Confirmed Case of Rabies in Stray Cat in Hart County

Hart County has had a confirmed reported case of rabies in a stray cat, according to a report in the Hartwell Sun.

Hart County Environmental Health Department was notified of a case of rabies in the stray brown tabby cat in the Reed Creek area near the intersection of Boleman Creek Road.

The cat began acting aggressively around people and ended up scratching several people. The cat was euthanized and it later tested positive for rabies.

According to District 2 Public Health, the cat may have exposed other animals in the area to rabies.

Hart County Environmental Health warns feral cats, unlike stray domesticated cats are born in the wild and should be treated as wild animals.

They stress that people should not attempt to capture or feed feral or unfamiliar cats, but to leave them alone and call animal control.

Additionally, remember to pick up your pets’ food bowls if they’re outside to keep wild animals away.

Other wild animals such as raccoons, foxes, and skunks carry the rabies virus in Georgia so if you see any of those normally nocturnal animals out during the day, keep away and call the Department of Natural Resources and your county animal control officer.

The most important thing you can do to protect your pets and family is to make sure your dogs and cats are current on their rabies vaccines.

Also, children have compassionate hearts, and when they see a stray cat may want to pick it up or pet it. So it’s important to teach your children to stay back from any stray cat or wild animal and let you know so you can call animal control, the DNR, or County Marshal.

In Hart County, the local FFA chapter in conjunction with local veterinarians holds a low-cost rabies clinic, usually in the spring or fall.

Additionally, the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter which serves Hart County also offers a spring and fall low-cost rabies clinic.

And Franklin County’s Health Department in conjunction with local veterinarians also holds a spring rabies clinic at locations around the county.

Signs a stray cat, pet, or wild animal may have contracted the rabies virus include abnormally aggressive behavior such as attacking or biting people, stopping eating or drinking water, drooling, lethargy, and sluggishness or stumbling when they walk.

Rabies if contracted is always fatal both in animals and humans and can be spread to other animals if they share food or get into a fight.

It can be spread to humans through bites or scratches from an infected animal that draws blood.

If you think you’ve been bitten or scratched by a rabid animal, you must seek medical attention immediately.

There is a series of post-exposure shots you must undergo within a short window of time from the time you’ve been bitten or scratched to prevent the virus from spreading through your bloodstream.

If you have questions you can contact your local health department.

In Hart County, the number is 706-376- 5118 or 706-371-6600. In Franklin County, the health department number is 706-384-5574.