{"id":612382,"date":"2024-06-20T06:06:47","date_gmt":"2024-06-20T10:06:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=612382"},"modified":"2024-06-20T06:06:47","modified_gmt":"2024-06-20T10:06:47","slug":"bobcat-fever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/ask-the-vet\/bobcat-fever\/","title":{"rendered":"Bobcat Fever: Our Vet Discusses Signs, Causes & Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nWhat is Bobcat Fever?<\/a>
\nSigns<\/a>
\nCauses<\/a>
\nCare Guide<\/a>
\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/a>
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Bobcat Fever is a serious and life-threatening disease that causes anemia in feline species. While the name suggests that the wild bobcat is primarily affected, this is not the case. Bobcats appear to have good immunity and tend to become \u201ccarriers\u201d of the parasite, without displaying any signs of disease. Domestic cats, however, are not so fortunate.<\/p>\n

Bobcat Fever is predominantly found in the south central\u00a0and south eastern areas of North America. The range of disease is believed to be spreading due to climate change and local weather changes. This article will explain how Bobcat Fever is transmitted, what causes it, and what can be done to treat cats suffering from this problematic disease.<\/p>\n

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What is Bobcat Fever?<\/h2>\n

There is a technical name for Bobcat Fever: Cytauxzoonosis<\/em>. This is because Bobcat Fever is caused by a blood parasite called Cytauxzoon felis<\/em>. The parasite is found in ticks (most commonly the Lone Star tick and American dog tick). When a tick carrying the C. felis <\/em>parasite feeds on\u00a0a cat, the parasite can be transmitted into the cat\u2019s blood.<\/p>\n

Once in the cat\u2019s blood, the parasite undergoes several stages of division and replication. The parasite invades\u00a0white\u00a0blood cells\u00a0(macrophages) and causes them to burst.\u00a0They\u00a0then infect red blood cells which are destroyed\u00a0causing the cats to become anemic. Parasite clumps are also\u00a0capable of occluding (blocking) blood vessels and disrupting oxygen distribution to tissues.<\/p>\n

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Image Credit: Kachalkina Veronika, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Are the Signs of Bobcat Fever?<\/h2>\n

Signs of Bobcat Fever develop approximately 10 days from the time of the tick bite. The early signs can be vague or \u201cnon-specific\u201d:<\/p>\n

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