If a cat is infected with rabies, it may exhibit the following symptoms:
1. Prodromal stage: Cats may lack characteristic symptoms and are easily overlooked. They mainly exhibit mild abnormalities, such as sensitivity, abnormal behavior, irritability, unresponsiveness to calls, and itching at the bite site, often characterized by licking the affected area.
2. Frenzy Phase: The cat is highly excited, aggressive towards humans and livestock, and alternating between rage and depression. When exhausted, it lies motionless but soon stands up again, displaying a distinctive squint and panicked expression. Upon further external stimulation, a new attack may occur, including frenzied aggression, self-biting of limbs, tail, and genitals.
3. Paralytic stage: The cat's lower jaw droops, the tongue protrudes from the mouth, there is significant drooling, paralysis of the hindquarters and limbs, and the cat collapses and cannot get up, eventually dying from paralysis or failure of the respiratory center.
4. Death stage: The patient's mental state deteriorates to a state of depression, most limbs become rigid, breathing becomes difficult, foaming at the mouth occurs, and death occurs due to multiple organ failure. Death may also occur due to respiratory depression.
Please note that if your cat exhibits any of the above symptoms, you should seek veterinary help immediately.
