First Case of Rabies on Cat Found in Larimer County

A kitten who was around a month or two was confirmed to be positive of rabies, and is also the first cat to be reported positive for the infections in the Larimer County since the establishment of the local health department in 1968.

It was broadcasted last Saturday by the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment that the kitten was a confirmed rabies case.

During an examination for neurological issues, a local veterinarian was bitten. The kitten was then euthanized and was sent afterwards to the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic where in was officially confirmed to have rabies.

The kitten was born in a barn to unvaccinated parents on an agriculture area north of Fort Collins. The kitten was also left unvaccinated, scratched and bit several members of the family who owned the property. Five children and three adults had to be taken to receive vaccine treatments due to their exposure.

Other cats in the same barn were also euthanized for possible contamination. Furthermore, the livestock on the property were not allowed to be transported or moved for the next 90 days.

In a news release on Saturday, the director of the health department Adrienne LeBailly mentioned about barn cats in the county who were not getting anti-rabies vaccines, even if they are required by the local ordinance for all dogs and cats. Such cases leave people and animals in risk of infections.

Since the start of the year, 32 animals has already been positive of rabies in the county, and such numbers are only cases were testing was done.

The chance of domesticated pets getting infected with rabies increased greatly on May 2012, wherein the number of rabid skunks increased and even exceeded bats as the most common source of the infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rabies is deadly virus that can be transmitted through saliva which in case of animals biting humans. Over 90 percent of rabid animals occur in the wildlife mostly on raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. However, human domestic infection happens from domestic pets such as cats and dogs.

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