Feline plague is a zoonotic infectious disease. The source of infection is usually various diseased rodents or domestic or wild cats. The main cause of human infection with the disease is cats, so everyone All pet owners should pay attention to this disease. ​​​​​​

Feline plague is an uncommon infection caused by the anaerobic facultative, Gram-negative bacilli of the genus Yersinia pestis or Yersinia pestis. This bacterial organism has been present as bacteremia in a variety of rodents, including prairie rats, for nearly a century. Although infection in domestic animals is uncommon, both domestic and wild cats are susceptible to Yersinia pestis infection, and cats have been documented as a source of human infection, so feline plague is considered an important zoonotic disease. Dogs can also be infected, but are less susceptible than cats.

Transmission between susceptible hosts is mainly through flea bites, contact with broken skin or infectious droplets emitted by animals with pneumonic feline plague.