The Greenbrier County Health Department announced on Jan. 3 that they had received a positive rabies result from a feral cat in the downtown White Sulphur Springs area. The Health Department asks, “Please be vigilant and do not pet, feed, or house stray animals. Please make sure all of your pets are vaccinated for rabies.”
Frankford Veterinary Hospital posted more details that same day, stating, “On Dec. 30, 2023 a stray cat from Barton Road between Dry Creek and Cato Road area of White Sulphur Springs was brought to our clinic as a potential hit by car. The cat was exhibiting odd behavior of chirping followed by hissing/growling. Upon exam it was found to have no injuries except a small wound on its lower back leg. Given the abnormal behavior and human contact it was decided to quarantine the animal for the weekend. The cat progressively got worse and was ultimately euthanized and was sent for rabies testing. On Jan. 3, 2024 we got confirmation that the cat was positive for rabies.”
The public is strongly encouraged to vaccinate pets for rabies and to report animals exhibiting abnormal behavior, including aggression, stupor, vocalizing excessively, staggering, drooling, inability to eat/drink, progressive paralysis, and difficulty breathing.