How Ted Nugent Came Up With “Cat Scratch Fever”

One of the best song titles ever is Cat Scratch Fever...the words seem to fit together perfectly. So perfect, that it became a huge hit for Ted Nugent back in 1977.

No, Ted did not make up the phrase. I heard many years ago after the song came out that there was a real condition by that name that people could catch. That was it. I didn’t know whether to believe that statement or not. So I recently searched for a definitive answer.

In an interview with Ted on Ultimate Classic Rock via Songfacts.com, "I had seen a medical journal back in 1975, I opened it up and at the top, it said, 'cat scratch fever.' I'd never heard of that before. What's that? So later on, that lick was cataloged in my memory bank. I went, 'Cat Scratch Fever!' and I had fun with the lyrics."

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Upon doing research on what ‘Cat Scratch Fever really is, I found out it’s a real illness that is caused by a bacteria called Bartonella Henselae. Conditions include swollen lymph nodes, bumps on your skin, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and muscle & bone aches. Not only can someone get it from a cat scratch, but also if a cat licks one of your open wounds or bites you.

But it usually affects kids under the age of 15.

Of course, the song Ted sings is not about a medical condition.....it’s about sex, and the ‘cats’ he sings about are the ladies.

Cat Scratch Fever was Ted’s third solo album, and from here on out he sang lead on his songs himself. The first two albums featured different vocalists, as Ted was more intent on delivering searing guitar.