A second cat has contracted rabies from a raccoon, this time in Saint-Anicet, in Montérégie, the local health authority announced on Monday. Three people received preventive treatment for rabies after coming into contact with the animal, according to Santé Québec Montérégie-Centre. Discovered on July 31, this second case comes one week after a first cat was infected with the disease in Godmanchester, also in the Montérégie region, as an outbreak continues and spreads across the Eastern Townships and Montérégie regions. The agency recommends remaining vigilant regarding contact with domestic or wild animals and keeping pets’ vaccinations up to date. Rabies is fatal in both animals and humans once symptoms appear, but preventive treatment can stop the disease from developing in humans when administered shortly after contact with an infected animal. Anyone who is bitten or scratched by a suspected rabid animal should wash the wound with soap and water for fifteen minutes and contact Info-Santé 811. If a pet has been bitten, the same procedure should be followed—wearing gloves. Also, contact a veterinarian. Pets with rabies will show, among other symptoms, behavioural changes, aggressive behaviour, a tendency to bite and isolate themselves, a loss of appetite, excessive drooling, or an unsteady gait. Any animal showing these symptoms must be isolated to minimize contact with other animals and humans, and then evaluated by a veterinarian. A total of 139 cases of raccoon rabies have been reported since the beginning of 2026. - This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 10, 2026.
