Seroprevalence of lyssaviruses in certain bat species has been proven in the Republic of Croatia, but there have been no confirmed positive bat brain isolates or human fatalities associated with bat injuries/bites. The study included a retrospective analysis of bat injuries/bites, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and geographic distribution of bat injuries in persons examined at the Zagreb Antirabies Clinic, the Croatian Reference Centre for Rabies. In the period 1995–2020, we examined a total of 21,910 patients due to animal injuries, of which 71 cases were bat-related (0.32%). Of the above number of patients, 4574 received rabies PEP (20.87%). However, for bat injuries, the proportion of patients receiving PEP was significantly higher: 66 out of 71 patients (92.95%). Of these, 33 received only the rabies vaccine, while the other 33 patients received the vaccine with human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG). In five cases, PEP was not administered, as there was no indication for treatment. Thirty-five of the injured patients were biologists or biology students (49.29%). The bat species was confirmed in only one of the exposure cases. This was a serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus), a known carrier of Lyssavirus hamburg. The results showed that the bat bites were rather sporadic compared to other human injuries caused by animal bites. All bat injuries should be treated as if they were caused by a rabid animal, and according to WHO recommendations. People who come into contact with bats should be strongly advised to be vaccinated against rabies. Entering bat habitats should be done with caution and in accordance with current recommendations, and nationwide surveillance should be carried out by competent institutions and in close collaboration between bat experts, epidemiologists and rabies experts.

Cat-related injuries are a frequent reason for antirabies consultation, but long-term data on their epidemiology and management remain limited, particularly in European settings that have transitioned from endemic sylvatic rabies to officially rabies-free status. We retrospectively analysed registry data on all patients examined for cat-related injuries at the Zagreb Antirabies Clinic, the Croatian Reference Centre for Rabies, between 1995 and 2025. Among 24,107 animal-related consultations, 3147 (13.1%) involved cats. Most patients were female (64.8%), and children under 18 years of age accounted for 14.7% of the patients. The offending cat had a known owner in 48.5% of cases and was unknown in 45.9%. Records associated with laboratory-confirmed rabid cats accounted for 4.8%, all from 1995 to 2012. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was administered to 37.6% of patients, and human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) to 2.9%. Hospitalisation was rare (1.1%), while injuries most often involved the fist and fingers (59.5%). PEP administration was strongly associated with the rabies risk status of the offending cat, increasing from 8.7% for known-owner cats to 62.0% for unknown cats and approximately 87% for suspected or laboratory-confirmed rabid cats (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, animal status remained the principal factor independently associated with PEP (adjusted odds ratio for unknown versus known-owner cats approximately 18), whereas patient characteristics had limited effect. HRIG use declined below 1% in 2015–2025, paralleling the elimination of sylvatic rabies in Croatia. Continued structured exposure assessment remains relevant despite rabies-free status, particularly when cats are unknown or unavailable for observation.