State health officials warned residents in a Delaware community to be aware of a group of potentially rabid cats in their neighborhood.
Delaware's Division of Public Health (DPH) warned residents in the Buckley subdivision of Bear that a 4-week-old kitten tested positive for rabies.
The rest of the litter died from rabies-like symptoms.
They were confined to an undisclosed private residence but were around adult cats -- part of a cat colony of more than 50 animals -- that spent times indoors and outdoors, according to DPH.
As of Thursday no humans were bitten or showed any symptoms of rabies.
Officials warned residents in the area of Calburn, Channing and Paxton streets to be specifically diligent in looking out for cats acting strangely. Rabies symptoms in cats include changes in behavior, “increased vocalization, loss of appetite, weakness, disorientation, paralysis, seizures and even sudden death,” according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The DPH suggested residents take steps including avoiding feeding stray animals, not handling bats, raccoon, skunks or foxes and immediately rinsing any animal bites with running tap water.
The owner of the cats surrendered them to Delaware Animal Care and Control. Since the owner couldn't produce proof of rabies vaccinations for most of the cats, those felines will need to be euthanized, said the DPH.
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Anyone who suspects they may have come in contact with a rabid animal should contact the DPH Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 888-295-5156.
