Killer Cat Virus Spreading Around Saginaw

[BeatleBoot]

Killer Cat Virus Spreading Around Saginaw
Hundreds Of Cats Dying

<snip>

Animal welfare officials say a preventable viral outbreak sweeping Saginaw County is killing hundreds of cats.

The virus, called panleukopenia, likely killed nearly 800 cats this summer, said Mark Wachner, director of the Animal Care Center.

The disease attacks a cat's white blood cells, making the animal more susceptible to other complications and bacterial infections.



http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/3628472/detail.html

[Bullshot]

1. Bush was just in Saginaw a few days ago.

Knowing him, he'll use this as proof that terrorists are following him by spreading some "cat virus." Keep him in office because those terrorists are always trying to attack this country, its people, and now, its cats. And so are we.

[amazona]

2. folks, keep your cats indoors, thanks !

Statistics show that indoor cats live many years longer than outdoor cats. We had a disease outbreak run like wildfire through the outdoor cats in my neighborhood a few years back. But people never learn. After awhile, they go back to putting their cats outdoors again. I am thinking a disease might be going around here again, because recently this summer, the huge numbers of cats has again dropped severely, although I haven't heard for sure if the cause is disease.

[Lindacooks]

10. You bet!!

The average lifespan for an outdoor cat is 2-3 years.

The average lifespan for an indoor cat is 12-15 years OR MORE.

http://www.wnep.com/global/story.asp?s=479801


That should be argument enough for any cat lover.

[depakid]

18. On the other hand, for the cat

going outside can enrich its life, provided that there's a suitable environment for it. Like people, some cats are more "outdoor" and some are more "indoor." My big old grey cat lived to be 18, and he came and went as he pleased. He would have been miserable indoors (and he would have made us miserable, too).

While it's true that cats are safer indoors, I think life in general is full of risks. I look at my role as a cat owner as someone who looks out for the animal, reduces those risks, makes sure it has its shots and such. Other than that, I prefer to let them do what they like (within reason- no jumping on counters or clawing up the furniture!).

[Lindacooks]

23. I don't care about jumping on counters and scratching

furniture, but I've seen too many dead cats on the side of the road, hit (purposely or not??) by speeding cars to EVER let mine outside. Just because your cat beat the odds does not mean others will - in fact, most won't.

[depakid]

26. As I said "suitable environment"

If you live on or near a heavily travelled street, or if you coyote problem, etc., that's a different story. This cat lived in semi-rural Oregon all his life. He was neutered and didn't wander far from home. Had he lived with me in LA, he would have stayed indoors, whether he liked it or not.

Understand, too that Max weighed about 20 pounds and even though he was sometimes a chump, he was nobody's punk.

[0007]

3. Sounds like Leukemia to me, but what do I know?

I lost a six year old Siamese cat a few years to the disease. It does strike fast.

[kittykitty]

4. Is there a vaccine against it?

[NV1962]

5. According to that quote of the article, yes

<...> "a preventable viral outbreak <...>

[Cooley Hurd]

6. Insert Frist joke here...

[leftchick]

7. Another excellent reason to keep your cat indoors!

I have four indoor cats. :loveya:

[AndyTiedye]

8. MeowMeowMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOW

MeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOW
MeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOW
MeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOW
MeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOW
MeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOW
MeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOW
MeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOWMeowMeowMeowMEOWEOWLETMEOUTMEOWMEOW

Which I believe is catspeak for the sort of liberty vs. security argument that is often made here.

[1monster]

9. I have six cats. Five indoor cats and one who gets hysterical if she

can't spend at least eighteen hours a day outside. :( And she's my favorite cat.

[okasha]

11. Panleukopenia

Panleukopenia is commonly called "feline distemper." It's part of the routine vaccine combo every cat should be getting annually. There are separate shots for feline leukemia and rabies.

Indoor cats can also become infected because the virus is airborne. The best protection is vaccination.

Okasha

[indigobusiness]

13. Thanks, Okasha

Welcome to DU.

[gatlingforme]

16. To all re: Panleukopenia please see the following on how it transmits

entire article:http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/panleukopenia.html
snip



How are Cats Infected with panleukopenia?
Cats must come in contact with the Panleukopenia virus to become infected. This virus must be taken in internally through the eyes, nose or mouth.

Direct Contact: Direct contact is from a sick or active carrier cat directly to another cat, usually once they come in contact with each other. In catteries, multiple cat households and shelters, the chances of this happening are high, and the virus is passed around rapidly. This may happen many times over during the course of infection, so that each time the "other" cat takes in more virus.
Indirect Contact: A cat deposits virus all over other cats, litter pans, furnishings, food and water bowls, the environment in which it lives, through its body secretions (urine, saliva, feces and nasal secretions). This is, by far, the most common way for a cat to become infected with Panleukopenia - a cat comes in contact with virus-contaminated objects and takes in a dose of virus from them, rather than directly from the cat who put it there. People also spread this virus from cat to cat through their hands and clothing. Ectoparasites, such as fleas, can spread the virus when they feed from multiple hosts.
Panleukopenia virus is an extremely hardy virus and survives most temperatures and disinfectants. It is possible for a cat to get infected both directly and indirectly at the same time, but the hardiness of the virus makes both ways equally infective. The cat who is shedding virus could have done so a long time before the next cat comes across it and becomes infected as well.

In-utero: Unborn kittens will be infected from the mother during pregnancy as explained previously.
The worst shedders of viruses are cats/ kittens currently ill with the virus. Due to the ability of the virus to survive so well in extreme temperatures in the environment, the infective secretions from these cats can be present for up to 13 months at ideal (room) temperature. Also, common environmental contamination both indoors and out can be assured due to the resistance of the virus to all disinfectants BUT bleach.
snip

[newyawker99]

17. Hi okasha!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[gatlingforme]

27. Welcome to DU!!!!!! Enjoy...

[ArnoldLayne]

15. I also have 4 cats

but I let them out a little bit, maybe now I shouldn't.:dem:

[RhodaGrits]

12. This virus will sweep through unvaccinated cat populations and young

kittens fairly regularly in all areas of the country. For you dog people, it's very similar to Canine Parvovirus in that it can wipe out their immune system and kill a large % of unprotected animals quickly. As was said in another post, it is part of the regular core feline vaccination series and all cats should be vaccinated for it as kittens several times then a year later then every 1-3 yrs depending on your cat's risk level as determined by your veterinarian.

[peekaloo]

14. Shit. That's probably what my cat died of last weekend.

The vets had NO CLUE what was causing his white blood cells to disappear. After a bone marrow biopsy they suggested he start a series of weekly injections to bolster his white cell output. He died after only three and seemed to go downhill AFTER the injections were started.

I inherited caring for the cat and he hadn't had vaccinations for some time.

Poor Spotty, he lived a long (17 years) and mostly good (outdoor/indoor) life, excepting the past few months. :cry:

p.s. in Central Florida

[okasha]

20. Panleukopenia

Thanks for the welcome, guys! It's appreciated.

Cats are best kept indoors, and all cats should be routinely vaccinated. Very rarely a cat can become infected despite the vaccination; years ago that happened to one of mine, but she had acquired just enough resistance that she did survive with the support of round-the-clock nursing.

Loss of white blood cells can be due to a number of factors, only one of which is panleukopenia. If your cat had bright yellow diarrhea and vomit--one of the colloquial names of the disease is "yellow vomit"--then it may have been panleukopenia. Otherwise, probably not.

Okasha

[kestrel91316]

19. Advice from DU's resident feline veterinarian

Feline panleukopenia (feline "distemper") is caused by a virus. It is a very old disease, nothing new at all. It is NOT the same as feline leukemia virus. The first vaccines developed for cats, probably 50 years ago, were for panleukopenia. The vaccine is extremely safe and extremely effective, and it is cheap. I have NEVER in 22 years of practice, seen panleuk except in completely unvaccinated cats (kittens). This disease is completely preventable, if people would just take their cats to their veterinarian and GET THEM VACCINATED properly. What a tragedy to lose so many animals like this! I suspect a failure to spay/neuter combined with a failure to confine cats indoors for their own safety is a major factor in this mess. Cats who live their lives outdoors live an average of 2 years. Well-cared housecats live an average of 15 years. I sure wish people would be responsible pet owners and get rid of the "but it's just a cat" mentality. Sigh..........

[SoCalDem]

21. The one that always gets me is...

"Cats 'need' to go outside..they are 'free spririts'..hunters"..

Outdoor cats are prey to cars, dogs, mean kids, fleas, illnesses, poisoned food put out by weirdos..

Cats can and DO live very happy and wonderful lives INDOORS..

They do NOT need to hunt...the birds, small rodents and lizards will thank you too.. They deserve a break..

I am a fanatic about this (sorry)..but consider that even though your cat/dog has vestigal instincts, they have the "intelligence" of a toddler.. Would you "let your toddler outside" for the night, and expect him/her to be patiently waiting on your doorstep in the morning??

Whenever I have placed a kitten or puppy, if there is ANY hint that the prospective 'parent' intended an inside/outside life, I will pass..

When we raised a litter of nine registered labs , I refused a sale because the first question the guy asked, was "how soon will she come into heat..and could be bred"...

</soapbox>

[okasha]

22. Cats inside

My 15-year old cat has not been outside except in a carrier on the way to or from the vet for the last 13 years. Before that, he was hit by a car, with the result that both hind legs were broken; his pelvis was crushed; his head was crushed; and he was abandoned at the vet's by a lousy s.o.b. who didn't want to pay his hospital bill. She fixed him anyway, neutered him, oversaw his recuperation and eventually adopted him out to me. He's quite happy to watch the bird feeders through the French doors leading onto the patio and to soak up the attentions of his two "wives." Cats do not need to go outdoors.

Okasha

[sleepyhead]

25. Hi kestrel91316!

Where do you practice? My practice is in Brooklyn, and we had a rash of panleuk cases here about 5-6 years ago, some of whom *were* supposedly vaccinated (but I'm not sure if they got the complete series - some of our rescue organizations are not truly forthcoming about vaccine history). My feeling is, better safe than sorry, especially with younger cats. I would certainly rather give an extra vaccine or 2 than lose a cat to a preventable disease. A 12-year-old cat that has never gone outside (and whose owner is not in the habit of bringing home strays) can go 2-3 years between vaccinations. But that is a decision for the owner and veterinarian to make together, based on the individual cat.

[gatlingforme]

28. Welcome me too!!

[Cronus Protagonist]

24. There IS a God!

Catwoman next on the line...

SHOVE IT! - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - Hero Kerry AWOL Bush
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[gatlingforme]

29. Huh, nice reply, it reminds me of a person who has a Pit Bull who

thought it was soooo funny that her pit killed 5 out of the 6 cats she had.... she actually thought it was funny! But then she goes on to love the breed, not the deed! hmmm, yeah okay.