This is an acute viral disease, occurring with severe damage to the nervous system, usually with fatal ishodom. Susceptible to it all the animals and people. Pathogen - a virus of the family miksovirusov, which after repeated freezing and thawing weakens or loses its virulence, it has the ability to infect the host. When heated to 100 ° C will kill the virus immediately, in a frozen state can persist for several months, in rotting material - 2-3 weeks. Disinfectants (2-5% solution of formalin, alkali) destroy the virus within neskolkik minutes.

It has long been called the disease of rabies forest. The main source of rabies virus in nature are wild beasts of prey (foxes, wolves, jackals, etc.) and pets, but stray animals (dogs and cats). The main route of infection in a healthy body is the bite where the infected animal saliva and is transmitted virus. Pathogen found in the organs of the nervous system, salivary glands and internal organs. Milk, urine and bile, the individual data, the virus does not contain.

The latent period of the disease in adult cats is usually 3-6 weeks, the kitten does not exceed 5-7 days. Sometimes the latent period is quite long and reaches a certain adults a year. It is established that the infected cats in the saliva of rabies virus is found in 8-10 days prior to the onset of clinical signs.

Rabies in cats is manifested in various forms.
Violent form.
The animal becomes lethargic, by people who are reluctant to execute commands, not eating. Sometimes the diseased cat, on the contrary, it is obsessive, overly affectionate, constantly rubbing his head against the owner. However, this state is replaced by anxiety, fearfulness and increased irritability. The cat looks around, to listen to something, mozhet bite or scratch master. Usual food eats reluctantly, but inedible objects (stones, straw, pieces of wood, etc.) greedily swallows. Sick animal bites or scratches constantly bite through which rabies virus entered the body. Then comes one of the major symptoms of the disease - the cat can not swallow water because of pharyngeal muscle spasms. It poperhivaetsya and profuse salivation. Excitation is accompanied by agressivnostyu and even rage - the cat catches on humans and animals, but the violence of the attacks are replaced by oppression, when the animal, exhausted, lying motionless. The slightest external stimulation (noise, bright lights, shout) is a new attack of riot and aggression. After a while the cat is lost voice, she looks exhausted. The lower jaw droops, as developed paralysis of the muscles. Language falls out, drools profusely. There is cross-eyed and pomutnenie cornea. Initially paralyzed hind legs, then paralysis of the muscles of the front cover of the limbs and trunk. Paralysis of the respiratory system and heart leading to death of the animal. Bolezn lasts from 3 to 11 days.

Paralytic or mild.
It lasts from 2 to 4 days. Sick cats can be very affectionate, she usually does not deviate from the master, but it is already contained in the saliva of rabies virus, which poses a threat to human life. At the beginning of the disease is not excluded bites. The cat slowly stanovitsya restless, and then increases depression. The first signs of rabies are manifestations of the lower jaw sagging, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing. Because of the gradually developing paralysis of the lower jaw, throat and hind legs gives the impression that your dog choked on a bone. If you try to extract the bone a person can become infected with rabies. The cat may develop hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.

Atinichnaya form.
Proceeds with the characteristic signs of gastritis and enteritis (vomiting, bloody diarrhea, exhaustion). This form has an atypical stage of excitation, which does not allow time to recognize the disease.

The diagnosis of "madness" is placed on the basis of epizootiological data (information on specific areas of the causes and circumstances of occurrence, distribution and extinction of an infectious process), clinical signs and laboratory results, which are conducted in a veterinary clinic.
Treatment of this disease has not been developed. Sick animals should be euthanized, if you have any reason podozreny for rabies should immediately contact the veterinarian and the owner of the confirmation of the diagnosis - a clinic or hospital for a course of vaccination against rabies.
Prevention of zabolevaniya and measures to combat it are in ezhegodnoy rabies vaccination.