Raccoon rabies is spreading in Montérégie and getting closer to the island. Bat rabies is already present everywhere in Quebec, Montreal included. There is no need to panic: protecting your pet is simple. Here is where things stand, which pets are exposed, why an up-to-date vaccine is still the protection that counts, and who to call.
Information checked on October 9, 2026. The situation keeps changing: the table of cases and the map are on Québec.ca.
This guide helps you prevent problems; it does not replace your veterinarian's advice. If your pet has had contact with a wild animal, don't wait: call us at 514 223-1197.
Call us right away if your dog or cat:
was bitten or scratched by a wild or unknown animal (raccoon, skunk, fox, stray cat), got into a fight with one, or mouthed or ate a wild animal, even a dead one;
touched, caught or mouthed a bat, even a dead one, or was left alone with one in a room;
comes in from outside with a wound you can't explain;
suddenly starts acting differently (aggressive or, on the contrary, listless, drooling heavily, staggering), especially if it may have crossed paths with wildlife or a bat.
Call even if your pet seems fine, and even if its rabies vaccine is up to date: 514 223-1197. Outside our opening hours we do not run an emergency service: call a 24/7 veterinary emergency centre and tell them your pet may have had contact with a wild animal. See Emergency: what to do and 24/7 centres.
If its behaviour has changed, isolate it while you call, without picking it up or putting your hands near its mouth.
Has someone been bitten, scratched or exposed to an animal's saliva, or could they have touched a bat? Call Info-Santé at 811.
Never touch a wild animal with bare hands, even a dead one, and don't touch your pet's wounds bare-handed: wear gloves if you have to handle it.
The guardrail
No home medications
When a pet comes home hurt, limps after a fight or seems to be in pain, it is tempting to reach for the medicine cabinet. Don't: call us.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Fatal to cats, even a single tablet. There is no safe dose. In dogs it is dangerous too, and it is not a painkiller for them. If your pet swallowed any, it is an immediate emergency.
Ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), aspirin
Toxic to dogs and cats alike: digestive ulcers, kidney damage. Cats are even more sensitive to them than dogs. Never a human anti-inflammatory, for any reason.
Leftover prescriptions and another animal's medication
Same apparent problem, same weight, same household: none of that is ever enough. What relieves a dog can kill a cat, and a dose calculated for another patient is not a dose.
The basics
Rabies in brief
Rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system of any mammal, including dogs, cats and people. Once signs appear, it is fatal and cannot be treated. It can be prevented: given before any contact with the virus, the vaccine works very well.
How it spreads
Mainly through saliva: a bite, a scratch, or saliva in the eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound. A pet can also become infected by eating the carcass of an infected animal. And an infected animal can pass on the virus before it looks sick.
Where things stand
Around Montreal: bat rabies is already here, raccoon rabies is getting closer
Two kinds of rabies matter in Montreal, and they tell very different stories.
Bat rabies: already here
It is present in every region of Quebec, and cases are detected every year. Rabid bats were found in Montreal in July and in September 2026; according to Montreal public health, bats are where the rabies risk on the island comes from first.
Raccoon rabies: getting closer
Back from Vermont since 2024, it is circulating in Montérégie, the Eastern Townships (Estrie) and Centre-du-Québec, mostly in raccoons and skunks; cats there have been infected. No raccoon rabies has been detected in Montreal. To keep it off the island, the Quebec government has even placed vaccine baits in some of Montreal's large parks, and raccoons and skunks have been vaccinated on the South Shore.
The risk exists everywhere in Quebec
As Québec.ca points out, the risk of running into an infected animal exists everywhere in Quebec, even where no cases have been detected. In Montreal it comes first from bats, and that is what the vaccine protects against.
The risk comes mainly from contact with a wild animal. In Montreal, these are the situations that matter:
The cat who goes outside, even a little (yard, back lane, balcony): cats hunt, fight, and sometimes come home hurt with no explanation.
The indoor cat: a bat can get into the home, and cats do slip out.
The dog on a walk, especially at dusk, or sniffing or mouthing a dead animal.
The dog or cat at the cottage in Montérégie, the Eastern Townships, Centre-du-Québec or Vermont, where raccoon rabies is circulating.
A pet adopted or taken in from elsewhere: a dog from Northern Quebec, where arctic fox rabies is permanently present, or a stray cat or dog from an area where raccoon rabies is circulating. An infected animal can look healthy: tell us where it comes from when you book the appointment and, before it arrives, let's talk about your other pets' vaccines.
Lowering the risk
Keep your pets' vaccinations up to date.
Don't let them roam unsupervised; keep your cat indoors, especially at night.
Keep bats out: screens in good repair on doors and windows.
Never touch a wild or unknown animal, even a tame-looking, injured or dead one.
Don't attract wildlife: keep pet food inside, close garbage and compost tightly, and block access to the balcony and under the porch.
Prevention
An up-to-date vaccine: the protection that counts
The vaccine actually protects your pet as long as it stays up to date: boosters are due on the dates your veterinarian gives you. After contact with a suspect animal, call us anyway, vaccinated or not: an up-to-date vaccine just makes what comes next much simpler.
Rabies vaccine in Quebec
Strongly recommended; required for travel and by some municipalities.
There is no general requirement in Quebec. Still, it is a core vaccine for both dogs and cats. The Quebec government strongly recommends it, whether or not the animal goes outside.
What about indoor cats?
They are much less exposed, that is true. But a bat doesn't need your cat to go outside, and cats can slip out. So we recommend the rabies vaccine for indoor cats too, and we talk it through with you based on your cat's age, health and way of life.
We vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies, always after an exam, and provide proof of vaccination on request. See Vaccination, and Welcoming a puppy or kitten for young pets. For travel, the rules depend on the country and on which way you are crossing: see Travelling with your dog or cat.
Vaccine baits
A vaccine bait doesn't replace the vaccine
Vaccine baits contain a vaccine meant for raccoons, skunks and foxes. The Quebec government puts them out in nature; in 2026, some were even placed in large Montreal parks.
What it looks like
A greenish ketchup packet or a khaki-green ravioli, with a sweet smell; it is hard to spot on the ground. If it is intact and away from foot traffic, leave it where it is without touching it. If it is somewhere busy (a yard, a dog park, a playground), throw it out in a sealed bag, wearing gloves; if it is punctured or broken, use a shovel and avoid the liquid. Did anyone touch that liquid? Call 811.
If your dog eats one
The bait cannot give your dog rabies: the vaccine inside is considered safe for domestic animals. But your dog cannot be considered vaccinated because of it, since there is no proof that the bait protects pets. Only the vaccine given at the veterinarian's counts. A question or a concern? Give us a call.
At home
A bat in the house
On the island, this is the scenario to plan for first. The basic rule: never touch a bat with bare hands, alive or dead.
Right away
Close off the room, doors and windows, and get people and pets out. Then one question: could anyone, human or animal, have touched it?
Your dog or cat may have touched it
Did your pet touch, catch or mouth the bat, even a dead one, or stay alone with it in a room? Call us right away, even if your pet seems fine or is vaccinated: a bat bite can go unnoticed. Outside our opening hours, call a 24/7 veterinary emergency centre. Don't release the bat and don't throw it away: it may need to be tested. Keep it without touching it, and don't bring it to the clinic before calling us.
A person may have touched it
A bite, a scratch, contact with skin, or any doubt (a child who can't say what happened): call Info-Santé at 811. Until then, keep the room closed and don't release or throw away the bat: the nurse will tell you what to do with it.
No person or pet could have touched it
Only if you are sure can you let it out. If in any doubt, or if you find it dead at home and a dog or cat lives there, call us first. How to catch it, keep it or let it out: see the FAQ (question 12).
Who to call
Who to call
One situation, one number.
Your dog or cat has had contact with a wild animal, a bat or an unknown animal, or suddenly starts acting differently: call us right away at 514 223-1197. Outside our opening hours, call a 24/7 veterinary emergency centre.
A person was bitten, scratched, exposed to saliva, or may have touched a bat: Info-Santé, 811.
A wild animal seems sick (out in broad daylight, unafraid of people, aggressive, staggering): keep away and report it at 1 877 346-6763 on weekdays, or anytime with the Québec.ca online form (opens in a new tab). If it attacks or threatens someone: SOS Braconnage, Urgence faune sauvage, 1 800 463-2191, any time. Dead: don't touch it with bare hands.
A stray cat or dog seems sick: keep away and report it to your municipality's animal services.
Your dog or cat bit someone: the person calls 811, then you call us. Don't give your pet away or get rid of it.
My cat never goes outside. Does it still need a rabies vaccine?
We recommend it, yes. An indoor cat is much less exposed than one who goes out, but it is not entirely safe. In Montreal, bats are where the rabies risk comes from first, and they sometimes get into homes; a cat can also slip out through a door or onto a balcony. The Quebec government strongly recommends vaccinating dogs and cats, whether or not they go outside. The vaccine also protects your household: it lowers the risk of the virus passing from your pet to people. If your cat is older or unwell, let's talk: we decide together, based on its health and way of life.
Is the rabies vaccine mandatory in Quebec? What about Montreal?
There is no general requirement in Quebec. Our position fits on one line: “Strongly recommended; required for travel and by some municipalities.” The City of Montreal requires a microchip, spaying or neutering, and a licence for dogs and cats (see What Montreal requires), but not the rabies vaccine for a regular licence. Other municipalities, including some cities on the island, ask for proof of vaccination for their licence: check with yours. A dog declared potentially dangerous by its municipality, however, must have an up-to-date vaccine, unless a veterinarian has established a contraindication. And to bring your pet back into Canada, from the United States as from most countries, a valid rabies vaccination certificate is required (see Travelling with your dog or cat).
Is there rabies in Montreal right now?
In bats, yes: bat rabies is present in every region of Quebec, and rabid bats were found in Montreal in 2026. Raccoon rabies, on the other hand, has not been detected in Montreal; it is circulating in Montérégie, the Eastern Townships and Centre-du-Québec, and it is getting closer to the island. The situation keeps changing: to follow it, see the table of cases and the map on Rabies in animals, on Québec.ca (opens in a new tab).
My cat caught a bat. Is that serious?
Take it seriously: call us right away, even if your cat is vaccinated and seems fine. In bats, rabies often causes paralysis, so it is not unusual for a rabid bat to end up on the ground, unable to fly, within a cat's reach. Its bite can also go unnoticed. Don't touch the bat with bare hands, and don't release it or throw it away (see A bat in the house). If a person may have touched it, call Info-Santé at 811. Outside our opening hours, call a 24/7 veterinary emergency centre.
My pet is vaccinated. Is it fully protected?
The vaccine works very well, as long as it is up to date: boosters are due on the dates your veterinarian gives you. It doesn't mean you can skip the call after contact with a wild animal or a bat: call us anyway, right away, or a 24/7 veterinary emergency centre outside our opening hours. The difference is that what comes next is much simpler for a pet whose vaccine is up to date. Not sure where your pet stands? The vaccination record will tell you, or give us a call.
A raccoon keeps coming onto my balcony or into my yard. Is my cat at risk?
No raccoon rabies has been detected in Montreal, but avoid any contact. Bring your cat in, especially at night, leave no food outside, close garbage and compost tightly, and block access to the balcony and under the porch. Don't try to trap it or have it relocated: that is prohibited in Montreal, and moving raccoons can spread rabies. A raccoon that is out in broad daylight, unafraid of people, aggressive or staggering may be sick: keep away and report it at 1 877 346-6763 on weekdays, or anytime with the Québec.ca online form (opens in a new tab). If your cat has had contact with it, call us right away, or a 24/7 veterinary emergency centre outside our opening hours.
My dog got into a fight with a raccoon or a skunk. What should I do?
Call us right away, even if your dog is vaccinated and seems unhurt; outside our opening hours, call a 24/7 veterinary emergency centre. Don't touch the other animal with bare hands, even if it is dead, and don't touch your dog's wounds without gloves. In Quebec, raccoons, skunks and foxes are among the animals that carry rabies: contact with any of them always needs to be assessed. If you saw that your dog was only sprayed by a skunk, with no contact and no wound, our guide Remove skunk scent will help; if you didn't see everything, call us first.
I'm heading to the cottage or to Vermont with my dog or cat. What should I plan for?
First, make sure the rabies vaccine is up to date: raccoon rabies is circulating in Montérégie, the Eastern Townships, Centre-du-Québec and Vermont. Once there, keep your pet indoors or supervised, especially in the evening, leave no food outside, and never bring a wild animal home. A bat can get into the cottage too: the same steps apply as at home. To come back into Canada from the United States, a valid vaccination certificate is required (see Travelling with your dog or cat). And if your pet has contact with a wild animal while you are away, call a veterinarian right away.
My dog ate a vaccine bait. Is it vaccinated now?
No: there is no proof that the bait protects pets, so your dog cannot be considered vaccinated. Only the vaccine given at the veterinarian's counts. The good news: the bait cannot give your dog rabies, and its vaccine is considered safe for domestic animals. A question or a concern? Give us a call.
My cat hunts mice and squirrels. Can it get rabies that way?
It's unlikely. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, small mammals such as mice, rats and squirrels rarely transmit rabies, because they usually die when a rabid animal bites them. For your cat, the risk comes from bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. A bite, a doubt? Give us a call.
How can I tell if my dog or cat has rabies?
Rabies often starts with a change in behaviour: the animal hides away, turns aggressive or bites for no reason, or instead seems listless. It drools heavily, has trouble drinking or eating, overreacts to touch, noise or light, staggers, then becomes paralyzed. So a rabid animal is not always aggressive. These signs have many other causes, far more common ones; none of them settles the question on its own, and no test can detect rabies in a living animal. If your pet shows these signs, especially if it may have crossed paths with a wild animal or a bat, keep it away from people and other animals, keep your hands away from its mouth, and call us right away; outside our opening hours, call a 24/7 veterinary emergency centre.
A bat got into my home. Should I catch it, keep it or let it out?
It all depends on one question: could a person or a pet have touched it? If so, or if a pet was left alone with it, don't release it and don't throw it away: call us about your pet, or Info-Santé at 811 about a person. To keep it safely, if it has landed and you have leather or thick work gloves (cotton and latex don't protect you), cover it with a rigid container, slide a piece of cardboard underneath and tape it in place; put the container somewhere dark and quiet, out of reach of children and pets. Without thick gloves, keep the room closed. If it is dead, pick it up with a shovel without touching it, put it in a thick bag inside a second bag, and ask us how to store it. Don't kill it, and never put a live bat in the freezer: bats are protected species. If you are sure no one, human or animal, could have touched it: remove the screen, open the window or outside door, close the inside doors, turn off the lights and leave the room, closing the door behind you. In winter, don't put it outside: Québec.ca explains what to do (opens in a new tab).
This guide is provided for information and support. It does not replace your veterinarian's personalized advice: the rabies situation changes, and every contact with a wild animal is assessed case by case. At the slightest doubt, talk to our team; that is exactly what we are here for. If you need us, call 514 223-1197.
Check the vaccination record, or ask us where things stand. Book an appointment for the rabies vaccine, or call us right away if your pet has had contact with a wild animal.
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