Cat owners warned about contagious virus

VICTORIAN cat and kitten owners have been urged to take immediate action to protect their pet against a highly contagious feline virus to stop it spreading across the state.

The Victorian Division of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) and RSPCA Victoria has called on all cat owners to ensure their pets are receiving all necessary vaccinations, including booster vaccinations for kittens.

The warning comes amid multiple confirmed cases of the panleukopenia virus in stray kittens from the greater Melbourne metropolitan area.

Feline panleukopenia is highly contagious and difficult to control. The faeces, urine, saliva or vomit of an infected cat – along with contaminated surfaces – are all sources of transmission. The virus causes a severe and often fatal gastroenteritis. The virus is not contagious to humans or any other animals, but it can be spread to other cats through the clothing and shoes of handlers or owners of infected animals.

AVA president Dr Paula Parker said routine vaccination of cats and kittens had seen the panleukopenia become an uncommon disease in recent years.

“Vaccination provides high immunity, which is why these recent confirmed cases of panleukopenia are cause for concern – and action.

“It typically takes two days for an infected cat or kitten to become symptomatic, so the risk of transmission is extremely high. Signs include diarrhoea, lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting and dehydration.

“We suggest all cats be routinely vaccinated each year with the F3 vaccination. Vaccines prevent your cat from becoming ill and help to stop the spread of disease.”

RSPCA Victoria chief executive officer Dr Liz Walker said all cats available for adoption through its animal care centres were fully vaccinated. Kittens, aged less than four months, require a final vaccination booster around 16 weeks of age.

“All animals adopted through RSPCA Victoria have been health checked, vaccinated, desexed and microchipped,” Dr Walker said.

“Our concern is for the hundreds of stray kittens that are brought into our care each year. The majority of these kittens haven’t yet been vaccinated and may have been exposed to the panleukopenia virus among a colony of stray cats.”

Anyone whose animal shows symptoms of illness should seek the advice of a veterinarian.