{"id":3178,"date":"2026-06-30T17:48:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T00:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rocklinranchvet.com\/blog\/?p=3178"},"modified":"2026-06-16T17:49:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T00:49:33","slug":"whats-the-big-deal-about-cat-scratch-fever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocklinranchvet.com\/blog\/whats-the-big-deal-about-cat-scratch-fever\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Big Deal About Cat Scratch Fever?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Cat<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We love sharing our lives with animals. In fact, few things compare with a good snuggle, and for many of us, the time spent holding and nuzzling a sweet, furry feline is life-affirming. Part of what makes this closeness possible is a proactive approach to disease prevention<\/a>. Unfortunately, zoonotic diseases, or those that can be transmitted between animals and people, can make living in such close proximity dangerous. Cat scratch<\/a> fever is one such illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

A Thin, Invisible Line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cats have the potential to carry various zoonotic diseases, including rabies, ringworm, toxoplasmosis, and more. A reasonable concern for most cat owners is cat scratch fever, or Cat-Scratch Disease (CSD). A bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae<\/em>, CSD is a zoonotic disease carried by approximately 40% of all cats at some point in their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would be one thing if owners saw obvious symptoms of cat scratch fever, but many cats show no signs of illness. Most carriers of the disease<\/a> are kittens younger than a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Protect Yourself<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cats get infected with Bartonella<\/em> by way of fleas, specifically through bites and flea dirt (feces). When flea dirt builds up around the feet and claws, or near the mouth, the chances of passing the infection to others increases. If a cat with the bacterium scratches or bites you, or licks an open wound, the Bartonella <\/em>organism can enter the bloodstream and cause infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of Cat-Scratch Disease in humans can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n