https://www.witzamfm.com/news/bobcat-fever-on-the-rise-in-southern-indiana

Edit to add context. Sickness carried by Bobcats that kills domestic cats 100% if not treated transmitted by long star ticks primarily.

Kills bobcats too? or they just carry the disease?

Yet another reason to love bobcats.

Agree Clay

I have no idea the article didn't say.

Edit Google AI

AI Overview

No, Bobcat Fever, caused by the parasite Cytauxzoon felis, is generally not fatal to bobcats. While it can cause illness, they are considered the natural reservoir for the parasite and typically recover, becoming chronic carriers. The disease is much more dangerous for domestic cats, where it can be deadly.

Seems like whenever a domestic cat encounters a bobcat it’s pretty much always fatal.

It's interesting since I have not got to observe a lot of bobcats going about their day naturally much at all. But noticed the comparison on how domestic vs bobcats seem to move. It's very similar but bobcats seem to move more quiet and with more clear intentions than domestic that seem to notice have a care in th world.

But that's only based on probably less than 8 minutes total observations in my life mostly when one comes by when deer hunting.

Cat scratch fever! Ted was right!

I've noticed when bobcats come through an aria on the creek bottoms the ferral cats disappear. And when Lions com through the coyotes scadadle and the Bob's run the creek ice where there's lots of tree's and sink holes.

It's really a thing. Daughter had it whan she was small Doc said it's not just a song being a metaphor.

My ole lady got bit by a cat she was holding for a neighbor to give it a shot. Got her good. She had to go to the emergency room twice for the infection and elevated temperature. She was sick as a horse for several days. The gave her an antibiotic injection and a prescription of more antibiotics,
It was all I could do to keep from telling her that she was stupid, but we're still married. The ER copay was $350.

Diane got bit by a feral kitten last year. She didn't tell me about it until many hours later. I took her to the hospital and they kept her for 3 days. She had to have surgery on her hand to remove the infected tissue. My friend Cathy had that happen last year too and also spent 3 days in the hospital. The same surgeon worked on her hand too. My mom had it happen years before. Cats have little grooves on their teeth that are designed by nature to hold and place bacteria in whatever they bite. The animals they bite typically get sick and weaken and may even die, so the cat can later eat them.

Keith

Back in I think 1981 I was scratched by a bobcat on my index finger. I became so sick. Took about 6 weeks and three ER visits to run its course. Dr said cat scratch fever. Came in three phases. One week, very high fever, second week felt better, third week, couldn't keep anything down, became very dehydrated, fourth week felt better, fifth week severe headache and sixth week gradually all symptoms went away.

Was bit by my daughters cat years ago, right into a knuckle, finger blew up so fast it was amazing, treated it at the walk in, worst part was dealing with the animal bite police....

I was watching dads dog when he was out of town often with my stepmothers liver transplant. I hated this dog he was temperament but took care of it so it was not on dad's plate. this was before I lived at the farm so was 127 miles away. I would drive that afte long shifts walk and fre the dog and leave.

walking out to leave the dog bit my right thump going through the nail . When I went to the walk in clinic for the bit I told them it was a stray on the farm that bit me that I was untangle hits tie out that had it hung up.

Again I didn't want dad to have to deal with the dog police while trying to keep his wife alive.


It was a good lesson in needing to practicing week hand shooting becuse of my thumb I could not get my glock out other wise the dogs brains would have been all over the kitchen floor.

Point being it may be easier/smarter to not let them know if it is your animal and just Handel it yourself.

I know that now,.... doctors have to report all bites to the county health dept...only problem I see is if you claim it was a stray and can't be found they'll want you to go with rabies shots....
kinda a lose, lose situation

Maybe but they didn't do so with. my dog bite. Probably would depend on the dr and how much the facility can make off your insurance.