Rabies - dogs and cats

Although well-known vaccination programs rabies has helped to make the disease less common in domestic dogs and cats. However, it is important to be familiar of the symptoms of rabies in cats nonetheless, as many wild animals can be infected, and can easily transmit the disease to you or your cat if you are not prepared.
Rabies is a viral, zoonotic disease. In layman’s terms, this means that rabies is a type of virus that is transmissible to humans that affects the brain. Rabies is most commonly spread from infected animals to humans and other animals in the form of a bite. Left untreated, Rabies is almost always fatal to both humans and animals.
Rabies infection can spread through foxes, raccoons, skunks, wolves, coyotes and bats as well. These animals are highly susceptible to the virus. By contrast, cats, humans and dogs are naturally more resistant to the disease, and it is estimated that only about 15% of bites from affected animals will result in the rabies virus in humans and domestic animals. However, because rabies is almost always fatal, any bite to you or your animal from one of these common sources should be reported to your doctor or veterinarian so that appropriate medical care can be provided.
Most cats that become infected with rabies have been bitten by one of these wild animals, usually in the course of hunting or fighting. The rabies virus is shed at high levels in saliva, and after being bitten the virus begins to spread through the nerves of the newly infected animal, moving towards the brain. Rabies is a slow-moving disease, with the typical first onset of symptoms occurring 2-6 weeks after being infected in cats, and 3-6 weeks in people. In some cases however, the virus moves even slower, and animals have begun to show symptoms of rabies as long as 6 months after being bitten.
The first phase is known as the prodromal phase, where early non-specific symptoms may begin to manifest themselves. Affected dogs and cats may begin to be more nervous than usual, or show signs of increased anxiousness or apprehension. Behavior changes may occur, where normally friendly cats or dogs may become more withdrawn or easily annoyed, and normally aggressive cats or dogs may suddenly become quiet and affectionate. Spikes of fever may develop, leading to episodes of normal behavior and energy and lethargy and depression. Typically the prodromal phase lasts one to two days.
After the prodromal phase, the symptoms of cat rabies begin to get more specific, and the aniaml enters the furious phase. This phase can last from 1- 7 days, and animals will become progressively more restless and aggressive, and begin to react strongly to visual and auditory stimulus. They may become openly vicious, and disorientation may lead them to attack or bite without warning or provocation. As this phase progresses, seizures may begin to occur as the inflammation in the brain progresses, and depending on their severity some animals will die as a direct result of these seizures.
Within 2-4 days of the first signs being noted, animals may enter the paralytic stage. Nerves in the head and throat become impeded, and animals will begin to have the classic look of extensive salivation due to their inability to swallow. Labored breathing and trouble with the jaw may also develop, as the animals’ ability to breathe and have muscle control is destroyed by the virus. Eventually animals will die as a result of respiratory failure, as they struggle to breathe but no longer possess the muscle strength to do so.
Diagnosis of rabies is made via clinical signs and the vaccination history and clinical history of the pet. The only way to know for sure if an animal was affected with rabies is to submit the deceased animals brain to a laboratory to test for the disease.