<div><p>If you have a feline at home, veterinarians suggest that you take extra precaution in the upcoming weeks due to a serious disease outbreak in the U.S. </p><p>The illness has been affecting cats in a number of southwestern states including Oklahoma and Arkansas.</p><p>Barbara Tarbutton and her husband learned about the disease the hard way after their beloved cat, Paw Paws, died shortly after being diagnosed. </p><p>"My husband had noticed a little bit of nasal discharge and a little blood in it at first, and he said "˜I think you need to look at Paws,'" said Barbara. </p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever.jpeg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_550px.jpeg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_650px.jpeg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_750px.jpeg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_850px.jpeg 850w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_950px.jpeg 950w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_1050px.jpeg 1050w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_1150px.jpeg 1150w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_1250px.jpeg 1250w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_1350px.jpeg 1350w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_1450px.jpeg 1450w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_1550px.jpeg 1550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/bobcat-fever_GH_content_1630px.jpeg 1630w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>KFOR</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>They took the kitty to the vet and turns out he was suffering from a rare illness known as Bobcat Fever. </p><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p>The disease is caused by a blood parasite which cats contract through tick bites. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and pain. </p><p>Dr. David Biles told <a href="http://kfor.com/2017/04/26/i-couldnt-believe-it-deadly-disease-affecting-cats-spreading-across-oklahoma/">KFOR </a>that when caught early the cat may have a chance of survival but "most cats will get the disease and pass away."</p><p>With summer around the corner, the best way to keep your cat from getting infected is to "give your cat medication to prevent ticks and fleas, and check them regularly for the pests."</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/130624103807_1_900x600.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/130624103807_1_900x600_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/130624103807_1_900x600_GH_content_650px.jpg 650w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/130624103807_1_900x600_GH_content_750px.jpg 750w, https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/130624103807_1_900x600_GH_content_850px.jpg 850w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Science Daily</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p>Keep this in mind next time you're at the vet clinic. </p></div>