3 cats euthanized after rabies exposure

Three cats were euthanized last week after they came into contact with a rabid bat in Salt Lake City.

A 16-month-old boy, who may have been bitten by the bat, is undergoing treatment for rabies exposure. Bat bites are so miniscule that health officials are unsure whether the boy was bitten — but if he had been, and was then left untreated, his death would have been certain, officials said.

The cats, named Oreo, Millie and Nelson, were not up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations when they caught the bat and brought it to the boy, officials with Salt Lake County Animal Services said Thursday in a press release. The family's only choice, other than euthanizing the animals, was to have the cats quarantined for six months at a cost of $4,300.

The cats' owner, Andrew Tomsett, who is also the boy's father, told officials that euthanizing the cats was very difficult for his family. He said the experience has made them want to tell other pet owners to have their animals vaccinated on schedule.

Kittens and puppies should be vaccinated for rabies before they turn 4 months old and should receive a booster one year later, then every two or three years, according to the advice of their veterinarians, health officials said.