The mysterious Kellas cat, once thought to be a cryptid in Scotland, was revealed in 1986 to be a hybrid between European wildcats and domestic cats, with recent studies indicating increased hybridization that threatens the wildcat population's survival in Scotland.
Oregon confirms its first case of bubonic plague in eight years, likely contracted from a domestic cat. The patient, who became very sick, is responding well to modern antibiotics. The bacterium Yersinia pestis, which causes the plague, rarely proves fatal if caught and treated early enough. While the disease is still present in some parts of the world, it is no longer the international killer it once was.
A domestic cat in Owings Mills, Maryland, has tested positive for rabies, prompting a rabies alert in the area. Residents who may have come into contact with the cat are urged to seek medical attention, while pet owners are advised to ensure their pets have up-to-date rabies vaccinations. Baltimore County Animal Services is offering low-cost rabies vaccinations and other services to help prevent the spread of the disease.
A domestic cat in Wyoming has tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza after eating a bird, making it the first such case in the U.S. The Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory said that the cat likely became infected from ingesting meat from wild waterfowl. In addition to the cat, Wyoming also reported that four mountain lions and a fox have recently died of bird flu. The global spread of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has raised concern about the possibility of a future variant which could lead to human-to-human transmission.