Quebec has confirmed its first case of raccoon rabies in a domestic cat. Officials are urging pet owners to vaccinate their animals as the province launches a major wildlife vaccination campaign.

The province confirmed a stray cat in the Montérégie region tested positive for raccoon rabies on July 23, 2026. Three people received preventive rabies treatment after coming into contact with the animal.

In a statement, the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation said rabies is spreading among wildlife and can infect domestic animals. The ministry warned the disease is incurable and fatal, making prevention the best way to protect both animals and people.

“If you are bitten or scratched by an animal you suspect of having rabies, or come in contact with its saliva, you should wash the affected area for 15 minutes and immediately call Info-Santé at 811. When administered shortly after exposure to an infected animal, preventive rabies treatments can prevent people from contracting the disease,” according to the ministry.

Officials urge pet owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies and to keep them from roaming unsupervised outdoors. The ministry also advised people to avoid contact with wild or unknown animals, even if they appear harmless or are already dead.

The ministry also recommends pet owners to:

• Contact a veterinarian immediately if a pet has been exposed to a wild animal.
• Isolate any pet that develops symptoms consistent with rabies, such as excessive drooling, paralysis, lameness, disorientation or unusual aggression, and seek veterinary care right away.
• Remove food sources and take other steps to discourage wildlife from gathering near homes.

According to Global News, Quebec has recorded more raccoon rabies cases this year than it did in all of 2025. The province has confirmed 118 cases so far in 2026, compared with 93 cases during all of last year.

To help curb the spread, Quebec’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks announced on August 3 that it will distribute more than 800,000 vaccine baits across the Eastern Townships, Montérégie, and Centre-du-Québec regions.

“This vaccination campaign aims to continue efforts to immunize raccoons, skunks and foxes, particularly young raccoons, against rabies,” the ministry said, according to the Montreal Gazette. “At this time of year, young raccoons make up more than 45 per cent of the population and are old enough to eat the vaccine bait and become immunized.”