Feline Distemper

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bearclaw@cruller.invalid - 20 Jul 2005 16:39 GMT

Hello. Perhaps many cat people already know this, but I just found out that
feline distemper is carried by many wild animals and easily communicated to
domestic cats.

If you are feeding cats outdoors, you may also attract raccoon, skunk,
weasels, minks, ferrets and other less common members of the "mustelidae"
family such as badgers.

Many feral colony caretakers and rural families see no problem with these
wild animals tranquilly sharing the cats' food. Some folks even hope to
attract them. But these animals are even more susceptible to contracting and
transmitting the extremely contagious disease, feline distemper-- also known
as feline panleukopenia, cat plague and cat fever.

Feline distemper is often lethal to housecats, especially kittens and younger
cats. Once infected, they are just as contagious as any of their wild
cousins. The disease can be spread by flies and fleas, as well as the
intestinal waste of infected animals.

If you are feeding domestic or feral cats in situations where they share
ground with any of the above-mentioned animals, I urge you to do whatever it
takes to vaccinate the cats against feline panleukopenia. You can't do much
to help the wild animals, but you can get cats--feral or domesticated--
vaccinated.

There are dozens of site on the web where you can confirm and expand upon the
information I offer here. Simply Google the words "feline distemper".

Remember, there is no cure once the cat is infected. Some few will recover,
but they will then shed the virus in their secreted and excreted waste for
months, and so continue to threaten other exposed animals. The only possible
containment of this disease is responsible human custodial behavior.

Immunization through vaccination works.

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Jason and Holly Harper - 20 Jul 2005 18:42 GMT

Just a bit of a correction for you. You're not likely to find a feral
ferret, and if you do there's no way it will be carrying feline distemper.
They're only capable of getting canine distemper. I did read the DNR report
but I can tell you that we do not vaccinate for feline distemper in our
ferrets....only canine. I don't know why they're included in the list other
than to include every mustelid. FWIW, raccoons are Procyonidae.

Holly

> Hello. Perhaps many cat people already know this, but I just found out
> that
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
>
> Immunization through vaccination works.

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Akira - 23 Jul 2005 07:51 GMT

> Hello. Perhaps many cat people already know this, but I just found out that
> feline distemper is carried by many wild animals and easily communicated to
> domestic cats.
> ...

I think bearclaw makes a very good point that panleukopenia (a.k.a. feline
distemper) is a very serious, highly contageous disease for cats, and that
it could be potentially be caught from some of the common wild animals.

And I agree that it's never a good idea to mix domestic cats with wild or
feral animals! Aside from panleukopenia, wild animals may physically attack
cats, and could be carrying other uncommon, but very serious diseases such
as rabies.

But to say "there is no cure once the cat is infected" with panleukopenia
may be stretching its seriousness a bit, and I wish to point this out in
case anyone is currently dealing with cats diagnosed with panleukopenia.

As serious a disease panleukopenia/feline distemper is, many cats do
survive its infection. In fact it is thought that most cases of
panleukopenia infection actually go undetected, without producing obvious
clinical signs. Read some short excerpts below from Merck Veterinary Manual
9th edition [p636, Feline Panleukopenia - Merck Veterinary Manual, 9th ed.]

"Clinical Findings: Most infections are subclinical, as evidenced by the
high seroprevalence of anti-FPV [Feline Panleukopenia Virus] antibodies
among unvaccinated, healthy cats. Those that become ill are usually <1 yr
old...."

"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. Those that develop subclinical infection
or survive acute illness mount a robust, long-lasting, protective immune
response."

Also, while this is a much minor point, I have never heard or read anywhere
that panleukopenia is a known arthropod-born disease. (You wrote: "The
disease can be spread by flies and fleas...") While it _might_ be possible,
I think it is highly unlikely in real life. Just a nitpicking. (No pan
intended! :-)

Here are a few links on panleukopenia

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/panleukopenia.html
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/56700.htm
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/1,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-26505--,00.html

Incidentally, the common name "feline distemper" is rather misleading
because it might be mistakenly thought that it is related to canine
distemper virus, which it isn't at all. "Feline distemper" virus is closely
related to some strains of canine _parvovirus_ as well as mink enteritis
virus.

Anyway, so yes, most definitely, do not mix your cats with wild animals!

:-)

-Akira
www.californiagull.com

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Akira - 23 Jul 2005 17:51 GMT

> ...
> Also, while this is a much minor point, I have never heard or read anywhere
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/56700.htm
> http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/1,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-26505--,00.html

Well... actually I just noticed that one of the links I MYSELF listed
mentions:

"Ectoparasites, such as fleas, can spread the virus when they feed from
multiple hosts."

(So much for "never heard or read anywhere...")

One demerit against myself! Sorry folks.

-Akira

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bearclaw@cruller.invalid - 24 Jul 2005 03:29 GMT

Thanks to all who offered corrections and/or clarification to my original
post.

I was shocked to read the info on panleukopenia, and wanted to make sure
others knew of the risk. I should have expected to find better knowledge in
these groups. You are a great bunch.

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tsr3 - 23 Jul 2005 22:41 GMT

I just wanted to confirm what Akira said--cats can survive
panleukopenia. Last year, my husband and I adopted a 10 month old cat
from PetSmart. Three days later, our vet diagnosed her with
panleukopenia. Lilo almost died--she was under intensive medical care
for a solid week--but she did pull through, and is now a happy, healthy
little cat. She is our miracle babe. :)--becky

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Trish - 23 Jul 2005 22:48 GMT

> I just wanted to confirm what Akira said--cats can survive
> panleukopenia. Last year, my husband and I adopted a 10 month old cat
> from PetSmart. Three days later, our vet diagnosed her with
> panleukopenia. Lilo almost died--she was under intensive medical care
> for a solid week--but she did pull through, and is now a happy, healthy
> little cat. She is our miracle babe. :)--becky

Cool :)

May she be happy and healthy for many many many more years

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Cheryl - 24 Jul 2005 00:12 GMT

> I just wanted to confirm what Akira said--cats can survive
> panleukopenia. Last year, my husband and I adopted a 10 month
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> now a happy, healthy little cat. She is our miracle babe.
> :)--becky

True! I've seen some survive, even tiny kittens that you'd think
were goners. The good thing is that I believe they are immune for
life if they've successfully beat it. :)

Signature

Cheryl

"The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited
breath."
- W.C. Fields

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