Thankfully, your cat cannot catch rabies in the UK as transmission among wild animals and pets has long been eradicated. In fact, the UK has been rabies-free since the beginning of the 20th century (except for rabies-like viruses in some wild bat species).
But the largely fatal disease remains a risk in other parts of the world including Europe—although rare—and the United States. So, pet owners travelling with their animals out of the UK must know how to prevent the disease, vaccinate their cats where necessary and follow other strict protocols if they plan to return to the UK.
Rabies is serious, so knowing how to prevent it and the signs and causes is crucial. Below, you’ll learn how to protect your cat from rabies if you’re travelling abroad, the symptoms to watch out for, which cats are most at risk, and what treatment looks like.
What Is Rabies?
Rabies is a fatal nervous system infection that can affect any mammal, including cats. It remains active in many countries around the world, including some parts of Europe and the USA. Rebecca Kurtzman, DVM, medical director of St Marks Veterinary Hospital in the USA, says the first signs of rabies in cats include seizures, poor coordination, paralysis, and fear of water. These rabies symptoms require immediate veterinary attention, and the disease is often deadly.
Do I Need To Vaccinate My Cat Against Rabies?
The rabies vaccination for cats is not routine in the UK unless you’re bringing them into the country from overseas. Rabies vaccinations are mandatory for pets entering the UK, and failure to adhere to this and other public health requirements could result in your cat being refused entry to the country or quarantined on arrival for up to four months. Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has strict regulations for pets travelling into member countries including compulsory rabies vaccinations. Although vaccinated cats can still get rabies, it’s unlikely.
Rabies vaccines should only be administered by a vet or under veterinary supervision. Your cat is immunised against rabies for 28 days after the first vaccination, protecting them from rabies until their next booster. While your vet can advise you on an ideal vaccination schedule, rabies vaccines are typically given every one to three years to maintain protection.
You’ll need proof of this vaccination to enter the UK, the EU and many other countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) also has stringent guidelines to control rabies around the world.
What Are Rabies Symptoms in Cats?
Hopefully, you’ll never see any of the symptoms of rabies. But, if you’re travelling abroad with your pet, it’s important to know the signs for their protection as well as your own.
Rabies comes in stages. These three stages are the prodromal phase, the furious phase, and the paralytic phase. Rabies symptoms in cats during these phases are usually different. Generally, Dr Kurtzman says any rabies symptoms can be related to behaviour or the nervous system and include the following:
- increased fear or aggression
- changes in eating, drinking, and swallowing
- seizures
- poor coordination
- paralysis
- fear of water
- fever
- itchiness
- increased anxiety
- sensitivity to touch and sound
- muscle twitching
- increased salivation
These symptoms can signal various conditions, not just rabies. However, if your cat was bitten in an at-risk country and they’re showing these signs, rabies is possible.
If your cat is experiencing any symptoms, Dr Kurtzman recommends seeing a vet ASAP.
What Causes Rabies in Cats?
Generally, Dr Kurtzman says rabies happens after an infected animal bites your cat. For example, in the USA, where rabies remains a risk, cats have likely become the most common domestic animal with rabies because they’re not always vaccinated and are often exposed to wildlife.
Cats that roam increase their chances of encountering an infected animal because they hunt and have predatory instincts. Meanwhile, bringing stray or feral cats into your home if you’re outside of the UK can increase the risk of rabies exposure without proper prep.
How Do Vets Diagnose Rabies in Cats?
Vets can’t definitively diagnose rabies in a living animal. If your cat hasn’t been vaccinated, is showing signs of rabies, and has been bitten in an at-risk country, vets will likely recommend euthanasia (in some countries this is required by law). After death, brain testing can confirm a diagnosis, says Dr Laura Greene, DVM at Merck Animal Health in the USA.
She adds that cats can show signs of rabies anywhere from one week to six months after a bite. However, most cats will display signs within one to two months.
Can You Treat Rabies?
Unfortunately, rabies is often fatal once symptoms appear. Humans who have been in contact with the cat should seek medical care immediately.
Can Humans Get Rabies From Cats?
Humans can get rabies if an infected cat bites them, but this is unlikely. A cat can’t give you rabies by scratching or licking you. It has been more than a century since a person caught rabies on UK soil—the last reported case of a human rabies infection in the UK was in 2012, but this was after the person was bitten by a dog in Southeast Asia.
If you’re unvaccinated and bitten by a cat with rabies abroad, you’ll need immediate medical attention. Vaccination against rabies is recommended for people travelling to many countries where rabies is active.
