Sacramento, CA — State health officials are warning cat owners to keep their pets away from wild rodents that carry a potentially fatal disease.
The State Health Department says four cases of the plague have been reported in Kern and Placer Counties.
Officials say the disease has been reported in 11 California counties so far this year. The department says that humans who have close contact with cats could contract the disease.
The plague is usually passed to cats that hunt and consume squirrels, chipmunks and other wild rodents.
Cat owners are urged to seek veterinary care if their cats begin to show symptoms such as high fever, swollen lymph nodes and difficulty breathing.
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 2:30 pm