Cat With Rabies Attacks Manchester Residents, Police Say

MANCHESTER, NJ — A cat that attacked several residents of Pine Acres Manor on June 8 tested positive for rabies, Manchester police said Monday.

Police and the Manchester animal control officer responded to calls about the cat attacking residents during the day, Manchester Capt. Vincent Manco said.

Manco said the cat was a calico — orange, black and white.

The officers found the cat dead near a home in the neighborhood and it was taken to the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, where it tested positive for rabies, Manco said.

Residents who believe they may have been bitten or have had contact with saliva from the cat should notify the Ocean County Health Department, 732-341-9700, and seek medical care. Rabies is contagious to human beings and other animals. If caught early, rabies can be treated.

Signs that an animal may have rabies include the following: abnormal behavior, elevated temperature, anorexia, unprovoked aggression, impaired locomotion, and neurological impairment including vocalization, circling, and paralysis.

The Manchester Township Police would like to remind residents of the following:

• Keep your pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccination.
• Do not feed or touch wild animals.
• Avoid contact with strays or pets other than your own.
• Report unusual behavior in stray or wild animals to Manchester Township Police Animal Control.
• Report all bites immediately to the Ocean County Health Department, 732-341-9700.

If you are bitten by a potentially rabid animal, seek medical attention right away, and report the bite to your local health department and animal control.