Rabid Bobcat Bursts Into VT Couple's Home, Squares Off With House Cat

WINDSOR, VT — A Vermont couple had an unexpected house guest last week when a bobcat barged right through their front door, according to a report.

Joyce Willett was sitting on her couch Friday morning when her cat, Grayson, tore through the front screen door, WCAX-TV reported. Hot on Grayson's tail was a bobcat, following her into the house without a second thought.

Willett’s partner, Mike Peabody, managed to trap the bobcat in the bathroom, where it was facing off with Grayson; however, he didn't escape unscathed, WCAX reported. Peabody sustained minor injuries including scrapes, bruises and puncture wounds where the bobcat latched onto his leg.

The bobcat, which was confirmed to be rabid, was euthanized on-site, according to WCAX.

The feline intruder was hardly the first to attack a U.S. family or their pet.

In April 2021, a North Carolina family getting ready for their morning commute had a violent encounter with a bobcat in the driveway of their Burgaw home. The incident was captured on a security camera.

Earlier in 2021, a Connecticut couple was injured when a rabid bobcat followed their dog into the garage, where it attacked the female owner. A man then entered the garage and pulled the bobcat off his wife. When the bobcat bit the man's arm, he slammed it to the ground, beating it with a fireplace log until the animal died.

Finally, in 2020, a bobcat was shot and killed by Connecticut officials after it attacked a Preston family's dog, then hid in the family's home. The bobcat tested positive for rabies.

Rabies is a deadly virus that infects the brains of mammals. In Vermont, rabies is most commonly found in wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats and woodchucks, according to the Vermont Department of Health. Cats, dogs and livestock can also get rabies if they have not been vaccinated.

Typically, rabid animals show a change in their normal behavior, which can include unusual aggression or bizarre behavior.

The virus usually is spread to humans through the bite of an infected animal. In humans, early rabies symptoms include fever, headache and general weakness, according to Vermont health officials.

If they encounter a rabid animal in the wild, Vermont residents are encouraged to contact the Rabies Hotline at 800-472-2437 or a state game warden.