Feline Panleukopenia Virus

What Is Feline Panleukopenia (FP)?

Feline Panleukopenia is often referred to as feline distemper. FP is highly contagious to cats and can occur wherever cats are present. FP is transmitted from cat to cat by direct contact with the blood, urine, feces, nasal secretions, and even through the fleas of infected cats. The FP virus is very hardy and resistant even to some chemicals. The virus can live at room temperature for as long as one year and can be transmitted from cat to cat by bedding, cages, food and water dishes, and the hands or clothing of people that have come into contact with the virus. The FP virus cannot be transmitted to humans or canids including as domesticated dogs.

What are the symptoms of FP?

The first noticeable signs of FP include lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, high fever, vomiting, dehydration, and hanging over the water dish. The course of this disease is short. Advanced cases can cause death within hours. Signs of the later stages of FP include diarrhea, anemia, and persistent vomiting.

Treatment

Any animal that shows signs of this illness should be taken to a veterinarian immediately. There are no antibiotics that will kill the virus, so the veterinarian is limited to treating the symptoms and combating secondary infections. The veterinarian will also begin supportive therapy to aid the animal in boosting its immune system. Prognosis for young kittens is poor; however, older cats that have built some resistance to the virus have a greater chance of survival. Female cats that contract the disease during pregnancy may give birth to kittens with severe brain damage.

Prevention and protection

Vaccines are available to prevent cats from becoming infected with FP virus. Young kittens will receive antibodies from their mother that should protect them until they begin receiving vaccinations. Kittens will need three boosters of the vaccination spaced one month apart beginning at four to six weeks of age. Adult cats will need an annual vaccination each year to protect them against the disease. Vaccines must be administered before the cat is exposed to the disease for the vaccination to be effective.