​Bobcat Fever and other Tick-Borne Diseases

by Anjali Ravi, Communications Intern
 
This summer, bobcat fever is taking a toll on domestic cats in Northwest Arkansas. Though once thought to be carried only by the American dog tick, this blood parasite can also spread through the lone star tick, which is common to the area. Dr. Jack Herring, owner of Wedington Animal Hospital, told station KNWA that bobcat fever is becoming more prevalent and that on some days, there have been four or five cats hospitalized at once for it.
 
The death rate for bobcat fever is unfortunately very high. It infects the blood cells of the cat. Even in the event that your cat recovers from bobcat fever, he’ll still be a carrier of it, which can lead to even more complications and threaten other domestic cats in the neighborhood.
 
Cats who live outside city boundaries, in rural environments where ticks are more prevalent, are at a higher risk of getting bobcat fever. Despite this, city kitties are not completely protected from the disease. If your cat has contracted bobcat fever, it can be anywhere from 5 to 20 days before symptoms appear. Initial signs may include lethargy, decreased appetite, and high body temperature. As the disease progresses, your cat may experience breathing problems, dehydration, jaundice, and a noticeable drop in body temperature.
 
Because no vaccine is currently available, keeping your cat safe from tick bites is of the utmost importance. While the lone star tick is mainly found in eastern Kansas and the Southeastern states, bobcat fever isn’t the only tick-borne disease that can affect your cat. Rabbit fever (tularemia), Feline Infectious Anemia, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease all affect domestic cats and have the potential to be fatal. Though uncommon in cats, Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-transmitted diseases in the world. Its dominant symptoms in cats are lack of appetite, lethargy, and lameness due to an inflammation of the joints.
 
Here are some tips to keep your cat safe from tick-borne diseases:
 

• Give your cat a flea and tick preventative on a regular, ongoing basis.
• Keep your lawn mowed short, since ticks tend to prefer taller grasses. Maintain and de-clutter your yard so that there are fewer hiding places for ticks.
• Do daily tick checks on your cat, especially if they wander outside. Groom them regularly. Be thorough – even look between their toes!
• If your cat lives with a dog, make sure you use tick repellant on the dog too, who could otherwise bring ticks into the house that affect the cat. Don’t forget to check yourself for ticks after outdoor activities like hiking.
• Talk to your veterinarian about types of tick control medications for your cat. There are oral and topical options that can be considered. For feral cats, if you can get close enough, you may be able to apply a topical tick preventative on the cat’s coat. Another option is to sprinkle flea powder inside cat shelters and on their outdoor bedding.
• Only use tick preventatives on the species they’re formulated for, i.e. cat meds for cats, dog meds for dogs, human preventatives for humans.