11/14/2025
Shared with permission. PSA: vaccinate your pets!
I’m working at the Charlottesville SPCA and this kitty was brought in by animal control. It was attacking dogs and people on a trail in the city.
Very unusual behavior.
I wanted to euthanize it right away, but because 1) it had not bitten any person, 2) my staff have never seen rabies, and 3) I’m new and my staff don’t have a reason to trust my expertise to euthanize what appears to be a healthy young cat…. I opted to watch it overnight.
What I was unable to capture fully on camera was the erratic behavior of the kitten: chirping, then growling. Open-mouth panting. Clear agitation.
I’ll post the next morning’s video in the comments.
It was far more agitated and unable to swallow, despite licking food and water. After it was sedated and euthanized, its temp was 105.8, meaning it was likely over 107 prior.
This cat tested positive for rabies.
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Edited to add a comment about my decision to monitor instead of immediately euthanize:
I’ve questioned my decision. However, I think I made the right one for a few reasons.
One, animal shelter staff are committed to the welfare and well-being of every animal. Euthanizing a young cat should not be taken lightly. If you watch the original video, the cat’s abnormal behavior was subtle. (The next morning’s video in the comments is more dramatic.)
Two, we do 10-day holds for animals that have bitten someone. Being able to document the rapid deterioration of this cat allows for training to know what to look for in future cases.
Three, I have now built trust while giving those who do the day-in, day-out care of shelter animals a voice in their care and fate.
I never want to prolong an animal’s suffering, but I made the choice to give this cat another 12 hours on the minuscule chance it was not rabies. I don’t have a crystal ball, only information.
