“A Bat Got Into My House”— Now What? What Connecticut Dog and Cat Owners Need to Know”

It's the kind of middle-of-the-night surprise nobody wants. You hear something moving, turn on the light and realize there's a bat flying around the bedroom. Then you notice your cat watching from the floor, or your dog trying very hard to catch it.

For Connecticut pet owners, a bat in the house isn't automatically an emergency, but it can become a rabies exposure situation, particularly if a dog or cat may have touched, bitten or been bitten by the bat.

Bats are an important part of Connecticut's ecosystem, and most bats are not rabid. But bats are among the wildlife species capable of carrying rabies in Connecticut, which is why a possible encounter with a pet shouldn't simply be dismissed. Connecticut DEEP identifies bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes among the state's primary rabies-vector wildlife species.

Don't Automatically Let the Bat Go

If a bat simply flies into an area where you know no person or pet had contact with it, Connecticut DEEP provides guidance for allowing a bat to leave or safely removing it without bare-handed contact.

The situation changes when your dog or cat may have interacted with the bat.

If you wake up to a bat in a room with your pet, find your cat playing with a bat, or see your dog grab one, don't immediately release the bat outdoors. The animal may need to be evaluated for rabies testing.

Instead, separate your pet from the bat if you can do so safely, avoid touching the bat with bare hands, and contact your local animal control officer for instructions.

Connecticut advises reporting suspected rabies exposure involving a pet to both a veterinarian and the town Animal Control Officer.

Your Pet's Rabies Vaccine Matters—a Lot

One of the most important pieces of information after a wildlife exposure is whether your dog or cat is currently vaccinated against rabies.

Connecticut's current rabies management guidance calls for a previously vaccinated dog or cat with direct contact or a visible bite from a confirmed or suspected rabid wild animal to receive a rabies booster, preferably within 96 hours, followed by a period of strict confinement directed by animal control. Management of an unvaccinated pet after a significant exposure can be much more restrictive.

That's a powerful reason not to let a rabies vaccine quietly become overdue.

Rabies is almost universally fatal once clinical disease develops, but it is also highly preventable through vaccination and appropriate management following an exposure.

“Indoor Cat” Doesn't Always Mean “No Rabies Risk”

Cat owners sometimes assume rabies vaccination isn't important because their cat never goes outdoors.

Bats are one reason that assumption can cause problems.

A bat can enter a house through a surprisingly small opening, which means an indoor cat may encounter wildlife without ever setting a paw outside. Cats are also extremely good at detecting and catching small moving animals—often before their owners even know there's a bat in the room.

Keeping an indoor cat's rabies vaccination current gives you an important layer of protection if the unexpected happens.

What If You Find a Dead Bat Near Your Pet?

Avoid picking it up with bare hands.

If you think your dog or cat may have bitten, carried or played with the bat, keep your pet away from it and call your veterinarian or animal control. Connecticut has specific procedures for testing wildlife involved in exposures to domestic animals.

Don't rely on looking for bite wounds. Bat bites can be very small, and an exposure isn't always obvious.

What About People in the House?

If a person was bitten, scratched, had direct contact with a bat, or may have had another potential rabies exposure, this becomes a human medical issue as well. Wash any exposed area thoroughly with soap and water and contact a physician or local health department promptly for guidance.

Your veterinarian manages the pet. Human healthcare professionals and public-health authorities determine whether a person needs rabies post-exposure treatment.

The Best Time to Think About Rabies Is Before You Find a Bat

Nobody plans on having a bat fly through the living room at midnight.

That's exactly why preventive care matters.

Check your dog's and cat's vaccination records now. If you're not sure when your pet's rabies vaccine expires, ask your veterinarian rather than waiting until after a wildlife encounter.

Pet Candy Veterinary Clinic provides rabies vaccination and preventive veterinary care for Connecticut dogs and cats. If your pet is due—or you're not sure when the next rabies vaccine is needed—contact Pet Candy to schedule an appointment.