Nugent sang lead on this - something he didn't do early in his career. Cat Scratch Fever was Nugent's third album, and featured vocal contributions from Derek St. Holmes, who also sang on Nugent's first album before being replaced by Meat Loaf for the second: Free For All. St. Holmes left for good after this album, as Nugent realized singing the songs himself was the best way to command the most attention.
Cat Scratch Fever is a real condition: it's an infectious disease caused by a cat scratch that usually affects young children. Nugent, however, changes the meaning to make it much more lustful, with the "cats" being women. The song is about sex and his rampant desire for it, or put more succinctly by Nugent, it's "about pussy."
Regarding his songwriting technique, Nugent says he keeps a notebook with song titles and lyric ideas, and he writes music in his dressing room before shows. When he plays his guitar and some music comes out that fits one of his titles, he puts them together and works on the song.
Lyrics
Well, I don't know where they come from but they sure do come I hope they comin' for me And I don't know how they do it but they sure do it good I hope they're doin' it for free They give me cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever Well, the first time that I got it I was just ten years old I got it from some kitty next door An' I went to see the doctor and he gave me the cure I think I got it some more They give me cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever I got a bad scratch fever The cat scratch fever It's nothin' dangerous I feel no pain I've got the choo-choo train You know you got it when you, you're going insane It makes a grown man cry, cry, oh won't you make my bed Well, I make the pussy purr with the stroke of my hand They know they gettin' it from me They know just where to go when they need their lovin' man They know I'm doin' it for free I give them cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever They got a bad scratch fever The cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever Cat scratch fever
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