The following was released by the Athens-Clarke County government

On Sunday, March 8, 2026, an Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Animal Services Department officer responded to a call of a cat that was behaving aggressively in the area of Westwood Avenue in Bogart off Atlanta Highway near the Athens-Clarke County/Oconee County line. 

The officer captured a domestic shorthair breed community cat that was white with tabby spots. After further evaluation based on its behavior, Animal Services staff sent the cat for rabies testing to the University of Georgia. Testing has confirmed that the cat was rabies positive.

Rabies is primarily spread to humans or animals through bites and scratches of an infected animal. Symptoms of rabies in animals may include fear of water, excessive salivation, failure to eat or drink, limping, unusually friendly or aggressive behavior, and/or other atypical behaviors such as nocturnal animals emerging during the daytime. The disease is nearly always fatal to humans if they are infected and do not receive prompt post-exposure treatment.

Any persons who interacted with a white cat with brown tabby spots in the Westwood Avenue and might have been exposed to the rabies virus should contact a healthcare provider for guidance. Owners of pets that had any similar interactions should contact their veterinarian for further guidance.

Pet owners should be sure that their pets are current on rabies vaccinations. Residents who ever observe stray animals or wildlife acting in an aggressive, sick, or unusual manner should report it to the Animal Services Department at 706-613-3540 or call 911 in an emergency situation. 

For more information about rabies, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/rabies or the Georgia Department of Public Health’s website at dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/rabies. The Georgia Poison Center is also available for rabies consultation 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-282-5846 statewide.