Has Your Cat Been Vaccinated Against Panleukopenia? - A Highly Contagious Viral Disease of Cats and Kittens

Panleukopenia, pronounced “pan-loo-koh-PEE-nee-ah” is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cats, kittens, raccoons, and mink. The panleukopenia virus tends to invade cells which are rapidly growing such as those of the digestive system, bone marrow, lymph tissue, and developing nervous system. This explains the common symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, low white blood cell count, and seizures. A vaccine is available to protect against the disease.

Cats are infected oronasally by exposure to infected animals, their secretions, or fomites.  Most free-roaming cats are exposed to the virus during their first year of life.

The feline panleukopenia virus (FVP) is extremely hardy and may survive for months, and even years. It is easily transmitted through contact, either cat-to-cat, or by human-to-cat :

• In utero, from an infected queen
• hands, clothing, and shoes
• shared food and water bowls, litter pans, bedding
• mutual grooming
• fleas, during the active stage
• human handling can transfer the FVP virus from one cat to another.

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