(WBKO/WKYT) -A deadly tick-borne disease is actively affecting domestic cats in Kentucky.
Bobcat fever, also known as Cytauxzoonosis, is transmitted through a single tick bite and can progress quickly, according to veterinarian Adrienne Price Williams.
“Say, day one, the tick bites, it’s usually a 10-day period before the cat will start acting sick. And usually then another could be up to 48 hours before that cat could be dead,” Williams said.
Williams said Bobcat fever has become more prevalent across the region.
“I do think we are seeing a merging of tick-borne illnesses coming down from the north and coming up from the south. So they’re all meeting here in this area,” Williams said.
Symptoms include lethargy, fever, decreased appetite, increased respiration or heart rate, and pain.
If the disease is left untreated, it has a death rate of 97%, according to USA Today.
A team of researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of Missouri created a vaccine for the disease, helping improve survival rates. However, the vaccine is not commercially available currently.
Williams recommended keeping cats indoors this summer and practicing year-round tick prevention.
“Prevention is key. And I would also say early detection. This disease can be fatal within 48 hours. It’s quick acting. So if there’s any hint that you think your furry friend is not acting right, I would recommend to have them checked out by a veterinarian. And then some of the newer generation veterinary products. There are a lot of over-the-counter flea and tick products, but they are not all the same,” Williams said.
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