What is it and what do you need to know?
We recently received a message to take in a cat that vets and shelters would not accept.
Sadly like 99% of requests for help we receive we've had to say no, but not for the reasons the vets and shelters provided.
Why wouldn't they accept the cat? It was found in an area known to have an outbreak of Feline Panleukopenia.
Also known as "cat parvo" (as well as Feline Infectious Enteritis and Feline Distemper), Feline Panleukopenia is a highly contagious and resilient virus. It's a virus that has significant impact to young kittens (4-20 weeks), and also affects immunocompromised cats and, unvaccinated cats. Cats that contract the virus while pregnant are far more likely to give birth to kittens that are neuro-affected.
Feline Parvovirus attacks rapidly dividing cells. In cats, we see gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well as difficulty or refusal to eat or drink. It also attacks the immune system by targeting bone marrow and diminishes the white blood cell count the cat needs to fight off the virus. Additionally, it kills the red blood cells that carry oxygen around the cat's body.
If you're lucky you may see some of the above mentioned symptoms and act quickly enough to get your cat to the vet. In a number of cases there are no symptoms at all and you may not be aware your cat was sick until you find it passed away. There is no direct treatment for this virus. A cat can only survive through supportive care and a bit of luck.
The cats you see in the photos had feline panleukopenia. Five sisters handed over into rescue care at 4 weeks of age. They already had the virus. One week later, only four of them were lucky enough to have survived.
The mortality rate for this virus is estimated to be between 80-95%. The prevention rate for this virus is 100% with vaccination.
Cats shed the virus through faeces, urine and droplets from nasal secretions. It can contaminate everything it touches, even you and as a hardy virus it can survive in some environments for up to 12 months. There are ways to kill it, but the best message is how to prevent the spread.
VACCINATE YOUR CATS!
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