Confirmed cases of cytauxzoonosis, or bobcat fever, have been reported in counties surrounding Owen County, Ind., raising alarms among veterinarians, according to The Owen News. The tick-borne illness, spread primarily by Lone Star ticks that feed on bobcats, is almost always fatal in untreated domestic cats. “Pet owners need to assume it’s out there and able to spread, because ticks are found statewide,” Denise Derrer, public information director of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, tells The Owen News. Dr. Kami Graber, a veterinarian at Heal Pet Care in Greene County, says in a report by NewsNation, “most cats … just do not survive this disease,” stressing, “prevention is absolutely key, even if your pet is indoor … we just need to have your pets on flea and tick prevention at all times.” Laura Nafe, DVM, MS, DACVIM, of the Oklahoma State University, explains cytauxzoonosis triggers a “profound systemic inflammatory response,” damaging multiple organs, often leading to death within days. Ordinary antibiotics are ineffective; standard therapy combines an antimalarial drug and antimicrobial medication with intensive supportive care, but many cats do not survive. Because no vaccine exists, prevention is the best protection. Dr. Nafe advises year-round tick prevention—even for indoor cats—since ticks can be carried indoors. “If you have a cat who goes outdoors during the summer, keep a careful eye out for any ticks on it,” she writes. Ticks are most active between March and September, with cases often peaking during warm, wet months. Veterinarians are urged to help educate clients about how keeping cats indoors and on regular flea and tick prevention remains the most reliable safeguard against this deadly infection.
