Keep calm but do not handle your cat directly if it is scared or aggressive.
  2. If you must move the cat, avoid bites or scratches (use a thick towel or carrier).
  3. Call your vet right away, explain what happened (when, where, what animal).
  1. Follow their instructions on boosters, observation, or quarantine.

2. You were bitten or scratched by a cat that might carry rabies

  1. Immediately wash the wound for several minutes with soap and running water.
  2. Disinfect if available.
  3. Seek medical care urgently (same day) and tell them it might be a rabies exposure.
  1. If possible and safe, have the cat confined and observed under veterinary or public-health guidance.

Rabies exposure in humans is a life‑threatening emergency, but post‑exposure vaccines work extremely well if given promptly, before symptoms appear.

How to protect your cat (and you)

  • Keep rabies vaccinations up to date as recommended by your veterinarian; this is the single most important protection.
  • Limit outdoor roaming, especially at night when wildlife is active.
  • Do not handle wild animals, even if they seem friendly or sick.
  • If a bat or wild animal gets into your home, contact animal control instead of trying to catch it bare‑handed.

Bottom line: cats absolutely can get rabies, but with routine vaccination and a bit of caution about wildlife, the risk to your pet and family can be kept very low.

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