POSITIVE CAT IN GREGG COUNTY
A rancher who lives in Gregg County just north of Kilgore allows several wild cats to hang around her barn because they control the rodent and snake populations. The rancher throws out a little cat food to supplement the cats' diet of rodents and snakes, but she does not interact with the cats.
On the morning of March 7th, one of the cats came up into the ranch yard and began to attack three of the ranch dogs. After the skirmish, the cat ran off into the woods. Later that afternoon, the cat reappeared and again began to act aggressively, this time it attacked a horse. In fact, it jumped onto the horse's leg and sunk its teeth into the flesh. It remained on the animal until the rancher's neighbor kicked it off. The rancher got her pistol and shot the cat. It took 4 shots to kill it.
The rancher took the cat to her veterinarian for rabies testing. It was rabid.
Prior to 2008, Gregg County had not had a reported case of skunk rabies in over 10 years. However, Rusk County, which is just to the south, has been having rabid skunks since 2005, and Nacogdoches County, a little further south, has been reporting cases since 2003. Though we do not have the actual test results yet, it is safe to assume that this rabid cat was infected by a rabid skunk.
It appears that the skunk rabies virus has now made its way into Gregg County. If the disease follows the same pattern that it has exhibited in other East Texas counties, the citizens of Gregg County can expect to discover numerous rabid skunks this year and next year.
What should citizens do to prepare for an "epidemic" of rabies? First, assure that all pets, show stock, and other livestock that have frequent close contact with people are vaccinated against rabies. Rabid skunks become very aggressive and frequently come into yards or corrals to attack pets or livestock.
Second, teach young children not to ever try to approach, touch, or play with a wild animal, or even a dog or cat, that they do not know.
Third, do not leave pet food out at night. The food will entice wildlife into the yard, which will increase the risk of a human-wild animal encounter. In addition, if an animal is accustomed to going to a yard for its "nightly buffet," it will be more likely to come to that yard if it is rabid.
Finally, realize that even if a "barn" cat is not a pet and does not routinely interact with people, if it contracts rabies, it is very likely to bite animals or people in the area. In fact, in 2006, a rabid barn cat in Upshur County attacked a rancher who was standing in his yard talking on his cell phone. He had to use both hands to remove the cat.
Nationwide there are many more rabid cats than rabid dogs reported each year. In Texas, we usually have about the same number of rabid dogs and cats. Clearly, cats represent a rabies risk to humans. Vaccinating cats protects the people around those cats. |
