It's vital for companion animals -- including strays -- to be vaccinated against rabies

In Keene, N.H., the presence of a cat infected with rabies resulted in the death of 20 cats and rabies shots for three people.
 
About a dozen stray cats wandered the Court Street neighborhood where people with good intentions were feeding them. One of the cats began acting strangely, such as falling down when trying to walk.  A human resident felt she could help the cat but the cat lunged at her and scratched her. The cat remained in the neighborhood throuhgout the day, hissing and preventing people from passing

A neighbor called Animal Control, who captured the cat and transported her to the Monadnock Humane Society, where she scratched employees.  Fortunately, those Humane Society workers had been vaccinated against rabies, as animal care staff often is.
 
The cat was euthanized and tested positive for rabies.  The woman who had tried to help the cat had to undergo painful rabies shots.  Other stray cats were caught and euthanized.  Another woman whose cats had interacted with the strays had them euthanized because she could not prove they had been vaccinated.  Her only other choice would have been to quarantine the cats for 10 months at a veterinarian's office.
 
Not only should companion animals be vaccinated, but care should be taken when dealing with free-roaming cats, especially ones who willingly interact with humans.  Such cats may have interacted with wild animals who carry rabies, such as raccoons, skunks, and bats.
 
Dr. Stephanie Frommer, a veterinarian for the Monadnock Humane Society, stresses the importance of having companion animals vaccinated and of reporting stray animals to Animal Control and other local shelters and rescue groups.

In a Manchester Union Leader article, Animal Control Officer Barry Hilton said, "If a bat flies into your house and they (indoor cats) catch it, or if they drag one into the house and they aren't vaccinated, they are at risk. I think it's worth the $15 shot to avoid all of that."
 
 
What you can do:

• Have all companion animals vaccinated against rabies
• Report stray cat colonies to an animal advocacy group near you. They may even be able to connect you with a trap-neuter-return program, which not only sterilizes feral cats to avoid unwanted litters, but also vaccinates them against rabies and ear-tips them for identification as belonging to a managed colony