On August 25th this stray kitten, between the age of 4 and 6 months, tested positive for rabies after being found near the corner of Lamar and 40th Street on August 12th. Please note: this cat is no longer at large. Austin Health Officials are asking that anyone who might have come in contact with this kitten seek immediate medical care to prevent development of the disease. It can take several weeks for humans and several months for animals to show symptoms of rabies, so it is always best to be cautious.

“Today’s modern rabies preventive therapy is pretty benign,” Dr. Pat Crocker said. “It’s now only a series of shots four times over a month, and they’re simply shots in the arm and/or buttocks. There’s no more of that shot in the stomach stuff.”

Rabies can be transferred through scratches or bites, or if saliva comes in contact with an open wound or mucous membrane. Symptoms of rabies in humans includes fever or headache, but this changes quickly to nervous system signs such as confusion, sleepiness or agitation. However, for the best chance of survival, treatment is necessary prior to symptom onset.

Initial symptoms in pets can include changes in the tone of their bark, chewing at bite or scratch site, fever, loss of appetite, and subtle changes in behavior. Please note that many medical issues can cause these symptoms in your pet, and most commonly it is not rabies, so please bring them into the vet. Later symptoms can include aggression, no fear of natural enemies, dilated pupils, disorientation, chewing until teeth break, craving to eat anything (even non-food items), restlessness, seizures, lethargy, foaming at the mouth (inability to swallow) and paralysis. It can take up to three months for an animal to show signs of rabies so even if your pet has been vaccinated and came in contact with this kitten it will need to be examined.

If you are concerned that your animal may have been scratched of bitten by this cat, please contact your vet immediately! Please remember to keep your pet up to date on its rabies shots -- this disease has not been eradicated. Current rabies tests are fatal to animals, and the only other alternatives are prolonged isolation, so it is extremely important that you keep your pet vaccinated. If you are worried about the cost of your pets vaccines, you can attend a low-cost clinic such as Animal Trustees of Austin.