In the United States, cats now surpass dogs in the number of rabies cases reported each year. Fortunately, these numbers are still low: The disease is always fatal for both animals and humans after symptoms begin to show. In medical history, only three people have survived rabies.

It can take between a week and a year for an unvaccinated cat bitten by a rabid animal to start showing symptoms. Infected cats become highly aggressive or weak and paralytic. They're extremely dangerous and very quick. They frequently snap at imaginary objects and attack anything that comes near them. They also have difficulty swallowing.

Always keep your kitten current on his rabies shots. If a rabid animal bites your kitten and he's not current on his shots, he'll most likely be euthanized and his head sent to a lab for testing. Unfortunately, the only way to determine if an animal is rabid is by laboratory examination of the brain tissue.