Wild Cats in Latin America Face Threat from Domestic Pet Diseases

Veterinarian Andrés Bräutigam, who works at a rescue centre in San Isidro de Heredia, Costa Rica, treated a rescued margay (Leopardus wiedii) that had been chased by dogs, beaten by a local resident and then taken to the centre. In addition to its injuries, the animal was found to be infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), diseases common in domestic cats.

Conservationists say the transmission of such diseases from pets to wild felids is an emerging concern across Latin America. Jim Sanderson, founder of the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation and member of the IUCN Felid Specialist Group, called it “the silent killer, most serious, widespread and devastating” for wild felids.

The case highlights how expanding human settlements and interactions between domestic animals and wildlife increase the risk of disease spill‑over, threatening the survival of small wild cat populations in the region.