Can you get rabies from a cat not showing symptoms?

After exposure to rabies, a cat will not immediately show signs. In fact, the time it takes for symptoms to present usually varies from three to eight weeks; however, it can be as short as 10 days and as long as a year.

How long is the incubation period for rabies in cats?

Infection: Rabid animals are the only source of infection. Virus is shed in the saliva some days before the onset of clinical signs and transmitted through a bite or a scratch to the skin or mucous membranes. The average incubation period in cats is 2 months, but may vary from 2 weeks to several months, or even years.

Can you get rabies from a non infected cat?

It is possible for a human to get rabies from an animal scratch, but it’s very rare. If you think that you have been exposed to rabies, call your doctor immediately. You may need a series of rabies vaccines to prevent the infection from progressing.

Can you get rabies if there is no blood?

Rabies can’t go through unbroken skin. People can get rabies only via a bite from a rabid animal or possibly through scratches, abrasions, open wounds or mucous membranes in contact with saliva or brain tissue from a rabid animal.

Can rabies spread during incubation period?

The Virus Travels through the Body A bite by the animal during the incubation period does not carry a risk of rabies because the virus has not yet made it to the saliva.

How long does it take for rabies symptoms to appear in cats?

After exposure to rabies, a cat will not immediately show signs. In fact, the time it takes for symptoms to present usually varies from three to eight weeks; however, it can be as short as 10 days and as long as a year.

Can a dog bite cause rabies without showing any symptoms?

When a healthy dog or cat bites a person, there is a remote possibility that the dog or cat could have the disease without showing outward signs of rabies. In these rare cases, the animal will develop recognizable signs of rabies in a few days allowing time to treat the bite victim preventively for rabies exposure.

What should you do if you suspect a cat has rabies?

If you come in contact with a cat you suspect might have rabies, there are certain signs of the disease that you can look for in the animal. Always use extreme caution around a cat you think may be infected with rabies and do not attempt to capture a cat that seems rabid.

Why are there so many rabies-infected cats?

The large number of rabies-infected cats might be attributed to fewer cat vaccination laws, fewer leash laws, and the roaming habits of cats. In many developing countries, dogs are the major vector of rabies; exposures to dogs in such countries represent an increased risk of rabies transmission.