Dead cat tests positive for rabies

A dead cat in Monterey tested positive for rabies last week, Monterey County health officials announced Monday.

The cat’s owner, a Monterey resident, notified the county Health Department of the deceased cat last Thursday, health department spokeswoman Karen Smith said.

The cat tested positive for the disease that same day, she said.

The Health Department has not determined what strain of rabies the cat had, according to Smith.

It is the county’s second rabies case in a domestic animal in three years, she said.

In 2012, a dog in the North Monterey County area tested positive for a form of rabies found in skunks, county health officials said.

Before 2012, the county did not have any domestic animals diagnosed with rabies for 30 years, according to county health officials.

County residents with pets are advised to make sure their animals are up to date with their rabies vaccinations, health officials said.

Livestock owners should talk to their veterinarian about rabies vaccinations since animals such as horses, goats and pigs are susceptible to the disease, county health officials said.

More information on rabies can be found by calling the Health Department’s communicable disease unit at (831) 755-4521.