Loudoun Health Authorities Warn Public After Rabid Cat Brought To County Vet

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA – A cat treated at a Chantilly veterinary clinic has tested positive for rabies, and its kittens are being monitored, the Loudoun County Health Department announced Thursday.

The department is asking anyone who might have come into contact with the cat or kittens to reach out to their health care provider or the health department as soon as possible.

According to the county, the potential exposure occurred in a Loudoun County vet’s office on June 18.

The cat was an average-sized brown tiger or tabby cat with white feet and white markings on her face. She had five kittens with gray and white fur and black striped markings.

The cat was not behaving abnormally when she was brought into the facility and only began to show signs of aggression several days later, the county says.

Before being taken to the vet clinic, the cat and kittens were seen in the area around the intersection of Crossfield Drive and Center Street in Chantilly, just west of Loudoun County Parkway.

Anyone who might have had contact with the cat or kittens between June 6 and June 16 should contact their health care provider or the Loudoun County Health Department.

The county is working with one individual who might have been exposed to rabies by the cat and several others who might have been.

The cat was euthanized on June 26, 2026. The kittens are being monitored by a veterinarian.

Loudoun County Health Department Director David Goodfriend says the risk to the public from this cat is very low, but reminds residents to keep their own animals up to date on all vaccinations and to avoid contact with unknown or wild animals.

Rabies is a virus that spreads through the saliva of infected animals, typically through a bite or saliva-contaminated scratch. Seeking evaluation and potential medical care for exposure to animals with rabies as soon as possible is very important because rabies is fatal if treatment is not begun before the start of symptoms.

The Loudoun County Health Department can be reached by phone at (703) 777-0234 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (571) 237-5091 on weekends and holidays, or by email at health@loudoun.gov.

The county offers more information about rabies at loudoun.gov/rabies.