Rabid cat caught in Franklin Co.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) warns people living in the area near Rakes Road and Scuffling Hills in Franklin County about a rabid cat.

The VDH says the rabid cat attacked a second cat at a home on Rakes Road last Tuesday, May 12th. The home’s owner was scratched while trying to break up the fight.

Animal Control then placed the stary cat under quarantine at the Franklin County animal shelter. The VDH says the cat got sick, and had to be euthanized last Thursday, May 1.

Tests performed at the state lab confirmed that the stray cat had rabies. The positive test came back this past Saturday, May 16th.

Because of the positive test for rabies, the VDH put eleven other cats under quarantine at the home where the attack occurred. The VDH says those eleven cats had been previously vaccinated agains trabies. The VDH sent the person scratched by the rabid cat to a doctor for treatment.

The rabid cat was a male, medium to large in size, with orange and dark orange stripes. If your animals had any contact with the cat between May 4th and May 14, call the Franklin Co. Health Dept. at (540) 484-0292.