Feral cat in Nassau found to have rabies, the second case of the disease in the county this year

A feral cat found in South Hempstead has tested positive for rabies, Nassau County Health Department officials said Friday.

This is only the second case of terrestrial rabies this year in Nassau County after a surge in wildlife rabies cases in 2025. That year, 26 raccoons and one stray cat tested positive for the dangerous virus. Bats, who also carry the virus, are not counted in terrestrial rabies cases.

The cases appear to have moved west into Suffolk County where rabies has been found in 50 raccoons and two cats since February 2025.

Rabies is a potentially deadly virus transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. That transfer can happen through a bite or the infected saliva getting into an open wound, eyes, nose or mouth, according to the state Health Department.

"The decline in confirmed rabies cases this year is encouraging and reflects the success of our ongoing rabies control efforts," Nassau County Commissioner of Health Dr. Irina Gelman said in a statement. "However, this latest case serves as an important reminder that rabies is still present in Nassau County. We urge residents to avoid contact with wild and feral animals and make sure their pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations."

Even though the rabies cases are primarily in wild animals, they can encounter domestic animals and potentially spread the virus. Stray cats and raccoons often share food and water at feeding stations maintained by caretakers. During two recent incidents in Suffolk County, pet dogs came into contact with raccoons on their property that later tested positive for rabies. Both dogs were previously vaccinated.

This fall, both Nassau and Suffolk counties conducted rabies bait vaccination programs, where more than 300,000 packets of the vaccine were distributed in areas where raccoons frequent. Smothered in fish oil and scales, raccoons ingest the liquid vaccine when they bite into the packets.

Anyone who is bitten or scratched by an animal in Nassau County should seek medical attention and then contact the Health Department at (516) 227-9663 or (516) 742-6154 after hours and on weekends.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.