Could my cat have rabies?

Question

My cat got outside and for the last few days he has had saliva coming from his mouth. Hes eating and drinking and hasnt really changed in his attitude. Then i found some blood on his nose and i washed it away and there hasnt been anything since.The saliva also has an oder to it.

Answer 1

Hi Kathleen...it's possible your kitten has ingested a mildly toxic substance which would contribute to the drooling. Blood in the nose could be indicative of an internal injury such as the manifestation of the poisons. Eating and drinking normally are a good sign, however the drooling and odour could also be as a result of periodontal disorders as well--but because it was suddenly that may not be the case. Consider ringing a vet to discuss if your kitty needs to come in for an evaluation.

Answer 2

It's probably not rabies, but unfortunately there is only 1 way to test for rabies and that is to have your pets brain tissue tested. You can guess the only way to get brain tissue out... So unless your vet seriously suspects rabies then it's probably not the cause of kitty's problem. Usually excessive saliva and/or presence of blood is indicative of one of two things: one-some sort of upper respritory infection, cats are particularly prone to them, or two-an infection in your cat's mouth. Dental disease is the most common problem that pets have, however it's never the first thing pet owners suspect. Your cat may have an abcess in his mouth or throat that needs medical attention. This is a strong possiblity of what could be troubling your cat, especially since you say his saliva has an odor to it. Bad odor is usually sign of infection. Either way, upper respritory infection, dental disease, or something else completely, the best thing is to take your cat to the vet as soon as you can. Any of these things left untreated can get very bad very quickly. And for goodness sakes, DON'T try to drain an abcess yourself!! (see one of the previous answers) This can only make things worse!! The vet is the only one who can do this procedure properly!! Good luck to you & your kitty!

Answer 3

probably not, but you should take him to a vet. here are the typical symptoms of rabies from http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/rabies/symptoms.shtml :
Signs and Symptoms
Once infection occurs, the rabies virus grows in muscle tissue and may go undetected for several days or months. During this incubation (or latent) period, the animal appears healthy and shows no sign of infection. Usually within 1 to 3 months, the virus migrates to the nerves near the site of the infection and spreads to the spinal cord and brain (i.e., the central nervous system). It usually takes from 12 to 180 days to spread through the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system. At this point, the disease progresses rapidly, and the animal begins to show the classic behavioral signs of rabies. The virus spreads to the saliva, tears, breast milk, and urine. The animal usually dies in 4 or 5 days.

Rabies causes typical symptoms. The infection progresses in a predictable manner, from the initial prodormal phase to the excitative, or furious, phase to the final paralytic phase.

The first sign usually is a change in behavior. Pet owners should be aware that behavioral changes can occur as a result of many conditions, from digestive disorders to poisoning.

Rabid animals usually stop eating and drinking, and may appear to want to be left alone. After the initial onset of symptoms, the animal may become vicious or begin to show signs of paralysis. Some rabid animals bite at the slightest provocation and others may be somnolent and difficult to arouse. Once the animal shows signs of paralysis, the disease progresses very quickly and the animal dies.

Answer 4

Most likely it is not rabies (though there could be a slight possibility). Has he had his rabies vaccine? He probably ate something toxic, or something he did not like. He may even have something (blade of grass, stick, food, or leaf) stuck in his mouth or throat. It would probably be a good idea to take him to the vet, just to be on the safe side. It may also be a bad tooth. All these situations can cause drooling, and possibly bleeding.

Answer 5

Please get your cat to the vet, it may not have rabies but could have gotten into some sort of chemical, or have been poisened. If you can't afford a vet get to the human society or an animal love society, but help the cat. If it is rabies it coulh harm you and your family. Please do right away. Blood coming out his nose and saliva dripping are definately signs that something is wrong with it. Please take to a professional and please don't wait. All the best to you and you cat.

Answer 6

No. It sounds like he got into a fight and has incurred some injuries. He could have an abscess ( infected puncture wound that heals over). Cats have skin that heals rapidly and that traps bacteria under the skin and infection rapidly occurs. I highly recommend taking him to the vet and getting him started on antibiotics. If you cannot get him there or can't afford it and have a strong stomach you could try to locate the source of infection by close examination of the cat. Expect the cat to not be happy. If you find the infection and it is not healed over trim away the fur and clean the wound daily with hydrogen peroxide and apply triple antibiotics ointment and try to keep the cat from licking it off. If the wound is healed over then there is an abscess and it will be warm and painful. Sterilize a needle and prick the abscess.......get someone (or 3 ) to hold the cat while you lance the abscess, then repeat above directions. Good luck.

Answer 7

The cat could have an upper respiratory infection or a bad tooth.Either way,if it's salivating and there's an odor,it needs to be seen by a vet asap.If it isn't vaccinated,then you should always worry about rabies in a cat that's been left to roam outdoors.

Answer 8

All cats and dog in the USA get rabies shots regularly. If you have kept up with this there should be no problem. My cat had bad breath and all it took was some tooth paste and a brush once a week to kept his breath smelling good. He also drools a bit when he is hungry! Check to see if the cat is up to date with the shots and watch for any changes in behavior!

Answer 9

your cat could have gotten into anything out side. was there any
other wounds that you saw? when a animal has rabies they are very sick and very aggressive. i would take the cat to the vet.
it could have got in to antifreeze. they are just like a dog they like
the taste of it because it is sweet. the blood could be a sign of internal bleeding. get you r cat medical help.

Answer 10

I don't think your cat has rabies...there are lots of things that could cause him to drool a lot. ( I have a cat that's like a leaky faucet when I scratch him behind his ears.) Make sure your cat is up to date on his shots. My reccomendation is to take your cat to the veterinarian , and have him examined to be on the safe side. As for the blood...perhaps he found a tasty mouse while he was outdoors.

It is most likely, however, that your kitty has come into contact with something a lot less scary, but it would still be a good idea to contact your vet....better safe than sorry.