Rabid Cat Attacks Couple In North Jersey

WARREN COUNTY, NJ — A rabid cat has attacked a couple in Warren County, according to police.

On Tuesday, Blairstown police were called to a home on Kishpaugh Road on a report of an animal attack.

Police arrived to find that an “elderly couple” had been attacked by a stray cat.

The couple was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, and the cat was captured and tested for rabies. Due to the couple’s injuries, the tests were expedited, and results came back positive for rabies.

Police said that the cat had injuries to its face, indicating it had recently fought with another wild animal.

Police added that the couple had been feeding the feral cat for “several years” prior to the incident, and it practically lived outside their home.

“Don't leave cat food out overnight or unattended,” a police statement read. “Raccoons tend to be carriers and mostly feed at night, and this will help avoid outside cats coming in contact with them.”

State health experts advise that anyone, or anyone’s pet, bitten or scratched by an unfamiliar animal, or an animal suspected of having rabies, immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and seek medical help.

Rabies is a contagious and deadly disease that can affect all mammals. The disease is spread through bites, scratches, or any exposure to an open wound.

“Behavioral signs of rabid animals, wild or domestic, may include staggering, restlessness, aggression, a change of the tone of their barks or growls, or choking,” health officials said. “Passive animals sometimes become fierce and aggressive. If you see a domestic or wild animal that is sick, injured, or behaving oddly, leave it alone and contact your local Animal Control Officer.”

For more information on rabies, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.