Cat scratch fever… you’ve heard of it. But did you know it’s an actual disease and NOT just the name of a rock song?
Also called cat scratch disease (CSD) or bartonellosis, cat scratch fever is caused by a bacterial infection. In most cases, the bacteria responsible is Bartonella henselae.
While the human form of the disease is associated with cat scratches, it’s actually commonly transmitted through fleas. The fleas ingest blood with the bacteria from an infected cat and then shed the bacteria in their feces. The feces spread the infections to people by contaminating abrasions in the human’s skin (including cat scratches) or through the eye.
In humans, CSD causes fever, chills, tiredness, large lymph nodes and blisters or bumps at the site of a cat scratch or bite. Occasionally, a severe and chronic form of the disease can develop in people. Cats, on the other hand, often have no noticeable symptoms.
So how do you protect your family from this illness? Well, aside from not letting your cat bite or scratch you and keeping your kitty’s nails trimmed, administering flea and tick preventives is the best way to prevent infection. For your cat, the bite of an infected flea is a major source of infection. Your cat and their fleas serve as the most common source of infection for your human family members.
If you do get scratched, make sure to promptly wash the injury with soap and water. If you are concerned that you have cat scratch fever, please seek medical attention from a physician.
Browse our wide selection of recommended flea and tick preventives.
