06/05/2025
Please use flea/tick prevention!!! Bobcat Fever is deadly and quick! We have already seen one death this year from this horrible disease!
Bobcat Fever, also called Cytauxzoonosis, is a blood parasite that infects domestic cats.
The reason it's called bobcat fever is that bobcats are considered the main reservoir for the disease, as it is typically not fatal for bobcats.
Cytauxzoonosis is a horrible, painful illness with a sudden onset, and a cat can go from seemingly healthy to death’s door within 24 hours.
Until very recently, there were almost no survivors among domestic cats infected. Recent strides in veterinary medicine have pushed the survival rates up. If the illness is caught early enough and treatment starts immediately, a healthy cat may have an almost 60% chance of pulling through.
Bobcat Fever is present throughout several states with high tick populations but is on the rise at an alarming rate here in NWA!
Usually, there are two waves, with the first starting in March/April and ending in late June and the second wave between August and September.
The first signs of illness can be lethargy and a disinterest in eating and drinking. The cat’s temperature will soar, sometimes as high as 106f, and often the cat will hide. Another sign we have noticed is that their eyes will seem half-closed, slanted, and slightly puffy. Another sign might be the inability to use their back legs.
If you think your cat may have contracted Bobcat Fever, it is imperative to get them to a veterinarian as quickly as possible so that treatment (usually consisting of antibiotics, pain management, and fluid administration) can begin immediately. If cats are too sick to pull through, they deserve a chance to be humanely euthanized, as death from Bobcat Fever is extremely painful.
All this can be very scary, and the obvious question is - how can I keep this from happening to my cat? The best answer is to avoid exposure to tick bites as much as possible. Indoor cats are much less likely to contract the disease (although they can be brought into contact with ticks by another pet), and outdoor cats in wooded or rural areas are most at risk.
It is essential to use good, high-quality tick prevention, especially throughout months when ticks are active. Frontline Gold and Revolution Plus are two options. Another affordable nonprescription option is a 30-day topical product named ‘Catego,’ which is pretty new to the market. Still, it looks pretty effective.
It is also helpful to treat yards and, if possible, surrounding areas with a pet-safe tick prevention product, and of course, it is essential to treat all other pets.
