While reported cases of rabies in the United States dropped in 2008, veterinarians and public health officials warn that an increase in the number of reported rabies cases in cats poses a risk to both animals and people. A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the Sept. 15, 2009, edition of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, shows that the number of rabies cases in cats is on the rise, climbing from 262 reported cases in 2007 to 294 in 2008. Cats lead the list of domestic animals with reported cases of rabies, far outpacing the 93 cases of rabies reported in dogs. The simple act of vaccinating a pet provides protection to the animal and the humans with whom it may come in contact, and veterinarians are urging pet owners to make sure that their pets are vaccinated.
For more information about rabies, visit the AVMA’s World Rabies Day page.