Clay Jenkins
Rabies is a virus that can be transmitted to cats through the saliva of an infected animal. The virus can enter a cat's system through mucous membranes in the eye, nose or mouth. Rabies typically progresses through three stages: prodromal, furious/excitative and paralytic. Cats with rabies tend to display signs of weakness, poor coordination and decreased muscle control, particularly in the mouth, throat and chest areas. This is what is known as the 'slack-jawed' look.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Eyes | Widened eyes, dilated pupils |
| Behaviour | Agitated, aggressive, unprovoked attacks, apprehension, nervousness, irritability, hyperexcitability, loss of appetite, increased vocalisation, preference for being alone |
| Physical changes | Fever, drooling, muscle spasms, poor coordination, decreased muscle control, foaming at the mouth, inability to swallow |
What You'll Learn
Dilated pupils
Rabies in cats typically progresses through three stages: prodromal, furious/excitative, and paralytic. Cats with rabies tend to display signs of weakness, poor coordination, and decreased muscle control, particularly in the mouth, throat, and chest areas. Cats with rabies may also exhibit the characteristic foaming around the mouth due to the inability to properly swallow.
Cats with rabies may also exhibit abnormal changes in behaviour, such as normally active cats becoming lethargic or normally mellow cats becoming agitated or increasingly vocal. They may also develop a preference for being alone, regardless of other changes in behaviour.
If you suspect your cat may have rabies, it is important to seek veterinary attention immediately.
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Drooling
Rabies in cats can be identified by a number of symptoms, including drooling. Drooling is a sign of stage 2 rabies, also known as the furious or excitative stage, during which the cat may also exhibit widened eyes, muscle spasms and aggressive behaviour. Drooling is caused by the cat's inability to properly swallow, resulting in foaming around the mouth. This is often accompanied by poor coordination and decreased muscle control, particularly in the mouth, throat and chest areas. Cats in this stage of rabies may also appear 'slack-jawed' and their eyes may be widened with fully dilated pupils.
The furious stage of rabies is characterised by increasingly unusual or bizarre behaviour, such as biting or attempting to eat inanimate objects. Cats may also exhibit uncharacteristic aggressiveness, with normally calm and obedient animals becoming vicious and attacking people or other animals without provocation. They may also become irritable and anxious, with an alert posture and dilated pupils.
Prior to the furious stage, rabies in cats may be indicated by mild physical changes, such as fever, pupil dilation, or appetite loss. Behavioural changes may also be observed, including lethargy in normally active cats or agitation in normally mellow cats. Cats may also develop a preference for being alone and exhibit unusual behaviour such as scratching, sniffing or licking at the site of a recent scratch or bite.
Following the furious stage, rabies progresses to the paralytic stage, during which the cat is unable to move the muscles of the jaw or throat. This stage typically occurs within seven days of the initial stage of rabies.
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Aggressive behaviour
Rabies in cats typically progresses through three stages: prodromal, furious/excitative, and paralytic. The furious stage is often called the 'mad-dog' stage, as the cat will appear to have gone mad. This is when the cat will display the most aggressive behaviour.
Cats in the furious stage of rabies will display increasingly unusual or bizarre behaviour, such as biting on or attempting to eat inanimate objects. They will also become extremely aggressive, characterised by sudden and unprovoked attacks against people or other animals. They may viciously and aggressively use their teeth and claws with the slightest provocation.
Cats in the furious stage of rabies will be continuously alert with pupils fully dilated. Light, noise and movement will trigger a cat in this stage to attack. They will also display continuous drooling, widened eyes, muscle spasms and aggressive behaviour. This stage is extremely dangerous for humans and it is during this stage that people are commonly infected.
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Poor coordination
Rabies typically progresses through three stages, known as the prodromal, furious/excitative, and paralytic stages. Cats with rabies tend to display signs of poor coordination and decreased muscle control, particularly in the mouth, throat, and chest areas. Cats afflicted with the virus are sometimes described as “slack-jawed” and they may exhibit the characteristic foaming around the mouth due to the inability to properly swallow.
During the furious stage, a cat might exhibit increasingly unusual or bizarre behaviour, such as biting on or attempting to eat inanimate objects. They may also display uncharacteristic aggressiveness; a normally calm and obedient animal may become vicious. Cats in the furious stage of rabies may also appear alert and anxious, with dilated pupils and widened eyes.
In the prodromal stage, cats may display mild physical changes, such as fever, drooling, pupil dilation, or appetite loss without any other explanation. They may also exhibit abnormal changes in behaviour, such as lethargy or increased vocalisation.
The paralytic stage is noted within seven days after the initial stage of rabies and is characterised by the inability to move the muscles of the jaw or throat. Cats in this stage may exhibit muscle spasms and aggressive behaviour.
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Fever
Rabies in cats can be difficult to identify, as each case is unique and the signs may not match the typical symptoms. However, fever is one of the most common early signs of rabies in cats, along with irritability, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and an inability to swallow. Cats with rabies may also exhibit abnormal changes in behaviour, such as becoming lethargic or unusually aggressive. They may also show a preference for being alone.
As rabies progresses, cats may develop weakness and eventually paralysis in the head, neck, and chest, leading to the well-known sign of "foaming at the mouth" due to an inability to swallow. If you suspect your cat has rabies, it is important to inspect it for bite marks or signs of a fight, as this is often how cats contract the disease. Contact animal control for assistance if you believe your cat may have the furious form of rabies, characterised by aggressive behaviour and unprovoked attacks.
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Frequently asked questions
Rabies typically progresses through three stages: prodromal, furious/excitative, and paralytic. Cats with rabies tend to display signs of weakness, poor coordination, and decreased muscle control, particularly in the mouth, throat, and chest areas. They may also have dilated pupils, widened eyes, muscle spasms, and aggressive behaviour.
If the saliva of an infected animal makes contact with an open wound or mucous membranes in the eye, nose, or mouth, the rabies virus may enter a cat's system and incubate.
Cats with rabies may display abnormal changes in behaviour, such as becoming lethargic or agitated, seeking solitude, and developing uncharacteristic aggressiveness. They may also lose their fear of people and wander around during the daytime if they are normally nocturnal.
Physical changes in cats with rabies can include fever, drooling, pupil dilation, appetite loss, and scratching, sniffing, or licking at the site of a recent scratch or bite. They may also exhibit increasingly unusual behaviour, such as biting on or attempting to eat inanimate objects.
