SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/cat-csd-cause

Which germ causes cat scratch disease?

Bartonella henselae, spread by flea-infected cats.

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  1. Toxoplasma gondii
  2. Salmonella enterica
  3. Bartonella henselae ✔

Why: The CDC says Bartonella henselae causes cat scratch disease. It is spread by the scratch of cats that have been infected by fleas.

Huh, didn't know that: The CDC says cat scratch disease is the most common form of bartonellosis in the United States.

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What's a kitten's favorite kind of sticker? Scratch and sniff.
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References

Answer: Bartonella henselae. The CDC says Bartonella henselae causes cat scratch disease. It is spread by the scratch of cats that have been infected by fleas.

  1. CDC, About Bartonella and cat scratch disease www.cdc.gov/bartonella/about/index.html
    Bartonella henselae (causes cat scratch disease)
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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