Published on September 08, 2026
Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) must locate a cat that bit a person on Sunday, September 6, 2026, around 3:00pm, in the shared parking lot of Dunkin Donuts/Mattress Express (408 Elmira Road, Ithaca). The biting cat is described as a kitten around 6 weeks old, with long gray fur and white spots on its stomach and paw. The kitten was not behaving aggressively but bit the person as they were trying to assist its owner in retrieving it from underneath the owner’s vehicle.
The kitten’s owner is described as a person who presented as a young man with long, dark hair and freckles. The owner’s vehicle is described as dark gray and boxy, likely an SUV. They did not exchange information at the time of the incident.
EH seeks to verify the health of the biting cat through an at home observation over a ten-day period. If the cat can be located and observed to be healthy by EH, the risk of rabies infection can be ruled out, and rabies post-exposure treatment will not be necessary for the person who was bitten.
Anyone with information regarding this cat is urged to call the Tompkins County Environmental Health Division at (607) 274-6688. Staff are on call to respond to messages received by the answering service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We would like to remind the public the importance of getting bites checked as soon as possible to determine if rabies post-exposure treatment is needed.
Tompkins County Whole Health reminds everyone to:
Avoid contact with any unfamiliar cats or dogs and any wild animals.
All cats, dogs and ferrets must have initial rabies vaccinations administered no later than four months of age. Keep vaccinations current! Our next free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs, cats and ferrets will be held on Saturday, September 12th, 11am-2pm, at the TCAT Bus Garage (737 Willow Ave, Ithaca). Our clinic is currently full, but please check back for appointment openings which may occur due to cancellations. Walk-ins will be permitted at the event if space allows. For other free or low-cost rabies vaccine programs, contact the local chapter of the Street Dog Coalition or the Cornell Healthy Pet Clinic held at Ithaca’s Southside Community Center (305 S. Plain St., Ithaca).
Report the following incidents to Tompkins County Environmental Health at 607-274-6688:
All animal bites or scratches.
Any human or pet contact with saliva or other potentially infectious material (brain tissue, spinal tissue, or cerebrospinal fluid) of wild animals or any animal suspected of having rabies.
All bat bites, scratches, or any mere skin contact with a bat, or a bat in a room with a child, or sleeping or impaired person.
Further information can be found at: tompkinscountyny.gov/health/eh/rabies.
Tompkins County Whole Health: envisioning a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X. Sign up to receive Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text.
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