PITTSBORO - The Chatham County Public Health Department reported Monday that a pet cat tested positive for rabies after biting its owner, a veterinarian and the veterinarian's assistant last week.

The State Public Health Laboratory reported the positive test to Chatham County Animal Control on Saturday.

The owner, who lives near Bennett in southwestern Chatham County, took the cat to a veterinarian's office last Wednesday and the cat bit all three people that day. It was held for observation at the vet's office and was found dead in its cage Friday morning. The three bite victims are receiving post-exposure rabies treatments at Chatham Hospital.

Health Director Holly Coleman urges residents to maintain current rabies vaccinations for their pets.

"This is the second incident of animal rabies in Chatham County in the last month," she said. "Vaccinating your animals is the only way to protect pets from contracting rabies."

The Animal Control Division of the Health Department is sponsoring a low-cost rabies vaccination clinic on Saturday, from 9 am until noon at the Animal Control Shelter, located just off U.S. 64, five miles west of Pittsboro. Look for the big green highway sign. Cats should be brought in carriers and dogs on leashes, or they may be left in the vehicle.