18 Signs Of Rabies in Cats

Behavioral changes in an infected cat are one of the earliest and most noticeable signs. The behavior change of a cat also depends on their personality and stage of the disease.

A calm and affectionate cat may become aggressive if affected by the virus. They may also hiss, growl, or even try to bite or scratch without provocation.

A cat infected by the rabies virus may drool due to a defect in the throat muscles. Due to this reason, the cat may also have foam around their mouths.

The discomfort caused by it may make the cat reluctant to eat or drink, leading to further drooling due to a dry mouth.

Some cats may develop unusual vocalizations as the virus affects their nervous system. They may start to meow more often in a different or unusual pattern. 

Some cats also make long mournful howling or yowling sounds which may be due to pain, fear, or confusion. It can also make the cats more defensive, leading to excessive hissing as a way to warn off threats despite no real danger.

Lethargy is another early sign that a cat suffering from rabies may show. An infected cat may stop playing, exploring, or interacting with people and other animals. 

They may appear constantly tired as they may sleep more than usual. Cats may also be slow and deliberate as they may lack their usual agility and quickness.

Disorientation means the cat is confused and has difficulty understanding its surroundings. They lose the ability to judge distance and may bump into furniture, walls, or other objects when moving around.

Cats may also appear confused and have difficulty recognizing people or places. They may sit in one spot for a long time unsure of what it wants to do.

Paralysis in cats is a severe and late-stage symptom that signifies the neurological damage caused by the virus. It causes the loss of ability to move certain parts of the body and can affect various body muscles.

The first form of paralysis is hind limbs which may cause difficulty for the cat to stand, walk, or move its back legs. Some cats also go through partial paralysis in which they keep hold of some movement but lack full strength in affected limbs.

Hydrophobia, meaning fear of water, is one of the most common symptoms related to rabies. In cats, this condition shows difficulty with swallowing water or any liquid.

The inflammation in the nerves responsible for swallowing makes the cat refrain from drinking liquid. Due to the avoidance of water, they may dehydrate quickly and cause overall weakness.

Fever is an early symptom of rabies that can be seen as a sign of the body's natural response to fighting off viruses. It generally means that the immune system is actively trying to fight the infection.

The fever might be mild or moderate according to the stage of the infection. Cats may also develop warm ears, lethargy, and loss of appetite when suffering from fever.

It is a condition that occurs when pupils become incredibly large and do not contract in response to light. Pupil dilation in cats can be due to the virus's impact on the automatic nerves that control eye function. 

Even in bright light, the pupil of an infected cat may remain consistently dilated. This can also make the cat more sensitive to light and result in them avoiding bright areas, squinting, or showing discomfort to light. 

The cat may also display a fixed gaze that may be due to the dilation of the pupils. Moreover, this also causes aggression or fear and may enhance the eye shine effect in low light, where the cat's eyes reflect more intensely.

This is another symptom that indicates that the cat is unwell and loses interest in food. Cats may show little to no interest in eating even when their favorite treat is offered. 

As the muscles responsible for swallowing are paralyzed, it is difficult for the cat to eat leading to complete refusal to eat. Even if they do eat, they might vomit which discourages further attempts to eat food.

Aggression in cats is a sudden and extreme behavioral change that is caused by the virus attacking the brain areas. A cat with rabies may suddenly become aggressive without any valid reason or provocation. 

They can direct it towards people, other animals, and even objects. Cats may use their claws or teeth to bite and scratch with little to no warning.

In some cases, the cats may showcase their aggression towards themselves by biting or scratching themselves. They also lose their sense of fear and may attack people or other animals without hesitation.

Self-mutilation is a symptom where a cat tends to bite, chew, or scratch itself excessively. These cats may repeatedly chew or bite their limbs, tails, or other body parts which leads to open wounds, bleeding, and even tissue damage. 

This behavior also causes the skin to become raw, inflamed, and open to infection. They also lose fur resulting in noticeable patches of missing fur areas causing red, swollen, or covered sores. 

Cats may perform these self-mutilation practices in one specific area and cause deep wounds and severe damage due to repetitive behavior. Despite causing these severe painful wounds, the cats may be unable to stop their behavior due to abnormal sensations in their body.

It is a symptom that occurs in the later stages of the disease that signifies that the infection has progressed to a critical and irreversible point. The cat may shake violently, stiffen the muscles, and lose consciousness when suffering from these episodes.

Cats infected with rabies are sensitive to touch due to dysfunction in the cat's nervous system. They respond with extreme irritation and aggression when touched or handled.

To avoid this pain, they may hide or flinch from any physical contact. They may arch their backs, puff their fur, or flatten their ears as a defensive posture when touched.

The sensitivity to touch may be localized to specific areas such as the head, neck, or spine. This further leads to heightened sensitivity and change in the cat's behavior.

It is a severe and concerning symptom that is caused by the effect on the respiratory system. Cats may showcase labored breathing and their breathing can be seen as heavy, rapid, or shallow breaths. 

They may even start panting as they struggle to get enough oxygen, showing signs of respiratory distress. As a result of this respiratory difficulty, they may show other signs such as foaming of the mouth, anxiety, and discomfort.

A change in sleeping pattern is a notable symptom that may be caused by restlessness or excessive sleepiness. An infected cat may feel restless and unable to sleep and may pace, wander, and appear agitated.

This lack of sleep increases their irritation and confusion leading to abnormal behavior. Cats may also develop other signs such as erratic sleep patterns, excessive sleepiness, and difficulty rousing.

Incontinence refers to a stage in which an infected cat may fail to control urination and excretion. They may start to urinate involuntarily which may lead to accidents in unusual places.

The inability to control bowel movements may also result in excreting unexpectedly in inappropriate places. As the virus spreads, the cat may go through these incidents more often.

They may not be able to regulate when or where to urinate or defecate. as their control mechanism breaks down.

Cats infected with rabies may start showing actions such as responding to things that are not present. They may suddenly snap, bite, or paw at the air as though they are attacking something that is not there.