A stray cat linked to a colony in north Lakeland attacked five people and a puppy before later being found dead and testing positive for rabies, officials said.
A rabid stray cat that terrorized a north Lakeland neighborhood by attacking multiple residents and a puppy has tested positive for rabies, prompting a public health response and citations against a woman who had been feeding roaming cats in the area.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control began receiving reports during the first week of June about an aggressive stray cat in the Glen Road area. Investigators said the animal attacked five people and a 4-month-old puppy before it was eventually found dead beneath a residence.
Series of unprovoked attacks reported
Authorities said the attacks occurred in separate incidents involving adults and children. Victims reported being bitten on their legs, fingers and knees, with several describing unprovoked encounters.
One woman told investigators the cat jumped into her lap before biting her finger. When she attempted to wash the wound, the animal allegedly emerged from beneath a nearby home and attacked her legs, forcing her to defend herself with a baseball bat.
Other victims included a 29-year-old man, a 16-year-old girl, a 13-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl. Investigators also documented an attack on a puppy outside a residence on Glen Road.
Cat found dead after search
Animal Control officers deployed several traps throughout the neighborhood in an effort to locate the cat. During the operation, officers captured 10 stray cats, though none matched the description of the animal responsible for the attacks.
On June 11, a resident reported the smell of a dead animal coming from beneath a home. Responding officers discovered the cat they believed was responsible for the attacks and sent the remains to a state laboratory in Tampa for testing.
The following day, state officials confirmed the cat had tested positive for rabies. All known victims were advised to seek immediate medical treatment.
Woman cited following investigation
Investigators identified 31-year-old Angelica Perez as a resident who regularly fed numerous stray cats roaming in the neighborhood. Authorities said Perez named and fed many of the animals but was not among those bitten.
The Sheriff’s Office said Perez was cited for having roaming cats, failing to vaccinate the cat and for injury to a person resulting from negligence. Officials also quarantined her dog after it was exposed to the rabid animal.
Officials warn against feeding unvaccinated strays
Animal Control and the Florida Department of Health continue to monitor potential rabies exposures connected to the case. Additional traps have been placed in the area as officials work to reduce the stray and feral cat population.
The Sheriff’s Office urged residents not to feed or interact with roaming cats unless they are certain the animals have been vaccinated and properly cared for.
“This unvaccinated roaming stray cat with rabies attacked and bit five people, and that speaks for itself,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Key Points
• A stray cat in north Lakeland attacked five people and a puppy before testing positive for rabies.
• The cat was found dead beneath a home and confirmed rabid by a state laboratory.
• A woman who fed stray cats in the area was cited, and officials are continuing rabies exposure investigations.