Cat Bites Outnumber Dogs as Srinagar Reports 8,346 Cases
Srinagar: Over 8,346 animal bite cases, predominantly involving dogs and cats, have been reported at the Anti-Rabies Clinic (ARC) at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar in the past six months, highlighting a growing public health concern in the city.
Medical officials attribute the rise in dog bites to the unchecked growth of stray dogs across Srinagar, which has led to more frequent confrontations with humans. Interestingly, cat bites have now surpassed dog bites, as more families adopted cats as household pets during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
From April 1 to September 26, 2025, the ARC registered 3,799 dog bite cases, 4,394 cat bite cases, and 153 cases involving other animals. Experts caution that if the current trend persists, the total number of bite cases could climb to nearly 15,000 by the end of March 2026.
A review of historical records reveals that since April 2015, around 80,000 animal bite cases have been registered at SMHS Hospital. While most dog bites are caused by strays, health officials note a rapid rise in cat-related cases due to their growing popularity as pets across Kashmir.
Medical experts warn that dog bites remain particularly dangerous because they can transmit rabies, a fatal viral disease if left untreated. Globally, rabies claims nearly 59,000 lives annually, with the majority of cases occurring in Asia and Africa. Timely post-exposure vaccination remains the only effective way to prevent the disease after a bite.
September 28 is observed as World Rabies Day, aimed at spreading awareness about rabies prevention and celebrating progress in the fight against this deadly disease. The day also commemorates French microbiologist Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine. Officials stress that vaccination, coupled with greater public awareness, is vital to reducing rabies-related deaths and controlling animal bite incidents in the community.(Source KNO)
