News On 6 Live: Bobcat fever cases rising in Green Country
Bobcat fever is drawing urgent concern in Green Country as veterinarians and animal rescues warn cat owners about a rise in cases. The warning centers on a fast-moving tick-borne illness that can become deadly in cats within a short window if treatment does not begin quickly. Mandi Anderson, a cat owner who lost her cat Marsha Kay after a diagnosis of bobcat fever, said the illness moved quickly after her cat started acting differently.
Veterinarians warn the illness moves fast
Bobcat fever, formally known as cytauxzoonosis, is transmitted to cats through the bite of a Lone Star tick. Dr. Lindsay Starkey, an associate professor at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said Oklahoma is prime territory for the disease because the region has plenty of Lone Star ticks. She said the illness has been known since the 1970s and that treatment has improved, but survival is still not guaranteed.
Starkey said she believes this spring could be worse than years past because ticks are emerging earlier than usual and more reports are reaching her from pet owners and animal rescues across the region. She said she has been hearing more concern from private practitioners and pet owners, including some who have lost multiple cats in the same season.
What cat owners are being told to watch for
Veterinarians say symptoms can appear within 48 hours after a tick has fed on a cat, and the disease can turn fatal within 48 hours after serious symptoms appear if treatment does not begin fast enough. Dr. Kalah Tipton, an associate veterinarian with StatVet Urgent Care, said cases tend to increase when the weather starts to warm.
Tipton said cat owners may first notice tiredness, loss of appetite, a high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or neurological issues. She said outdoor cats face the highest risk, but indoor cats are not completely safe. With no vaccine available for cytauxzoonosis, prevention remains the main defense.
Prevention is the immediate focus
Veterinarians are urging cat owners to keep cats indoors when possible and use veterinarian-prescribed flea and tick prevention year-round. Tipton said monthly prevention and, in some cases, collar-based options can help, but any product choice should be made with safety in mind.
Anderson’s experience has become part of the broader warning now reaching cat owners across Green Country. For families with cats, the message around bobcat fever is simple and urgent: act quickly, watch for sudden changes, and do not wait if symptoms appear. The concern around bobcat fever is expected to remain high as tick activity continues to rise in the weeks ahead.
