Feline distemper is sometimes called feline panleukopenia or feline panleuk. The virus that causes feline distemper is similar to the one that causes distemper in dogs. This preventable cat disease can be fatal.
People may mistakenly think that the name distemper means that the cat disease causes aggression or changes the cats temperament. Two common signs of feline distemper are vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms of feline distemper include abdominal pain and hunched posture.
Feline distemper causes an extreme drop in the number of white blood cells. Cats with feline distemper may have a high fever.
Depression and loss of appetite are common symptoms of feline distemper. Cats infected with feline distemper may stop grooming themselves. The haw, or third eyelid, may be able to be seen in the corner of the eye.
Feline distemper is highly contagious. It is transmitted from cat to cat by shared litter boxes, fleas, shared food or water bowls, mutual grooming, or shared bedding.
Feline distemper can be spread by human contact between infected and non-infected cats. Kittens may get the disease from their mothers before they are born.
Kittens born to mothers with the antibodies for feline distemper are temporarily protected from the disease. The temporary immunity lasts up to ten weeks. Kittens need to be vaccinated for this cat disease to have ongoing protection.
Treatment for feline distemper is focused on alleviating the vomiting and diarrhea. There is no treatment to get rid of the virus. For the cat to survive, the cats immune system must fight off the infection.
All surfaces in an area where a cat with feline distemper has been need to be disinfected with a bleach and water solution. If not thoroughly disinfected, the surfaces can remain contaminated with the virus that causes feline distemper for years.
People may mistakenly think that the name distemper means that the cat disease causes aggression or changes the cats temperament. Two common signs of feline distemper are vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms of feline distemper include abdominal pain and hunched posture.
Feline distemper causes an extreme drop in the number of white blood cells. Cats with feline distemper may have a high fever.
Depression and loss of appetite are common symptoms of feline distemper. Cats infected with feline distemper may stop grooming themselves. The haw, or third eyelid, may be able to be seen in the corner of the eye.
Feline distemper is highly contagious. It is transmitted from cat to cat by shared litter boxes, fleas, shared food or water bowls, mutual grooming, or shared bedding.
Feline distemper can be spread by human contact between infected and non-infected cats. Kittens may get the disease from their mothers before they are born.
Kittens born to mothers with the antibodies for feline distemper are temporarily protected from the disease. The temporary immunity lasts up to ten weeks. Kittens need to be vaccinated for this cat disease to have ongoing protection.
Treatment for feline distemper is focused on alleviating the vomiting and diarrhea. There is no treatment to get rid of the virus. For the cat to survive, the cats immune system must fight off the infection.
All surfaces in an area where a cat with feline distemper has been need to be disinfected with a bleach and water solution. If not thoroughly disinfected, the surfaces can remain contaminated with the virus that causes feline distemper for years.
About the Author:
Moses Wright is a big lover of cats. He set up this site to help fellow cat lovers with their cat health questions and provide more info on common cat illnesses symptoms.
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