Rabid Cat Confirmed

Atlantic County health officials said Wednesday that a cat that lived with a Garden Alley family has tested positive for rabies.

The outdoor cat appeared sick and its owners found a wound on a back leg, a county spokeswoman said. The family took the cat to a veterinarian last week, and when it showed signs of rabies, it was euthanized and sent to a state laboratory for testing. The rabies case was confirmed earlier this week.

Health officials say the sick cat scratched one of its owners, and the officials advised the owner to go to a doctor for rabies treatment. Spokeswoman Linda Gilmore said the family's other two indoor cats and two dogs apparently had no contact with the rabid cat but will be confined for 45 days as a precaution.

This is the second case of rabies in Mullica Township this year, county records show. The earlier case involved a wild raccoon collected from a South Carolina Avenue property.

Health officials recommend that anyone who has been bitten, scratched or exposed to a wild animal or pet that appears to be sick or acting strangely should seek immediate medical attention and report the case to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health at 609-645-5971.

Health officials also urge residents to vaccinate their pets. The Atlantic County Animal Shelter in Pleasantville offers a free, monthly rabies-vaccine clinic to residents. For more information, call 609-485-2345 or visit:
www.aclink.org/animalshelter

From the Press of Atlantic City, Thursday, October 22, 2009.