A cat, killed after attacking a woman in Florala, has tested positive for rabies.

Covington County Health Department officials said Tuesday the stray cat was “aggressive-acting and had an unsteady walk” before it was killed and sent off for testing.

Robert Harrison said the cat showed up at his Florala home the middle of last week. He said on Saturday, his sister, who was visiting from Florida, traveled to his house to watch the Alabama game, only to be bitten by the cat when she tried to feed it.

“The cat was over on the carport,” he said. “My sister is a big animal lover, so she got a piece of chicken and said she was going to feed the cat. I didn’t want her to, but I didn’t say it.

“It was a stray and I wasn’t interested in keeping it,” he said. “She was gone for a couple of minutes and came back in and said, ‘That cat bit me.’ Sure enough, it got her on the back of the ankle. She had four good-sized puncture wounds.”

Harrison said the family called the Florala police, and the decision was made to kill the cat so that it could be tested for rabies.

Harrison said his sister will now have to undergo rabies treatment.

Residents are urged to avoid contact with stray animals or animals acting strangely.

Additionally, pet owners should have animals vaccinated against the disease.

-Stephanie Nelson