Bobcat fever

silvertipgrizz

2 weeks ago my 10 year old healthy cat stopped eating as usual. He would eat spoon fed #2 chicken gerber and the next day he ate a little bit of real butter of the tip of my finger. The next day I took him to the vet and the next day he was dead.

I do not know much about this except it kills and it kills quick. I love my cats and want to call your attention to this so this does not happen to anyone else cat/s.

I also would greatly appreciate any knowledge/experience anyone else might have regarding this. Note that I looked for a contact number for our vet Doc Jones...I feel sure he would be knowledgeable about this but I could not find a number for his office.

All help appreciated.

LaurieLovesLearning

@silvertipgrizz I have never heard of this before. Bobcats are rare here. I am curious to know if this fever is common in them or regional and if it fluctuates in the population. How do they pass it on is another question. Our barn cats are more in danger of getting caught by foxes, coyotes & raptors than anything else and I believe that's where most that disappear.

As for Doc Jones, he has a forum on Homegrown Herbalist where you can ask questions. Sometimes it takes a while before a question gets answered. I'm not sure if with their recent updates if you can get notifications for replies to posts or not.

Go to https://homegrownherbalist.net/

Click on the little lines (menu) to the top left, click on more, click on forum. Put your question in the appropriate category.

When you get an answer, let us know more about what you learn.

silvertipgrizz

@LaurieLovesLearning

Bobcat fever is spread from bobcats, via the vector....ticks. The tick bites a cat, the disease in now in the blood and what little I know from this point is it destroys red blood cells and the cat dies a horrible death.

What region in Canada do you live?

Many things about this worries me:

how is it in the bobcat physiology to begin with? How long does the tick harbor the disease? Why are the vets not equipped to handle this as this is a very rapid killer.

Last week I saw an article on the news that the Okla deer population was carrying some sort of toxin. In all my life I have never seen so many new killers of wildlife and our beloved pets. I am researching it currently, and fairly certain...poss..that this is more...gain of function experimentation. bobcat fever was first mentioned by vets in my area about 4 years ago. Like it came from out of nowhere. Like the bee kill off. I found, after a flea killer I did not want to put on my precious female 6 years ago...contained the 'bee killer' in it...she soon died as it is a hormone disrupter. Pretty putrid that no one works on 'non toxic' so called remedies for the fur family members we grow to cherish across our life span.

I will let you know as soon as I find anything relevant.

Take care of your finger and up date us..

LaurieLovesLearning

@silvertipgrizz I am located on the Prairies in Manitoba, over ND.

Right now, CWD (chronic wasting disease) has been rediscovered in the cervid population and no hunting of these animals is allowed in a particular area. But, this has been around for years, so it's not a new issue.

There was a strange, new, mysterious neurological disease affecting & killing people in the Maritimes. I haven't heard if they had determined where it came from or what it might be yet, but it could be eating animals related.

Many vets are limited in their knowledge, unfortunately, expertise that specialize. We found out when we had a llama, that area vets know nothing about them and don't care to research it. They will still take lots of your money though.

It is certainly odd hearing about these sudden diseases, but this is seen very regularly in the human medical system and has been the case for many years. That's nothing new.

There seem to be regular fads of "discoveries", hype & panic over sometimes very few cases of these diseases. Even just a few deaths can make something suddenly huge, widespread & sensational.

We suspect that often, these are diseases that have been around a long time, maybe have been misdiagnosed as something else or just part of that whatever it was diagnosed as but now given a more specific, special name, or initially ignored by others.

Do you remember the hanta virus and the hype & stories? That died down quickly. Or how west nile was so big & scary? You hardly hear of it anymore. What about Zika? Malaria was thought to be in BC a few years back (connected to climate change of course, but evidence showed it had been there in the distant past, so that climate change bit held no substance). We were told by someone who lived in Africa that a person builds immunity to malaria after a few bouts and it begins to not be an issue. A vaccine isn't really necessary, he said.

Anyway, what did these disease fear fads have in common? The standard created panic, then, "we'll save you", & then suddenly nothing. It's not even in the memory of most people anymore. Lots of crying wolf. It's characteristic of the system. It makes big bucks.

These things sounded like a new discovery, yet, people & animals have survived through these types of things in the past...even huge things...and continue on, albeit sometimes big death counts at times, but some/most always survive. Where life is, death is sure to follow. When & how is the only mystery. Sometimes that death count is actually small, but then exaggerated, to strike fear into the population and make people hastily run toward whatever the system is selling. That's how I've seen it play out many times in the past. It's good for the drug business. Instilling fear & the worship given that they know the best is certainly the main driver. I highly suspect the conventional vet world is no different.

As far as the deer mice, that is the common mouse here, kids have played with them in the past (ick, ick! Mice are so filthy anyway) & that's the type that feeds in and runs out of the grain bins & in the fields on a regular basis. It is common...the disease, not so much like they claimed, and is really nothing to panic over. Supposedly most mice here carried it. One woman supposedly died from it in the area and that's it, but the panic was great until the farmers said, "Bah! those are all we see." There was no control over those people at that point and you heard no more about it.

Anyway, if it is not one thing, it's another. Move over, old panicked fear, here is the next disease to panic over. Crying wolf is never good. Being aware and checking true facts (avoiding the hype promoters) is best, and then you deal with it (if it is actually warranted) in a thought out, logical and reasonable manner without fear attached.

Anyway, I think I jumped on a soapbox and it was not on purpose. I'll get off now. 😄 I got carried away & really got off the topic. 🥴 Let's just say that I like to be very careful what I follow and that I haven't been a huge fan of the system for most of my life now as I continue to observe how it works. Nothing has changed. That's part of what brought me here.

I plan on getting an herbal book for caring for pets. We prefer natural over conventional whenever possible. Most of our animals provide us with food as well, so it makes using herbs & alternatives for our animals even more important. You might want to check out the book as well. I think @torey recommended it (I could be wrong).

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1933958782/?coliid=I1WSW32KCE5UXF&colid=TL0VCLE0HI7N&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Torey

I am sorry about your loss, @silvertipgrizz.

I had only briefly heard about bobcat fever. It seems that it appears mostly in the southeastern states. Its similar to malaria in that it is caused by a blood born protozoa; in this case Cytauxzoon felis. Bobcats don't seem to be bothered by the disease, only getting mildly ill from it. But once they have it they become a carrier and when the tick feeds on them, then the tick can pass it on to domestic cats.

It is reported to have a high mortality rate but isn't all that common. The first documented case was in 1976 but it has probably been around for much longer, just not diagnosed as such. It also has been found in some cougars and in one white tiger in captivity. It is strictly a feline disease and there is no danger of transmission to humans or other animals.

Yes, @LaurieLovesLearning, that is the book that I have.

Cat's claw and monolaurin seem to be the treatments of choice for alternatives. But it would be nice to get an opinion from a "natural" vet like Doc Jones.

kbmbillups1

Sorry to hear about the loss of your cat @silvertipgrizz. I have never heard of Bobcat Fever.

judsoncarroll4

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/906463#Comment_906463

Check this out, Laurie

https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/deer-can-carry-the-coronavirus-heres-what-that-means-for-the-pandemic

LaurieLovesLearning

@judsoncarroll4

What can I say? It's really no surprise that something else is said to have it.

C-v19 is already considered endemic in some countries (it depends on the political/medical rhetoric of the country/region), & a wide variety of coronaviruses have always been around in animal populations (dogs, cats, etc.) said a lab tech relative of mine, so its really no surprise that they have antibodies. My understanding from highly experienced and highly qualified experts in their fields (I don't recall their specialities, but one was specifically asked by the WHO & US govt. for their expertise, and did work for each for a time), is that most people (& so then most likely animals too, I suspect), already have antibodies from being exposed to this & other c-v that have always existed, and that these do contribute to a natural immunity, which gives an increase of complications/side effects if the person gets the shot. I am just stating it simply, because the details don't stick in my head. It has been explained by those experts in more detail, and I'm sure that's even been dumbed down from the specialized language that they would use (like legalese would sound to most people, lol). I am far from an expert in that realm.

It is widely known as well that the tests are flawed, and so will pick up on more than just this specific virus.

I find it odd then that deer hunting is allowed anywhere this year if what this article claims is true. They tested in Iowa, but deer don't respect political borders. I wonder if this information will live on and affect hunting of cervids everywhere or if it will be forgotten by next year. Most people no longer seem to remember that it was said that dogs caught the same. Nobody is concerned about that it seems anymore. As with other things, a flash panic, then nothing.

Anyway, interesting.

We should get back to the subject of bobcat fever, though.

Michelle D

@silvertipgrizz I'm so sorry to hear that you beloved companion suffered. I have never heard of bobcat fever before. I don't currently have any cats but I was considering the idea of a "barn cat". This is good to know. Thank you for sharing.

annbeck62

@silvertipgrizz so sorry for your loss. I've never heard of bobcat fever. Pets are family members and losing them is so hard.

silvertipgrizz

@LaurieLovesLearning

Re hanta virus, my brother in law became infected and the years the doctors had him...well, he died. More on that later as all of this must be known if we are to be ever alert to the next game.....

I found a page re how to protect your cats from this demonic killer....will post this eve.

I so appreciate everyone's kind and compassionate words..he was an excellent cat and like all the others over the course of my life, I love them all, they were all special in their own unique way and as I often tell people...I will never believe the creator would create dogs, cats and other pets...that we become very very attached to...just to let their death be the end of it...I have peace in a strong belief that I will see them all again some day. The absolute worst part of it all is the horrible feeling of helplessness when they need us the most.

Also, re what @judsoncarroll4 noted above..the deer and a new issue..it was reported last week in Okla as well. Makes you wonder whose playing in the lab now. I don't mean that in a kind way either. My concern over this is if it turns out to be true, well, what do we eat when the cargo ships don't ship anything. And what species is next up in their lab..Everyone stay safe and have a great Thanksgiving...

LaurieLovesLearning

@silvertipgrizz I didn't mean to minimize any deaths from that virus. It may have affected people differently elsewhere. My thoughts were that here, the concern was very overblown. I don't know if the danger might increase/decrease with environmental factors or what, but it was not a virus that made an actual big impact here and the hype died down as fast as it came. The fuel just ran out.

I am looking forward to your post. I hope it can help others in the affected areas.

I feel the need to apologize, as I had neglected to say that I too am sorry for your loss. Sometimes I miss the obvious and focus on something else in a post.

silvertipgrizz

@LaurieLovesLearning No need to apologize. I posted about my beautiful orange companion so anyone unfamiliar with bcf would know and hopefully learn what they could as time is the essence for any hope of saving our fur family members.

All is good.

Have a wonderful Happy New Year Laurie to you and yours!