Can a cat that already have rabies can be cured if it is injected with anti-rabies vaccine? Even if the cat just got the virus and is still in its incubation period and not yet showing any symptoms?
No, sadly, rabies is always fatal. That's why the quarantine when a cat has bitten someone. If the cat begins to show signs of being rabid during the quarantine, the cat is euthanized.
The incubation period is not rabies. The symptoms of the disease show up in the last ten days when the virus has reached the brain. At that point the cat is contagious. And there is no cure.
The length of the incubation period depends on where - how far from the head - the cat received the injury from a rabid animal.
Tell us what happened and whether you have contacted a vet yet. If not, do so without delay.
One reason for vaccinating cats against rabies is that when something like this happens the cat immediately gets a booster shot which will protect the cat.
I don't know what can be done for an unvaccinated cat that was just infected. People can get protective shots. I don't believe the same thing can be done for cats.
Being infected means just that. The incubation period means the cat now has the virus in his body and without protection the disease will eventually reach the brain and cause the symptoms of full blown rabies.
No. To the best of my knowledge the virus has to reach the brain for the cat to be able to transmit the disease.
Under certain circumstances the incubation period can be a very long one, almost a year.
I had to quarantine a stray once to make sure animal control doesn't euthanize him.
The quarantine had to last for a full six months. And I was under strict orders not to touch, not to interact with the cat in any way. And make sure not to be scratched or bitten. Which made me wonder about transmission of the disease.