Community Cat in Athens Tests Positive for Rabies

Residents urged to report any stray animals exhibiting unusual behavior

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:07am

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An Athens-Clarke County community cat has tested positive for rabies, prompting officials to warn residents to be on the lookout for any stray animals displaying aggressive or unusual behavior and to ensure their pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.

Why it matters

Rabies is a serious and nearly always fatal disease that can be transmitted to humans through bites and scratches from infected animals. This positive case highlights the importance of public awareness and vigilance in reporting any concerning animal behavior to authorities.

The details

On March 8, 2026, an Athens-Clarke County Animal Services officer responded to a call about an aggressive community cat in the Westwood Avenue area near the Athens-Clarke County/Oconee County line. The officer captured the white domestic shorthair cat with tabby spots and sent it for rabies testing, which confirmed the animal was positive for the virus.

  • On March 8, 2026, an Athens-Clarke County Animal Services officer responded to the call.
  • Testing confirmed the cat was rabies positive.

The players

Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Animal Services Department

The local government agency responsible for responding to calls about stray and aggressive animals in Athens-Clarke County.

University of Georgia

The institution that conducted the rabies testing on the community cat.

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What’s next

Residents are urged to report any stray animals exhibiting aggressive or unusual behavior to the Animal Services Department or 911 in an emergency.

The takeaway

This rabies case underscores the importance for pet owners to keep their animals' rabies vaccinations up-to-date and for the community to be vigilant in reporting any concerning animal behavior to the proper authorities.