Press releases, local television coverage, and alerts to veterinarians and physicians have been issued, with prevention measures highlighted. With a large population of sick and dead rodents that are easy prey, exposure to plague is increased for pets that are allowed to roam and hunt freely. Cats appear to be more susceptible to plague than dogs do. The submandibular lymph nodes are frequently infected as a result of ingestion of infected rodents and inoculation of the plague bacterium into the oral mucosa. The incubation period for plague in cats is usually around two days.
Cats also develop septicemic and pneumonic forms of plague.
According to Dr. Ettestad, about 10 percent of cats with plague seen in New Mexico veterinary clinics have pneumonic plague. This form may cause fever, respiratory tract signs with or without buboes, and signs that include sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, oral lesions, and lower respiratory tract signs. Cats can transmit plague to humans by direct respiratory contact or contact with exudates, by bringing fleas into the house, and by bites or scratches. Dr. Ettestad stressed that submandibular abscesses from other causes such as bite wounds occur commonly in cats, and veterinarians evaluating these cats may not take appropriate precautions against plague. This places veterinarians and their staff at risk for exposure.