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Treatment

If your cat has been vaccinated against rabies, provide proof of vaccination to your veterinarian. If anyone came into contact with the cat's saliva, or were bitten by your cat (yourself included), advise them to contact a physician immediately for treatment. Unfortunately, rabies is always fatal for unvaccinated animals, usually occurring within 7 to 10 days from when the initial symptoms began.

If a diagnosis of rabies is confirmed you will need to report the case to your local health department. An unvaccinated cat that is bitten or exposed to a known rabid animal must be quarantined for up to six months, or according to local and state regulations. A vaccinated animal that has bitten or scratched a human, conversely, should be quarantined and monitored for 10 days.

Living and Management

Disinfect any area the animal might have infected (especially with saliva) using a 1:32 dilution (4 ounces to a gallon) of household bleach solution to quickly inactivate the virus. Do not allow yourself to come into contact with your cat’s saliva.

If your cat has swallowed an object, do not reach into its mouth without taking precautions. Saliva can enter into your skin through an accidental scratch, putting you at risk of contracting the virus.