Protect Your Cats!

While flu season is beginning to approach us humans, cats around the world have been showing signs of a deadly virus of their own. From the United States to the United Kingdom, Feline Panleukopenia virus is spreading and killing cats. Five cats in an animal shelter have died recently in Cleveland from what is believed to be Feline Panleukopenia Virus. Feline Panleukopenia Virus is in the feline parvoviridae family This virus shows similar signs as that of K9 Parvovirus, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures (1). 

An outbreak of the same virus has been reported recently in the United Kingdom in various shelters, killing upwards of 30 cats. The virus is spread most commonly through infected feces and fluids. It "can survive in the environment for up to a year", according to Joanna Szkutnicki, a clinician at one of the effected shelters (2). These two instances suggest even further the importance of vaccinating your cats as well as your dogs as this virus can be deadly in both animals. There are no signs of transmission to humans. 

Sources: 

1: http://www.cleveland19.com/story/36598464/5-cats-dead-after-feline-virus-outbreak 

2: http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/deadly-cat-virus-outbreak-midlands-631490

-Alexandra Ulmer