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How is rabies transmitted from cats and other animals to humans?

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Young boy in a red shirt smiles while hugging a fluffy tabby cat, their faces close together. — cats as pets A boy hugging a pet cat.

Rabies is a serious viral disease that is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected animal. The virus is present in the saliva of rabid animals, and a bite introduces the virus into a fresh wound, allowing it to propagate along nerve tissue toward the brain and the central nervous system.1

While cats and other animals like dogs, raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes can carry the virus, it is essential to recognize that a rabid animal may appear healthy or friendly during the early stages of the disease, making them particularly dangerous.1

Because there is no cure for rabies once symptoms develop, prevention is critical. For cats as pets, rabies vaccination is considered a core, highly recommended measure—even for indoor-only cats—to protect both the animal and the humans who interact with them. If a bite occurs, the wound should be washed immediately to help remove the virus, and medical attention must be sought right away for potential post-exposure treatment.12