Home / Health / Domestic Cat in Colorado Succumbs to Rare Plague Infection
Domestic Cat in Colorado Succumbs to Rare Plague Infection
7 Aug
Summary
- First confirmed plague case in a Colorado animal since 2023
- Plague is incredibly rare in the U.S., with only 7 human cases annually
- Plague can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough
According to a report released on August 7th, 2025, a domestic cat in Evergreen, Colorado, about 30 miles west of Denver, has died from the plague. This was the first confirmed case of the plague in an animal in Jefferson County since 2023.
The plague is an incredibly rare disease in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting an average of only 7 human cases annually, the majority of which occur in rural areas of the Western U.S., including northern Arizona and parts of New Mexico and Colorado. The disease is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and can spread from flea bites or direct contact with infected animals.
While the plague can be life-threatening without immediate treatment, it can be treated with antibiotics if caught early enough. The disease presents in three forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic, depending on whether the infection hits the lymph nodes, bloodstream, or lungs.
"It's not uncommon to see a few animal cases of plague in the warmer months in Colorado," said Jim Rada, Jefferson County Environmental Health Director. "Like with this case, sometimes our local veterinarians are the first to see plague when our pets get sick. In many ways, they are a first line of defense both in helping keep our pets safe from fleas that could make our pets sick and in treating them if they are exposed to plague."
