Rabid Cat Attacks Elderly Couple in New Jersey

A kitten, rather unexpectedly, caused significant harm to an elderly couple in New Jersey who had been consistently feeding their stray dog for years.

The orange cat was confirmed to be rabid, authorities revealed.

On Tuesday, an unnamed couple found themselves injured outside their home in Warren County, with the Blairstown County Sheriff’s Office reporting them covered in blood after a feral cat attack.

Officers managed to capture the kitten but were taken aback by the severity of the situation.

“The amount of blood in the driveway was astonishing, especially considering it was just from a cat attack,” commented Animal Control Officer Robert Ragonella.

Blairstown Police Chief Scott Johnsen mentioned that the couple suffered severe injuries all over their bodies. “They had been feeding the cat for about five years,” he noted. “On this day, when they stepped out into the driveway, the cat attacked them ferociously.”

Images revealed that the orange cat had its own serious injuries. Ragonella stated, “My nasal passages were nearly exposed,” indicating a serious confrontation, possibly with a raccoon, known to spread rabies.

After testing, it was confirmed that the cat was rabid. The police chief described the euthanized cat as still aggressive, “even with a broken leg.”

The couple, after the shocking encounter, drove to a nearby hospital for treatment and received rabies vaccinations for their injuries—an experience that likely left them feeling betrayed.

“They’re quite upset about all this,” Johnsen added.

Nonetheless, Ragonella reassured the community that there’s no outbreak currently and urged people not to panic, saying, “None of the cats have rabies so far. This is extremely rare.”

Warren County, located in northern rural New Jersey, is home to a large population of feral cats, including numerous barn cats that can come into contact with wild animals that carry rabies.

“Cats present a tough situation because there are many wild animals around, and we can’t find homes for all of them,” Ragonella remarked, advising against openly feeding them.