A Savannah resident is undergoing medical treatment after a scratching incident with a rabid feral cat near the city’s old fairgrounds.
🚨 What We Know: The encounter happened February 11 on Montgomery Street when a resident tried to help what looked like a sick cat. The cat scratched the person’s leg during the rescue attempt.
🏥 The Response: The cat showed signs of illness at Chatham County Animal Services, moving as if drunk. Officials put the cat down and tests confirmed it had rabies.
⚠️ Local Impact: Wild animals in coastal Georgia carry rabies. Raccoons, foxes, and bats pose the biggest threat to people and pets.
🔍 Key Details: Rabid animals often:
- Act aggressive
- Show no fear of humans
- Foam at the mouth
- Move oddly
- Bite without warning
✅ Take Action:
- Keep pet vaccines current
- Don’t feed wild animals
- Remove pet food at night
- Call animal control for sick wildlife
- Get medical help right away if bitten
🔜 What’s Next: Anyone bitten by an animal should call Chatham County Animal Services at 912-652-6575 and get medical care right away.
The Chatham County Health Department wants residents to report any contact with strange-acting animals to their office at 912-356-2160.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
