Fleas Transmit Plague Bacteria

Minimizing your pets’ contact with stagnant water, rodents, and fleas will protect them from dangerous infections.

To prevent your cats from getting the plague, use effective flea control throughout the year and keep your cats inside to discourage hunting. elwynn/Shutterstock

Q: I caught the end of a news report about pets and the plague. I thought the plague was eradicated ages ago, at least from the United States. Do I need to worry about my indoor-outdoor cats getting infected? Is this the next pandemic?

A: The deadliest pandemic in history was caused by the plague in the mid-1300s. While I doubt that will be repeated, the disease is still present in the United States.