On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, a feral cat from Northampton, tested positive for rabies at the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory. The cat was a large, black, long-haired cat found in the area around Clement Street in Florence on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
Rabies is a serious disease, so if you’ve had possible exposure, please reach out to medical staff right away. Anyone exposed to the cat’s saliva—whether through a bite, scratch, open wound, feeding, or if saliva got into their eyes or mouth—has had a high-risk exposure and should seek immediate attention.
If you or someone you know had contact with this cat between Wednesday, October 16, 2024, and Saturday, October 26, 2024, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (available 24/7 at 617-983-6800) or your health care provider for a risk assessment. Following exposure to rabies, disease can be prevented with prompt administration of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). People who did not have any contact with the cat are not at risk from rabies.
If you have a pet that may have had contact with the cat, please contact the Northampton Animal Control Officer aco@northamptonma.gov or call the non-emergency dispatch line at 413-587-1100.
