NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Two bats collected in the Green Hills area of Nashville in the past few weeks have tested positive for rabies, said the Metro Public Health Department.

Video: Rabid Bats Found In Nashville

Also, three cats infected with rabies had to be put down.

"If a pet is not vaccinated for rabies, and they encounter an animal that is rabid, they have to be put down. It is a very painful reminder for people," said Brian Todd of Metro Public Health.

There were no cases of rabies in Davidson County in 2007, but there were a dozen cases in 2006.

Most of those cases were found in skunks and bats near Radnor Lake.

Residents need to make sure their pets' rabies vaccinations are up to date, and people should not touch dead animals. If a dead animal is found, Metro Animal Control should be called. They will then take the animal away and have it tested.

So far this year, there have been 74 cases of rabies in Tennessee, which is about average. Most of the rabies cases have come in Rutherford and Williamson counties.

Experts said those areas of Tennessee may be seeing high numbers of rabies cases due to increased development. As land is developed, wild animals scatter into populated areas.