How do cats get plague? - briefly
Cats typically contract the plague from fleas that have bitten infected animals such as rodents or rabbits. These infected fleas then transmit the bacterium Yersinia pestis to cats through bites.
How do cats get plague? - in detail
Cats can contract the plague through several routes, primarily involving contact with infected fleas or other animals carrying the disease. The plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is commonly found in wild rodent populations and their fleas. When a cat comes into contact with an infected flea or consumes an animal that carries the bacteria, it can become infected.
The most common way cats contract the plague is through the bite of an infected flea. Fleas act as vectors, transmitting the Yersinia pestis bacterium from one host to another. When a flea bites a cat, it may regurgitate infected blood back into the cat's system, leading to infection. Cats can also become infected by ingesting an animal that is carrying the plague, such as a rodent or rabbit. This typically occurs when a cat hunts and consumes a diseased animal.
In addition to direct transmission, cats may contract the plague indirectly through environmental exposure. If a cat comes into contact with contaminated soil, water, or surfaces that have been exposed to infected bodily fluids, it can potentially become infected. This is less common than flea-borne transmission but still poses a risk, particularly in areas where the plague is endemic.
Once infected, cats may exhibit various symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. In some cases, cats can develop bubonic plague, which is characterized by large, painful swellings in the lymph nodes, particularly around the head and neck. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, leading to septicemic or pneumonic plague, both of which are highly dangerous and potentially fatal.
Prevention involves minimizing a cat's exposure to potential sources of infection. This includes using flea control measures such as topical treatments and collars, preventing cats from hunting and consuming wild animals, and avoiding areas known to have high populations of infected rodents. If a cat exhibits symptoms consistent with the plague, prompt veterinary care is essential for diagnosis and treatment.