Wake County authorities warn the public to be extra wary after a person was bitten by a rabid kitten. This summer, what are some tips that can help protect pets from contracting rabies?

Rabid Kitten Bite

In the last few months, there have been many cases of animal encounters that resulted in the people involved to require rabies treatments. On Tuesday, another unfortunate animal encounter occurred near Wake Forest in North Carolina when a person was attacked and bitten by a kitten. The victim was immediately treated for rabies, and test results revealed that the kitten was, indeed, rabid.

Evidently, this was already the third rabid cat attack in the area, as two other Wake County residents were also bitten by rabid cats in May. According to Wake County Animal Control, residents must be extra wary of stray cats as the chances of encountering rabid animals statistically rises when the weather is warm.

Protecting Pets From Rabies

In North Carolina, the law requires pets to be vaccinated with the rabies vaccine. In fact, the Wake County Animal Center even provides the rabies vaccine for just $5. That said, authorities advise pet owners to keep their pets’ vaccination up to date, and to contact a veterinarian if they are unsure if their pets have been vaccinated properly, and on schedule.

In the summer when rabid animal encounters are more common, pets must always be leashed or kept in a fenced area when outside, so as to prevent them from wandering. It’s also unwise to leave food for pets outside, as it may attract any wild animals nearby.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pet cats and ferrets must be kept indoors, while dogs should be placed under direct supervision. Any wild or unfamiliar animal should not be approached even if it seems to be behaving normally, and any animal that seems to be exhibiting signs of rabies must be immediately reported to authorities.

Similar advise goes for when a pet gets into a fight, or is attacked by a potentially rabid animal. The animal must immediately be reported to authorities, and the pet must immediately be taken to a health care provider to receive the appropriate rabies treatment. Even if the pet already has the rabies vaccine at the time of the bite, they must still receive a booster shot within 72 hours of the bite.

Any bite from a potentially rabid animal must immediately be washed clean with soap and water, and must be immediately taken to the doctor to receive proper medical attention.