Over 6,500 Cat Bite Cases Reported at SMHS Amid Rising Pet Ownership

Srinagar: Kashmir is witnessing a sharp and worrying rise in cat bite cases, with over 6,500 incidents reported at the Anti Rabies Clinic (ARC), SMHS Hospital, Srinagar, this year so far, highlighting serious gaps in pet care, vaccination, and awareness among cat owners.

- Observer News Service

Official data accessed reveals that over 6500 cat bite cases were reported at ARC SMHS this year, and cat bite cases are more than dog bite cases reported at ARC.

An official at ARC SMHS told KNO that the surge is largely attributed to the increasing trend of keeping cats as pets, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, without following basic animal healthcare norms

“Cats do transmit rabies, similar to dogs, but unfortunately, many owners believe cats are harmless and do not require vaccination. We are seeing a consistent rise in cat exposure cases. Now more than half of the animal bite cases reaching our clinic are due to cats,” the official said.

He added that many pet owners fail to vaccinate, deworm, or provide timely medical care to their cats, which significantly increases the risk of zoonotic diseases—illnesses that can spread from animals to humans.