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CATS AND RABIES
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT?
First - some stats about rabies:
Rabies has been around for thousands of years and it wasn't until 1946 that the disease started to be tracked. Even though vaccinations have limited the spread of rabies, there are still 40,000 people that die from rabies per year worldwide.
At the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are a reported 35,000 people a year that receive the vaccination for exposure to rabies. The rate of exposure in developing countries is higher than in the USA. The CDC reports rates of infection in these countries at about 10 times higher than the US and the rates for human rabies is sometimes 100 times higher.
So with all that in mind....
Today I'm gong to test your knowledge about rabies with a little true or false quiz. See how much you already know, and see what else you can learn about this infection, so that you will be able to better protect your precious felines (and yourself)!
--TRUE OR FALSE
--1. All rabid animals foam at the mouth and act mad.
--2. Cats get rabies more than dogs do.
--3. Your indoor only cat does NOT need to get rabies shots.
--4. Vaccinating your cat can cause cancer later on in life.
--5. Humans exposed to rabies will be expected to receive a very painful regimen of 20 shots of vaccine in the stomach.
Answers to A QUIZ:
CATS AND RABIES:
--1. All rabid animals foam at the mouth and act mad.
FALSE.
The truth is that rabid animals can appear calm and sociable, you really can't tell if an animal is infected until it starts to exhibit symptoms. Foaming at the mouth only happens SOMETIMES and not until the later stages of the infection.
--2. Cats get rabies more than dogs do.
TRUE.
In the 1980s and 1990s, cats suffered infection of rabies MORE than dogs did, partly because of the strict vaccination laws that exist for dogs and not for cats. Also, cats have a roaming and territorial nature, which exposes them to wildlife like skunks and rabbits and raccoons.
--3. Your indoor only cat does not need to get rabies shots.
FALSE.
Even indoor cats can get infected with rabies and should get the vaccination. No matter how diligent you are, your cat could slip out into the great outdoors. Bats and mice can still get into your house and we all know that cats can't resist a moving target.
--4. Vaccinating your cat can cause cancer later on in life.
FALSE.
The chances of your cat developing cancer are extremely low, compared to the death rate from rabies. This makes vacation worth the risk. 1 in 100 cats can develop sarcoma, an extremely treatable cancer.
--5. Humans exposed to rabies will be expected to receive a very painful regimen of 20 shots of vaccine in the stomach.
FALSE.
Once upon a time, this was the route that needed to be taken.
The new vaccination takes only 6 shots over a 28-day period
and is done in the arm. This makes the process painless and
easier to administer.
--What can you as a responsible pet owner do?
One sure way to help stop the spread of rabies is to be diligent about having your cats and dogs vaccinated. Even the scare of an epidemic can cause panic in some foreign countries and mass slaughter of non-infected animals can occur.
It is estimated that 85 percent of animal rabies occur in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and foxes. Rabies can also be transmitted to farm animals such as cows,
horses, pigs, goats and sheep.
Remember, even if you have an indoor only cats, you need to have them vaccinated. You should also have all your pets vaccinated for this deadly disease. (Your snakes, birds, and obviously fish are exempt, as are your other non-mammal critters.)
A QUIZ:
Garfield's Law: Cats instinctively know the precise moment their owners will awaken ... then they awaken them ten minutes sooner.
--Jim Davis
Stray cats never know when they will be able to find another meal, so they usually eat constantly. If you take in a stray, it's OK to let her have all she can, but just for a while. As she gains weight, you'll need to start measuring out her meals.
