Posted on 01/07/2006 5:13:51 AM PST by HighWheeler
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A rabies alert was issued in an Orange County, Fla., community after a cat making a strange screaming sound attacked at least 15 people and two dogs in a neighborhood.
Officials said an apartment tenant brought a stray black and white cat into the Cricket Club apartments and then gave it to some friends to watch at a home just north of Rio Pinar.
During the stay, the cat became agitated and escaped into the neighborhood, according to the Florida Department of Health news release.
As it ran through the community, it bit or scratched about 15 people and several dogs, Local 6 News reported.
"The cat came up from behind us and was screaming," cat attack victim Adam Maul said. "I mean I've never heard a cat scream so loud. The cat ran out from underneath the car and bit me in my ankle."
"That had to freak you out," Local 6 reporter Mike DeForest said.
"It was very strange and my first reaction was to just kick it," Maul said.
Maul said the cat also jumped his dogs and bit them.
One of the victims was able to capture the cat and hold it for Orange County Animal Services.
The animal was forwarded to the Florida Department of Health laboratories in Jacksonville, Fla., for examination. Positive results for rabies were returned to the Health Department Thursday night.
Maul and 14 other neighbors have begun receiving rabies shots for the bites.
Officials believe that because the cat was in the neighborhood for three days with apparent signs of rabies, it may have attacked others or pets.
A rabies alert has been posted for the area bordered by the East-West Expressway, Econlockhatchee Trail, Chickasaw Trail and Lake Underhill Road for 60 days.
Any one who was bitten or scratched by the black and white cat should call their doctor immediately.
Pets attacked by the cat should be taken to their veterinarian for examination and rabies boosters as soon as possible.
Unusual acting strays should be reported to Orange County Animal Services at (407) 254-9150.
Screaming Rabid Cat Ping.
Doesn't anyone have a cheap rimfire .22 anymore?
Big cat?
Doesn't need to be big. If you've ever seen a cat that's realy freaked out and defending its life, it's a very impressive, scary sight, even if the cat's only about 6 lbs. When a cat getrs that way, it's nothing but a flying, screeching ball of knives, teeth, and fur, definitely NOT something to get near.
Gator bait.
ping
Might attack a python or golfer?
I think rabies is limited to warm-blooded animals.
I was just making a joke about the name. We tried to give our cat a bath a few times -- she won!
LOL. Funny how nearly every time you hear the words 'cat' and 'bath' in the same sentence, you also hear the word 'try'.
LOL!
:-). She liked to be swept with the pointy vacuum-cleaner attachment, though.
After our private efforts, we took her to the vet for her flea baths a couple times a year. They would give her a sedative!
How to bathe your cat
1. Thoroughly clean toilet.
2. Lift both lids and add shampoo.
3. Find and soothe cat as you carry him to bathroom.
4. In one quick move, place cat in toilet, close both lids and stand on top, so cat cannot escape.
5. The cat will self agitate and produce ample suds.
(Ignore noise from inside toilet, the cat is really enjoying this)
6. Flush toilet 3 or 4 times. This provides power rinse, which is quite effective.
7. Have someone open outside door, stand as far from toilet as possible and quickly lift both lids.
8. Clean cat will rocket out of the toilet and outdoors, where he will air dry.
Hey presto - bathed cat with no stress
Yours Sincerely,
The Dog ;-)
LOL!
Really. Or a baseball bat.
Rabid cat, on today's backyard snack menu!
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