Threat under cats' claws: Molecular detection and risk factors for zoonotic Bartonella species in blood and claw samples from cats in Brazil

•First molecular study of Bartonella sp. in cats from Bahia state, northeastern Brazil.•First study carried out in Brazil that investigated Bartonella DNA in cats’ claws.•Bartonella spp. was detected in blood and claws from cats from the southern Bahia.•Bartonella henselae, B. clarridgieae and B. koehlerae were detected in cat´s claws.•Cats with Bartonella spp. showed no significant clinical or hematological disorders.