Bats are being seen frequently in the Okanagan.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Okanagan Community Bat Program
September 03, 2020 - 9:22 AM
A bat caught by an unvaccinated cat has tested positive for rabies in Kamloops.
The Kamloops Cat Hospital sent out an email to their customers yesterday, Sept. 3, after it received a positive test result on the bat and urging owners to vaccinate their cats.
"Unfortunately, when a bat is confirmed to have rabies, it is a death sentence for the cat," the hospital wrote in the email. "The only way to prevent this is to have your cat vaccinated for rabies regularly."
READ MORE: Be prepared for a B.C. bat encounter
Rabies can also be contracted by dogs. The virus is transmitted through close contact with the saliva of infected animals, most often by a bite or scratch, according to the B.C. SPCA.
Although humans are also at risk, according to the B.C. Community Bat Project, contracting rabies from a bat is extremely rare.
To mitigate risk, vaccinate your pets and never touch a bat with your bare hands. Anyone who is bitten or scratched by a bat is urged to seek immediate medical attention.
For more information about bats in B.C., click here.
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