Westland Animal Ambulance warns of cat disease outbreak

Cat fever, also known as feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), causes severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and dehydration and can often be fatal. According to Utrecht University, the Dutch Stray Cat Foundation is seeing an increase in cat fever in unvaccinated stray cats. Michelle van Leeuwen, a veterinarian at the Dutch Stray Cat Foundation, has diagnosed feline tuberculosis in stray cats at five locations in the Netherlands, including the southern Netherlands. “This is remarkably early in the year,” van Leeuwen said.

Cat fever, also known as feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), causes severe symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and dehydration and can often be fatal. According to Utrecht University, the Dutch Stray Cat Foundation is seeing an increase in cat fever in unvaccinated stray cats. Michelle van Leeuwen, a veterinarian at the Dutch Stray Cat Foundation, has diagnosed feline tuberculosis in stray cats at five locations in the Netherlands, including the southern Netherlands. “This is remarkably early in the year,” van Leeuwen said.

Westland Animal Ambulance is warning cat owners in the area of ​​a possible cat disease outbreak. The warning comes after a news report from Utrecht University on July 1, which also reported an outbreak of the virus in the southern Netherlands, in the areas of Schoonhoven and Gouda.

The disease occurs regularly in stray and shelter cats, while adequately vaccinated domestic cats are usually protected. “This gives the false impression that feline fever does not occur frequently,” the university warns. Domestic cats that go outside and are not adequately vaccinated are particularly at risk. The virus can enter the environment through feces and remains infectious for a long time.

Vaccinate

Therefore, the advice for cat owners is to vaccinate their pets. After vaccination, good and long-lasting protection against this deadly virus is usually built up. Owners are advised to contact their veterinarian for vaccination advice.

To better map the spread of the disease in cats, Utrecht University is asking veterinarians to record cases of cat disease in a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. This system helps monitor the disease and other infectious diseases in cats in the Netherlands.