In August 2024, kittens in the care of Fulton County Animal Services shelter tested positive for Feline Panleukopenia, a highly contagious disease caused by infection from the Feline Parvovirus (FPV). With 20 to 30 new cats coming into the Fulton County shelter each day, LifeLine is [COLOR=var( --e-global-color-57983087 )]doing everything we can to minimize spread of the illness and place healthy cats and kittens into homes where they belong.[/COLOR]
Nationwide, shelters are struggling with outbreaks of Panleukopenia. To help our community understand what’s happening, our team put together the most important information you should know and how we are addressing the disease at Fulton County Animal Services:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Feline Panleukopenia?
Panleukopenia is a very contagious disease in cats caused by infection with the feline parvovirus (FPV). The most common age range for cats to develop clinical signs of the disease is between 3-5 months old, but kittens of any age can be affected. There is no gender or breed predisposition known. Panleukopenia is a highly contagious virus, so it’s essential to keep your cat away from other cats if they are showing any symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
Most cats with FPV infection have no signs at all and appear normal. Cats that do become ill—most often those younger than a year old—may have the following: diarrhea, vomiting, fever, depression/lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration (can appear as sunken eyes or dry gums), or painful belly.
How is Panleukopenia in cats transmitted and how does it spread?
The Feline Panleukopenia virus is most commonly transmitted through contact with infected feces, either directly or indirectly. The virus is highly stable in the environment and can also be spread through contact with contaminated objects such as bedding, food bowls, or litter pans. Infection occurs when at-risk cats are in contact with viral particles. An infected cat sheds the virus for a day or two. In addition, the virus can be passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy and gestation.
What should I do with my newly adopted cat or kitten when I get home?
If you do not have any cats in your home, proceed as normal. If you have resident cats, you should quarantine your newly adopted cat or kitten to one room for the first 14 days. If your cat or kitten has not shown any signs of illness after 2 weeks, you can proceed as normal with introductions and integration with other cats.
How long can Panleukopenia live in the environment? How do I clean it?
Feline panleukopenia virus can last up to a year in the environment, even in organic material, and is resistant to most disinfectants but it can be killed with bleach ½ cup per gallon (1:32 dilution).
Is it contagious to humans or other species of pets, like dogs?
Dogs are not susceptible to feline panleukopenia. Canine distemper is a different disease caused by another virus. Panleukopenia is not transmissible to humans.
Is Panleukopenia fatal?
This virus can be fatal to cats. Similarly to Fading Kitten Syndrome, your kitten may suddenly display the above symptoms with no warning. If your kitten or cat shows any of the above signs, immediately contact your veterinarian. And, to keep the disease from spreading, keep your cat away from other cats.
What do I do if my pet is exhibiting symptoms?
If your pet is exhibiting symptoms, please call your veterinarian right away. Our shelter clinic hours are 11-4 on weekdays and you do not need an appointment if you feel like your recently adopted cat or kitten needs to be seen. If your cat is doing poorly after hours, please take them to a private veterinarian immediately.
Are kittens and cats living in the shelters being tested for Panleukopenia?
Fulton County Animal Services is testing cats and kittens that appear to be symptomatic. However, tests are a “point in time” mechanism. Because the disease progresses so rapidly, results can change from negative to positive very quickly.
There are currently no positive Feline Panleukopenia cases at the LifeLine Community Animal Center or DeKalb County Animal Services.
Will kittens and cats living in the shelters receive the Panleukopenia vaccine?
All cats that arrive at our shelter receive an FVRCP vaccine upon intake. Vaccinated cats can get feline panleukopenia, but it’s unlikely. Kittens are most at risk for FPV, and adult cats with current vaccinations are at very low risk. Cats that are vaccinated more than two weeks before exposure are also at low risk.
In addition, the vaccine itself, which also requires a subsequent booster, does not provide 100% immunity to its recipient. Immunity takes time to build in their systems. Therefore, following a 14 day quarantine protocol for any cats exposed to Panleukopenia, whether vaccinated or not, is the safest way for them to recover and prevent further spread of the virus.
What's being done to limit exposure of the virus to LifeLine teams and to the public?
When the positive cases were discovered, all families affected were notified including staff, volunteers, and all fosters and adopters that had taken pets into their homes recently. Enhanced safety measures have been implemented for our teams and visitors.
Please follow these guidelines and share this information with fellow cat owners or fosters. If you're in a position to bring home a healthy cat or kitten in need, please connect with the Fulton County Animal Services team. We need your support to save lives.
Get Involved
Updated as of Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
Additional Resources:
ASPCA Pro: https://www.aspcapro.org/topics-shelter-medicine-specific-conditions/feline-panleukopenia
AVMA: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/feline-panleukopenia
The post Feline Panleukopenia in Fulton County: What You Need to Know appeared first on LifeLine Animal Project.
Nationwide, shelters are struggling with outbreaks of Panleukopenia. To help our community understand what’s happening, our team put together the most important information you should know and how we are addressing the disease at Fulton County Animal Services:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Feline Panleukopenia?
Panleukopenia is a very contagious disease in cats caused by infection with the feline parvovirus (FPV). The most common age range for cats to develop clinical signs of the disease is between 3-5 months old, but kittens of any age can be affected. There is no gender or breed predisposition known. Panleukopenia is a highly contagious virus, so it’s essential to keep your cat away from other cats if they are showing any symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
Most cats with FPV infection have no signs at all and appear normal. Cats that do become ill—most often those younger than a year old—may have the following: diarrhea, vomiting, fever, depression/lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration (can appear as sunken eyes or dry gums), or painful belly.
How is Panleukopenia in cats transmitted and how does it spread?
The Feline Panleukopenia virus is most commonly transmitted through contact with infected feces, either directly or indirectly. The virus is highly stable in the environment and can also be spread through contact with contaminated objects such as bedding, food bowls, or litter pans. Infection occurs when at-risk cats are in contact with viral particles. An infected cat sheds the virus for a day or two. In addition, the virus can be passed from mother to fetus during pregnancy and gestation.
What should I do with my newly adopted cat or kitten when I get home?
If you do not have any cats in your home, proceed as normal. If you have resident cats, you should quarantine your newly adopted cat or kitten to one room for the first 14 days. If your cat or kitten has not shown any signs of illness after 2 weeks, you can proceed as normal with introductions and integration with other cats.
How long can Panleukopenia live in the environment? How do I clean it?
Feline panleukopenia virus can last up to a year in the environment, even in organic material, and is resistant to most disinfectants but it can be killed with bleach ½ cup per gallon (1:32 dilution).
Is it contagious to humans or other species of pets, like dogs?
Dogs are not susceptible to feline panleukopenia. Canine distemper is a different disease caused by another virus. Panleukopenia is not transmissible to humans.
Is Panleukopenia fatal?
This virus can be fatal to cats. Similarly to Fading Kitten Syndrome, your kitten may suddenly display the above symptoms with no warning. If your kitten or cat shows any of the above signs, immediately contact your veterinarian. And, to keep the disease from spreading, keep your cat away from other cats.
What do I do if my pet is exhibiting symptoms?
If your pet is exhibiting symptoms, please call your veterinarian right away. Our shelter clinic hours are 11-4 on weekdays and you do not need an appointment if you feel like your recently adopted cat or kitten needs to be seen. If your cat is doing poorly after hours, please take them to a private veterinarian immediately.
Are kittens and cats living in the shelters being tested for Panleukopenia?
Fulton County Animal Services is testing cats and kittens that appear to be symptomatic. However, tests are a “point in time” mechanism. Because the disease progresses so rapidly, results can change from negative to positive very quickly.
There are currently no positive Feline Panleukopenia cases at the LifeLine Community Animal Center or DeKalb County Animal Services.
Will kittens and cats living in the shelters receive the Panleukopenia vaccine?
All cats that arrive at our shelter receive an FVRCP vaccine upon intake. Vaccinated cats can get feline panleukopenia, but it’s unlikely. Kittens are most at risk for FPV, and adult cats with current vaccinations are at very low risk. Cats that are vaccinated more than two weeks before exposure are also at low risk.
In addition, the vaccine itself, which also requires a subsequent booster, does not provide 100% immunity to its recipient. Immunity takes time to build in their systems. Therefore, following a 14 day quarantine protocol for any cats exposed to Panleukopenia, whether vaccinated or not, is the safest way for them to recover and prevent further spread of the virus.
What's being done to limit exposure of the virus to LifeLine teams and to the public?
When the positive cases were discovered, all families affected were notified including staff, volunteers, and all fosters and adopters that had taken pets into their homes recently. Enhanced safety measures have been implemented for our teams and visitors.
HOW TO HELP
Please follow these guidelines and share this information with fellow cat owners or fosters. If you're in a position to bring home a healthy cat or kitten in need, please connect with the Fulton County Animal Services team. We need your support to save lives.
Get Involved
Updated as of Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
Additional Resources:
ASPCA Pro: https://www.aspcapro.org/topics-shelter-medicine-specific-conditions/feline-panleukopenia
AVMA: https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/feline-panleukopenia
The post Feline Panleukopenia in Fulton County: What You Need to Know appeared first on LifeLine Animal Project.