At least three people are being treated for coming into contact with a rabies-infected cat at a park in Llano County, officials say.
The incident was reported by the Llano County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) involving a feral cat at Black Rock Park, just off FM 261, on Lake Buchanan.
“On Sunday, June 7, 2026, at approximately 7:32 a.m., two male guests reported being bitten by a gray cat while visiting the park,” according to the press release. “On Monday, June 8, 2026, an additional report was received indicating that a female guest had also been bitten by the same cat.
“The cat was located deceased by (Llano County) Animal Control on June 8, 2026, and was submitted for rabies testing,” the statement continued. “On June 11, 2026, test results confirmed that the cat was positive for rabies.” (Find the full statement on Page 4).
Llano County Health Authority Jack Frank- lin confirmed that he is treating the patients, following the bite reports.
“Our animal control officer got in touch with me, and we got everybody ready for vaccines; everybody got treatment,” Franklin told The Highlander. “Everyone who had significant ex posure got treatment. … It’s a very fatal disease if you don’t get it treated.”
Franklin offered insight into the risk.
“Unfortunately we have a large feral cat population. Our animal control folks are trying to remedy that, but a lot of people will try to feed their local stray,” he said. “They’re not vaccinated, and we have a vector for rabies.
“In Central Texas, we have a lot of rabies; the biggest county for rabies in Texas is Travis because they have a lot of bats,” he added about the neighboring county to the east. “#2 and #3 are usually Burnet and Llano counties because we have a lot of rabid skunks and raccoons – those tend to be the big ones – and also a lot of foxes.”
Black Rock Park of- ficials have contacted guests who visited the park during the weekend of June 6-7 to assess unwitting exposure. Franklin asked residents to be on the lookout in general to avoid contact.
“If you’ve got an animal that looks like it’s drunk or acting weird at all, that’s a rabid animal.
“Be aware that rabies is something to think about if you’re dealing with an animal you don’t know,” Franklin said. What we’re taught is we have a lot of human beings invading areas that used to be inhabited by animals. Be cautious.”
Franklin added he would like to dispel fears about cause and treatment.
“We’re happy to walk through how their exposure occurred. Were you playing with the cat? Did you get scratched or bitten? There’s a lot of nuisance,” Franklin said.
"If you get exposed, first you need to go to the emergency room.
“You’ll need the vaccine and an immune globulin because it will stop it in its tracks,” he added. “Then you come to me because there’s more (two more shots) in that series.”
Shots are given in the arm unlike decades ago when they were administered in the abdomen.
Call the health authori- ty's office at 325-248-6309 for more information.
