What are rabies?

It is important you know a little bit more about rabies in order to detect any cat rabies symptoms in your little feline friend.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects both domestic and wild animals.

Lyssaviruses (a genus of viruses belonging to the family Rhabdoviridae) are RNA viruses with a bullet shape and a helical symmetry. There are different species of Lyssaviruses causing rabies. Usually, these viruses are present (in the form of inclusion bodies known as Negri bodies) in the nerves and saliva of symptomatic rabid animal.

Wild animals like the Mongoose or vampire bats are considered to be some the most important reservoir hosts of rabies virus. In many cases, infection occurs when an animal infected with rabies bites or scratches a healthy animal. Infection also occurs when saliva of the infected animal gets in touch with an open wound (eyes, nose or mouth). Infectious virus particles present in the saliva of the rabid animal are transfered to the healthy animal. These viruses gradually get transferred to the peripheral nervous system until it gets to the central nervous system.

To detect any cat rabies symptoms, you should look for manifestations like: irritation, headache, fever, muscle pain, nausea and itching sensation at the site of exposure. However, the most characteristic cat rabies symptom is encephalitis of the brain. The virus can also penetrate the spinal cord causing an inflammation and resulting in myelitis. Other cat rabies symptoms include partial paralysis, cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, agitation, abnormal behavior, insomnia, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations and delirium. In advanced stages of infection, rabies symptoms include abnormal movements of the diaphragm, uncontrolled muscular movement, excessive production of saliva and tears, difficulty in breathing, paralysis and difficulty in swallowing.

Once your cat is bitten by an animal infected with rabies, you must clean the area entirely using soap and water and consult immediately your veterinarian. This should be followed by applying ethanol tincture iodine and Etanol. It is important to administer anti-rabies immunoglobulins and anti-rabies vaccines to patients.