What kinds of animals spread rabies?

The rabies virus can infect any animal (if it has hair or fur, it's a mammal), but it is only common among certain ones like bats, skunks, foxes and raccoons. Cats, dogs and livestock can also get rabies and spread it to their owners — if they do not have special shots to protect them. Rabies is very rare among rodents like squirrels, rats, mice and chipmunks. Birds, fish, lizards, turtles and insects cannot spread rabies.