By Matt Leingang
Enquirer staff writer

A new Kentucky law requires that cats and ferrets be vaccinated against rabies.

The law, which took effect Tuesday, leaves it to local health districts to figure out how to enforce the new requirement.

State law already requires rabies shots for dogs.

Cats and ferrets are not required to be licensed, as dogs are. But owners of cats and ferrets must be able to show proof of rabies vaccination if requested by an animal control officer.

Those documents, for example, would have to be on hand following a bite incident.

Local officials also have the authority to impose fines - as much as $100 per offense - if owners are found in violation.

"Our local health departments investigate thousands of dog, cat and ferret bites every year," said Dr. Michael Auslander, Kentucky's state public health veterinarian.

Many veterinarians say they already recommend the rabies vaccine to cat and ferret owners. It typically costs between $12 and $15. Immunity lasts one year for ferrets; a three-year vaccine is available for cats.

"I think vaccination is a good idea," said Dr. Kirk Weber, a veterinarian with Northern Kentucky Animal Clinic in Covington.

"Ninety-nine percent of ferrets are kept in the house, so the risk of rabies is low. But cats - we have so many of them running around."

Ohio law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies only if they've been quarantined and are about to be released, said Bret Atkins, an Ohio Department of Health spokesman.

In Northern Kentucky, public health officials responded to 500 animal bites last year. (The numbers are not broken down by type of animal). None, however, tested positive for rabies.

About three people die every year from rabies, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bats, and not domestic animals, are the predominant cause of human rabies transmission.

E-mail mleingang@enquirer.com