06/06/2025
Let’s take a moment to talk about bats, cats and rabies.
Bats are cool, they are fantastic for our ecosystem, we need bats, but they’re not cuddle buddies!
Did you know that bats are one of the most common wildlife carriers of rabies in North America?
Wildlife Rabies Surveillance: Wild animals account for >90% of reported cases, with bats (33%), raccoons (30%), skunks (20%), and foxes (7%) most often exposing Americans to rabies. (https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/php/protecting-public-health/index.html)
While most bats are harmless and play a HUGE role in keeping mosquitoes in check, even a single rabid bat can be a serious danger—especially to our curious indoor cats.
Here’s the tricky part:
Bats can slip through tiny cracks or open windows and find their way inside your home. And if your cat is anything like most felines, they’re going to investigate the flappy intruder.
But here’s the risk:
Even a tiny scratch or bite from a rabid bat can transmit the virus, and you may not even notice it right away, or at all.
Rabies is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear—but it’s also 100% preventable with vaccines.
So, here’s what you can do to protect your furball and yourself:
· Keep your cat’s rabies vaccine up to date, even if they’re strictly indoors.
· Check your home for potential bat entry points (vents, attic gaps, etc.)
· If a bat gets inside, don’t try to catch it yourself, call animal control.
· If you suspect your cat had contact with a bat, call your vet immediately.
· Call your doctor and follow their instructions when it comes to your own health.
And remember just because a bat is flying during the day or looks a little slow doesn’t mean it’s just tired. It could be a red flag.
Let’s give bats the respect they deserve—from a safe distance and leave the handling of bats to the professionals.
Last year the CDPH Reminded Public of Rabies Precautions Following Death of Fresno County Resident. (https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR24-040.aspx)
