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Rabid Cat Found In North Hills

WEXFORD (KDKA) -- A stray cat in the North Hills showed the aggressive stage of rabies.

"I examined it. It had a bite wound on the ear. It had a swollen paw that has a bite wound as well," Dr. James Krewatch said.

A feral cat with end stage rabies was brought to Dr. Krewatch at the Bradford Hills Veterinary Hospital last Saturday by a Good Samaritan.

"The Good Samaritan was feeding this animal and trying to care for it," he explained.

But the rabid stray had to be euthanized.

"There was no hope for it that we were going to bring that back," he added.

The rabid cat had likely tangled with an infected raccoon. Dr. Krewatch says this is the second confirmed case of rabies in the Wexford area in the past month.

"It's a big concern so you need to be current with your cat and dog rabies vaccinations," he said.

The Allegheny County Health Department is definitely seeing more reported rabies cases this year.

"I believe that this month - almost the end of October there've been 17- abid animals," Health Department Spokesman Guillermo Cole said.

The raccoon population also appears to be increasing.

"We don't want to see rabies, the disease, develop in humans because when it does it is almost always fatal," Cole said.

If you see any animals acting strangely or in a sick manner, call your local police or animal control officer. 

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