# Rabid stray cat bites 5 Florida residents and attacks puppy before dying under a home

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-19 18:07 UTC · Category: Health

## Executive Summary
Florida health officials issued rabies alerts after a stray cat attacked five residents and a puppy.

## Intelligence Brief
A stray cat tested positive for rabies after biting five people and attacking a puppy in Florida. The animal eventually died under a home. Coverage notes the cat was infected during a raccoon attack.


Reports from ABC7 WWSB, WFTV, and Yahoo detail the incident in north Lakeland and Central Florida. FOX 13 Tampa Bay and AOL.com report that the Department of Health has issued rabies alerts for Spring Hill and Hernando County. Tampa Bay 28 highlights that Polk County has rejected Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return policies, unlike many neighboring counties.


Coverage does not yet specify the medical status of the bite victims.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| ABC7 WWSB | Stray cat attacks five people, puppy in north Lakeland; tests positive for rabies | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxNZ1pNUEVJS09STkxkZ3lXck9zV04xcTZ1cFpUMDRTREs5QngwR2xRQ01xbWFLU1FTTmV0NXc4Q2k4ZDIxNVhzMjBLN2FxTl9LTnBpYlZIOGNiWEVHVWhYNDB6THluWThKYUtMdndRV25MRkYtTHh5TDVYVkw5MjNTWWxneFpmZ053RXJzRWJ5Q0tIMkpSNkpTd3V0UmlKU1hSR2I5azVaOEdTeVc2OWNXVtIBxAFBVV95cUxPM2VfejZwVktRSlBEZ1ZmS09jeDJ2QVBQVGlwWS0yVURSaDNZNUlSUjFod09zZEdYV0hLWmxtWmx5YzlHSFB6WUcxUFdJM0xHTy0tMGlCa0paM0Y3TXhIaV9UMWpQcHEzQXM3OTZ6VHpQcFFFRFJVOUFNV0JmVHVOUkN0eDczTzZoN1pObDhWWEotZnphNUhJQWN2T1VlblVPcXl) |
| AOL.com | Rabies alert issued for Hernando County after case confirmed | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxPcFhmN0Z3cWJKdGRFZ25GTjByME9NMmRaOHh0aTVhdktnVVZSdTVnNW5feWpyVS1NTzFfNWFKUmJCTGhhX2RPSXhXaTNJaDVFOHhzZEhranAxckJjT295RW81OXBIQ2ZjZ1docGhpSTN2ZTdHd1lGLVd5LVFYZ0ZEZA?oc=5) |
| WFTV | Rabid cat terrorizes Central Florida neighborhood, bites 5 people and a puppy | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxPa0xGdzh3Q2ZBaHdrbmxWV3dhZ2R4RWVhUUJ5cFUtOUFYeDgwYTAyZ0dXbEVfd1JtN3hUVmtnZm1IVFJGajUxaHpGU0pUYnpDb1JGV1JpOHRYRXA3RVppUlFnbGNTR1o2R0VJb0NwN000WE1tN2NBQkpTbUZKU3RrVS1LSDlxMTlzLTRSdnpKazdZaS1heTJxRFEyRkF2LUR1a0xpSTBJMTNJcmxydjVGZHB4UnEzY2tYX0l4TTFNbmVuekI2Y2NHaDduTFBlN1U?oc=5) |
| Tampa Bay 28 | Polk rejects Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return, many neighboring counties don't | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxNMWNkQUg1Ry1EcnZUMkN1SUVmMlJkOGV0VkYyR2NhSEUtUHQ0LWg5Y2xmdUZuWmg2SGhvcnNfRUZybHlmRzdyM3QzMDRKbnZjcE9hcWRyZmxYb1MtLXZZU0otX2RVa2lmOTlGT3dpTzc5R1JwVmNXV1VpMFVWd2I0NHF4d2JWQkFZWE5wUU8xUW82bDJmR0tLeEkyTXRXZDNjNTNBWFZOWFJ3S1NWaEZ3Vjc3bTBXcDg?oc=5) |
| FOX 13 Tampa Bay | Spring Hill under rabies alert after cat infected in raccoon attack: DOH | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiwFBVV95cUxQNU82Z2stU3Z5VzZUbnFTZlNrQktMbUx6QkhwLWVVOTg0SzBUUWgwTVk5RUNlMFE3R2pQYl9OZ2VjN0tJRW1uZWl4V25hajdoNUQ1Z2RpbVpIUG5Dc2dETGZ6UmU2RzhvRnhrMW9MX1BBWW96NTBJZzNkNENOdkctdHpYbEdWNHhFRlJV0gGQAUFVX3lxTE1GNGVVM1NWRkV3QktHZXNqcmZxNEhHVWV1bTVEczVCVFB3UWhiaW55elEyOTdKcnI2WnFoc1VtV2xrYUIxajMwdWpSMi1iX3RSVlZxZnJaUFoyMUFCV0xTQmdTbm9CU25pd0c4NTdKMjFjaU4zUU8yRG5wS1M3MC1CZmdlaVlyOEd0dkZ0aUVvVQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Rabid stray cat bites 5 Florida residents and attacks puppy before dying under a home | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxOY1BBaXFKdDdGVGR5bFhZZTRjRmRBakxWdmYySkdMc3FtNU9NZUZkUHJqbXNYcEVqeGNSRjhGQUNWWTZQclk3azdYX0Q3U1ZYaXRBeTJDZUJQOWxMMWl0NG9fenlwbHBFWEtOQzAxNWh3bFpqRXFUWjhGUFVSdHY4TzA4MA?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-19/rabid-stray-cat-bites-5-florida-residents-and-attacks-puppy-before-dying-under*