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Tick-borne parasite killing cats in KC metro, veterinarians warn
KCTV • • health
Key Points:
- Veterinarians in the Kansas City metro are seeing a rise in cases of bobcat fever, a deadly tick-borne disease affecting cats, with recent fatalities including a cat named Niko at the Pet Resource Center of Kansas City.
- Bobcat fever, caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis transmitted through tick bites, progresses rapidly and has a high mortality rate, making prompt veterinary care critical for infected cats.
- Symptoms to watch for include high fever, loss of appetite, lethargy, difficulty breathing, pale or yellow gums, swollen lymph nodes, and dehydration, with immediate veterinary attention advised.
- To protect cats, vets recommend keeping them indoors, using year-round tick prevention, checking for ticks after outdoor exposure, and maintaining yards to reduce tick habitats.
- Despite aggressive treatment, bobcat fever often proves fatal, underscoring the importance of prevention and early detection.
