Rabies is a disease that naturally only affects only mammals (like raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats). You cannot get rabies from birds, snakes or fish. In the United States, rabies is much more common in wild animals than in pets like cats and dogs. This is because most people who take good care of their pets make sure that their pets get the rabies vaccine.

Most cases of rabies are found in racoons, skunks, bats and foxes. Racoons are the most common animal with rabies today. Cats had the largest number of rabies cases in pets.