Officers said the cat, found in the Tyron Road area, scratched a woman.
Because of the unusual behavior of the cat, it was euthanized and sent for rabies testing on Monday.
"This is our second cat testing positive since Sept. 2004. The first cat that tested positive was a stray found on River Forest Road in north Durham. The second cat was found in an area southeast of Duke Forest, which is a heavily wooded area with a large wildlife population," said Cindy Bailey, Durham County Animal Control Administrator. "The fact that the two rabid cats came from different areas in the county is a serious concern for our office. The tremendous numbers of unvaccinated cats living outdoors in Durham as well as the colonies of feral cats that are being fed by well-intentioned citizens increase the risk of rabies exposure to people and their pets."
Durham has confirmed seven total cases of rabies in its wildlife and domestic cat population since January.
Rabies is a lethal, but preventable disease. Protect yourself and your pets by making sure that your animals are vaccinated.
Durham County Animal Control is offering 1-year rabies vaccinations in its office at 2117 E. Club Blvd every weekday through Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After Nov. 12, normal vaccination hours will be Tuesday and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. The fee is $8.
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