How can a cat contract rabies from mice? - briefly
A cat can become infected by biting or swallowing a mouse that is currently carrying the rabies virus in its saliva or nervous tissue. Although rodents are uncommon rabies reservoirs, transmission is possible where wildlife outbreaks occur.
How can a cat contract rabies from mice? - in detail
A cat can become infected with rabies through a bite, scratch, or exposure to saliva from an infected rodent. The virus resides in the nervous tissue of the animal and is transmitted when it penetrates the cat’s skin or mucous membranes.
When a mouse carries the rabies virus, the pathogen is present in its salivary glands. If the cat attacks and wounds the mouse, the following steps may lead to infection:
- The mouse’s teeth or claws break the cat’s epidermis, creating an entry point.
- Saliva containing the virus is deposited into the wound.
- The virus binds to peripheral nerve endings and travels retrograde toward the central nervous system.
- Replication occurs in the spinal cord and brain, eventually reaching the salivary glands of the cat, which can then spread the disease to other animals or humans.
Key factors that increase risk include:
- Unvaccinated status – cats without a current rabies vaccine lack protective antibodies.
- Aggressive hunting behavior – frequent encounters with wild rodents raise exposure probability.
- Geographic prevalence – regions with high wildlife rabies rates present a greater threat.
Preventive measures focus on regular vaccination, limiting outdoor hunting, and prompt veterinary evaluation of any bite or scratch from a wild rodent. Early post‑exposure treatment, such as rabies immune globulin and a booster vaccine series, can prevent the virus from establishing infection if administered promptly.