Bobcat fever has spread through rural areas around Muskogee, Oklahoma, over the past few weeks. Muskogee veterinary clinics have reported an increase in cases. The disease is a parasite, feline cytauxzoonosis, carried by ticks that have fed on wild bobcats, which are known reservoirs for the disease. The parasite does not affect humans, dogs or animals other than cats, veterinarians say.
Source: Muskogee Phoenix, June 27 via AVMA Animal Health Smartbrief, June 28, 2016.
Prevention is a key to keeping cats safe. “The best thing is to keep ticks off your cat,” said Cindy Allen, the practice manager at Animal Medical Center in Muskogee, OK. She added that the disease “hits them hard, and they don’t survive.”
INSIGHTS: The Companion Animal Parasite Council website offers information on Feline cytauxzoonosis.