Did your kitty recently get into a fight with a stray cat, and now you’re worrying about cat rabies?

Or did a street cat bite you, and you’re wondering if you should get a rabies shot?

This concern is valid, considering the 1980 rabies outbreak in Thailand that claimed the lives of 370 people and thousands of animals.

But in 2023, is rabies common among cats in Thailand?

From looking at the most recent studies on cat rabies in Thailand, here’s what I found…

Which Animals Carry Rabies In Thailand?

Dogs are by far the most common carrier of Rabies in Thailand and worldwide.

According to data from the Department of Livestock Development, 88% of Thailand’s rabies cases in 2017 were transmitted through dogs, followed by cattle (6%) and cats (5%).

Monkeys can also carry and transmit the Rabies virus, but this is very uncommon.

How Common Is Rabies In Thailand?

The highest record of rabies cases in Thailand was in 1980. In this year, 370 people lost their lives to the incurable disease, along with thousands of animals!

This outbreak forced the Thai government to implement stronger measures to curb rabies cases.

One of these measures was rolling out free vaccination services for owned and stray cats and dogs.

As a result, an estimated 8.39 million dogs and cats in Thailand have now been vaccinated against rabies.

Last year (in 2023), there were 121 rabies cases in animals across 27 provinces in Thailand.

This is a considerable decline from 2018, when there were 1,296 animal rabies cases in 54 of Thailand’s 77 provinces.

Is Cat Rabies Common?

While cats can contract rabies, it is uncommon. This is because dogs are the primary carriers of rabies.

For example, a Thai study from 2013 to 2016 recorded 1202 rabies cases in animals. However, 1165 of these cases were dogs, and just 37 were cats.

In a more recent study on rabies in cats and dogs, researchers found that:

• 4.8% of rabies cases (41 cases) were from cats in 2018
• 3.5% of rabies cases (51 cases) were from cats in 2019

Moreover, the risk of contracting rabies from a cat is VERY low.

This is because rabies is transmitted when saliva from the infected animal comes in contact with a mucus membrane or broken skin.

This means that the primary way you can contract rabies from an infected cat is via a cat bite that is strong enough to cut the skin.

You cannot catch rabies from a cat scratching or licking you (unless they happen to lick an open wound).

How Can A Cat Get Rabies?

Cats contract rabies in the same way humans do, via the saliva of an infected animal.

Rabies is NOT an airborne virus, so it does not spread through the air or contaminate surfaces. It is also not transmitted in blood, urine, or feces.

So, the primary way cats in Thailand contract rabies is via a cat bite during fighting.

So, if your pet cat goes outside and fights with a stray cat, there is a small chance it will contract rabies.

Also, note that cats can catch rabies from dogs, so another possible transmission route is if they get attacked by a dog.

The virus can also spread via grooming if an infected cat licks another cat’s open wound, mouth, or nose.

Cat Rabies Symptoms

So, how can you tell if a cat has rabies?

Firstly, once exposed to the virus, the cat won’t show signs immediately.

The incubation period of cat rabies can range from anywhere between 10 days and one year. However, most cats show signs within 3 to 8 weeks after exposure.

There are three stages of cat rabies, which get progressively more severe and distressing:

1. Prodromal Stage – The first 2–3 days of infection
2. Furious Stage – The next 1–7 days
3. Paralytic Stage – The final 2–4 days

Not all cats will go through both the furious and paralytic stages; many will experience just one.

Prodromal Stage

So, what are the first signs of rabies in a cat?

During the first 2 to 3 days of infection, the infected cat may display a change in temperament.

Typically, cat rabies causes a cat to display the opposite temperament to normal.

So, if your cat is usually quiet, they could become agitated or aggressive. Or if your cat is very social and confident, they might become nervous or shy.

They may also develop a fever or have a decreased appetite.

Furious Stage

If an infected cat goes through this stage, they will become increasingly irritable, aggressive, and even delusional.

For example, you might notice them randomly attacking their tail or the surroundings.

Other symptoms you might notice are wide eyes (dilated pupils) and muscle spasms.

Paralytic Stage

In this final stage, the cat experiences severe muscle spasms. This often starts with the jaw, causing excessive drooling and making it difficult for them to swallow.

They will then develop paralysis of various muscular systems, have seizures, and shortly after, they will enter a coma and die.

Survival Rate Of Cats With Rabies

Unfortunately, there is no treatment or cure for cat rabies. Only a vaccine prevents the virus (though the vaccine is not 100% effective).

Although it is not 100% fatal, the survival rate of cat rabies is meager.

Once the symptoms appear, the cat’s health will deteriorate quickly, and most cats will die within a few days.

As it is highly distressing to watch the rabies virus take over a cat’s body, the best thing to do is humanely euthanize them before the symptoms become too severe.

However, as animal euthanasia is largely frowned upon and rarely practiced in Thailand, it may be challenging to find a vet who is willing to euthanize.

How To Prevent Cat Rabies In Thailand

While there is no cure or treatment for cat rabies, you can easily protect your cat and the community cats from this horrible disease.

How?

By vaccinating them!

The cat rabies vaccine has a very high efficacy rate—data shows it is around 95% effective.

Kittens can receive the rabies vaccine from 12-16 weeks old; they only need one dose.

However, cats must receive a booster shot every 12 months to ensure the vaccine remains effective.

The cat rabies vaccine is also very cheap.

Many municipalities in Thailand run free immunization events for cats and dogs. You can also vaccinate your cat at any local vet for as little as 50 baht!

Final Thoughts On Cat Rabies In Thailand

Thailand is not yet a rabies-free country, so rabies is certainly something you should be aware of. The good news, though, is that it is not a common cat disease in Thailand.

As long as you vaccinate your cat against rabies, there is very little chance they will contract the disease. Moreover, your risk of contracting rabies from a stray or wild animal is equally low.