In general rabies is associated with dogs, however, cats can also be affected and even transmit it to humans. Despite being less common, rabies in cats It is equally worrisome, since once contracted the animal can not recover and dies in a short period of time.

If you are interested in knowing more about this disease that affects all types of mammals, especially about how long a cat lives with rage, keep reading this article.

Rabies in cats

The term “rage” It comes from the Latin Rabidus, which means crazy, probably because of the aggressive aspect that animals that suffer from this viral infectious disease. But do rabies transmit the cats? The truth is that yes, it is also a zoonotic disease, that is, it can affect the human being.

How is rabies transmitted from cats to humans?

This disease is caused by family viruses Rhabdoviridae, which affect the central nervous system and which spread and accumulate in large quantities in the salivary glands, which cause an infected saliva production. It is transmitted mainly through the bite of an infected animal, usually after a fight. On the other hand, being less common, rabies can also be spread through licked from a wound open or the scratches on mucous membranes, as it can be in mouth and eyes.

How do cats get rabies?

The number of infected animals has been controlled thanks to active vaccination campaigns in countries around the world, however, the current figures are still of concern, since the presence of rabies persists, especially among wild animals, as bats or foxes. However, the epidemiological risk it is much higher in land mammals that live in urban centers, such as dogs and cats, than in wild animals, since contact with them is highly uncommon and is usually accidental.

So, can rabies be cured in cats?

La rabia there is no cure and in most cases it causes the death of the infected cat. Therefore, the best tool to combat it is prevention. Strictly follow the schedule of vaccines for cats is essential to prevent this and other pathologies. In addition, you should be careful if your cat leaves the house unsupervised and gets involved in fights (one of the main sources of infection) or if your cat brings dead animals home.

But then, How long does a cat live with rabies? To answer this question we will explain a bit how the disease works and develops.

Stages of rabies in cats

While the bite occurs, the rabies virus present in the saliva directly penetrates the muscles and tissues, then begins to multiply in that site. The virus spreads through the surrounding structures and those closest to the nervous tissue, since it has a certain affinity for nerve fibers (it is neurotropic) and does not use blood as a means of diffusion.

Phases of rabies:

• Incubation: begins when the cat receives the bite and ends with the appearance of the first symptoms. In fact, the animal seems completely healthy and has no symptoms of disease. It can last from one week to several months until the disease manifests.
• Prodomic: in this phase we can begin to observe some behavioral changes. The cat may be more nervous, scared, anxious, tired and introverted. This phase can last from 2 to 10 days.
• Aggressiveness: this is the phase that characterizes the disease. The cat becomes aggressive, irritable and can bite and scratch. You must be especially careful.
• Paralysis: it is the final phase of the disease, in which we observe paralysis, spasms, coma and, finally, the death of the animal.

Symptoms of rabies in cats

Next we will show you what are the symptoms of rabies in cats most common, but you should know that they do not always show up all:

• Fever
• Aggressiveness
• Apathy
• Excessive salivation
• Vomiting
• Difficulty swallowing
• Aversion to light (photophobia)
• Water aversion (hydrophobic)
• Seizures
• Paralysis

These signs are easily confused with other neurological diseases, for that reason, whenever we have the need to detect rabies in a cat, we must consult a veterinarian, especially if we have observed any of the symptoms mentioned and if it also roams the streets and / or brings dead animals.

How much does a cat live with rabies?

As we have already explained, this disease has no cure and, therefore, euthanasia in cats is the most dignified option before the diagnosis, since the progression of the disease is fast, irreversible and deadly. In addition, it also causes severe suffering in the animal.

La life expectancy of a cat with rage It is relatively short. The period of the phrases described above may vary from one individual to another, but once the central nervous system has been reached and the manifestation of clinical symptoms has begun, the disease evolves rapidly and Death occurs in 7 or 10 days.

Usually, when a cat is suspected of having rabies, it is put in quarantine, to make the observation during 10 days at least. At the end of this period, it is evaluated whether the cat is well or, on the contrary, that it suffers from rabies.

If you suspect that your cat may suffer from this disease, go to your veterinarian immediately so that it can isolate it and thus avoid contagion to other animals and people, in addition to minimizing pain. In addition, if you have been able to identify the carrier of the rabies that has infected your cat, you should inform the specialist so that other animals do not continue to be infected.

This article is merely informative, in .com we do not have the faculty to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.

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