Rabies, a Zoonotic Disease

Did you know that rabies is an important zoonosis? And what is a zoonosis, you ask? A zoonosis or zoonotic disease is a disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. These are important diseases that veterinarians must learn about and educate their clients about to protect the health of pets, but also the families who love those pets.

There has been much controversy about vaccinations, especially for cats. The possibility that vaccines are associated with a particular type of cancer has led many cat owners to avoid vaccinations altogether. However, it is important to remember rabies. Rabies is a viral infection for which there is a very effective vaccine and all cats (and dogs) should be current on their rabies vaccinations.

In 2005, the number of reported cases of rabies declined in the U.S. by 6.2%. There were a total of 6,417 cases of rabies reported, with 269 of these in cats and 76 in dogs. The number of cases in the United States have been declining since 2000, most likely due to pet vaccination, wildlife vaccination programs and educational programs about the risk of rabies.

Take good care of your cats with regular veterinary care, including vaccinations, and a high quality pet food like Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul brand.