Feline panleukopenia (cat parvo): signs, vaccines and keeping your kitten safe

What it is

Feline panleukopenia is caused by feline parvovirus. It attacks the cells that divide fastest in the body: the lining of the gut and the bone marrow, which makes white blood cells. Without enough white blood cells, a cat cannot fight off other infections. It infects cats of any age, but kittens are hit hardest. Sudden death is most often seen in kittens younger than 5 months (Cornell).

How common it is in Bangladesh

Two studies from Dhaka show how often vets here see it:

• Among 129 cats brought to two large pet hospitals in Dhaka, about 1 in 5 (26 of 129) had panleukopenia, more than any other disease studied. Unvaccinated cats were more at risk (Chisty and colleagues, 2020).
• Among 153 cats brought to the Central Veterinary Hospital in Dhaka between July and December 2022, panleukopenia was the most common problem: about 3 in 10 cats (46 of 153), judged by examination, without a lab test. About half the cats in this study had never been vaccinated (Chaudhary and colleagues, 2023).

These figures are for cats that were already sick enough to visit a hospital, not for all cats in Bangladesh. But they show that this is a disease every cat parent here should know about.

Signs to look for

Sick cats are often less than a year old. Look for (Cornell):

• Not eating.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhoea, sometimes with blood.
• Fever.
• Weakness and lack of energy.
• Dehydration: dry gums, sunken eyes.
• A painful belly.
• In young kittens, sudden death, sometimes before any other sign is noticed.

Other illnesses can look similar, so only a vet can tell. Do not wait to see if it passes.

How it spreads

Infected cats shed the virus in their faeces, vomit, urine and nose discharge. It also travels on food bowls, litter trays, bedding, and on people's hands and clothes after they touch a sick cat (Cornell). A cat that never goes outside can still catch it if the virus is brought in.

The virus is very tough. Without proper cleaning, it can survive indoors for many months, up to a year or more (Cornell).

Treatment

There is no medicine that kills the virus. A sick cat needs care from a vet: usually a drip (fluids into a vein), medicine to stop vomiting, nutrition and protection against other infections, often in hospital and kept apart from other cats (Cornell). Cats that survive usually recover within about a week and are then protected for life (Cornell). A recovered cat can pass the virus in its faeces for up to 6 weeks, so keep it away from unvaccinated cats and kittens (Cornell).

Treating at home with medicines from a pharmacy wastes time a kitten does not have. Every hour counts. Never give paracetamol (Napa) or any other human medicine. Paracetamol is poisonous to cats, even in small amounts.

Vaccination protects your cat

The panleukopenia vaccine is a core vaccine, recommended for every cat in every country, including cats that live indoors (WSAVA; Cornell). It is usually given as a combined injection that also protects against two cat flu viruses.

• Kittens: the recommended schedule is an injection every 2 to 4 weeks, starting at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with the last dose at 16 weeks or older (WSAVA). One injection is not enough, because the protection a kitten gets from its mother's milk can block early doses.
• Booster: WSAVA advises one more dose at 6 months of age or later. Some vets give it at about one year instead (Cornell). After that, most adult cats need it about every 3 years; your vet will advise (WSAVA).
• Adopted adult cats and street cats: they need the vaccine too. Ask your vet how many doses.

Clinics in Bangladesh do not all use the same schedule, as it depends on the vaccines they can get. Ask your vet which schedule they use, and keep the vaccine card safe so you know when the next dose is due.

A kitten is not fully protected until the course is finished. Until then, keep it away from unknown cats.

Mother cats and their kittens

If a pregnant cat catches the virus, her kittens can be born with a small, underdeveloped cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. These kittens move unsteadily. The condition does not get worse, it is not contagious and it does not shorten life. Keep these cats indoors (Cornell).

Bringing home a new kitten after a loss

If a cat in your home had panleukopenia:

• Clean off dirt first. Then wipe every surface the sick cat touched with 1 part household bleach to 32 parts water (about 2 tablespoons in 1 litre), and leave it wet for at least 10 minutes (Cornell). Then rinse. Bleach can harm cats and people, so keep pets away until surfaces are rinsed and dry.
• Throw away bedding, toys and scratchers that cannot be cleaned.
• Make sure the new kitten has finished its vaccine course before it lives in that space, if you can.
• Keep any new cat separate until a vet has checked it (Cornell).