Signs And Symptoms Of Feline Distemper

Feline distemper is a dangerous cat viral infection that is preventable. This condition is sometimes called feline panleukopenia or feline panleuk. The feline distemper virus is related to the virus that causes distemper in dogs.

People may mistakenly think that the name distemper means that the cat disease causes aggression or changes the cats temperament. Two common signs of feline distemper are vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms of feline distemper include abdominal pain and hunched posture.

Feline distemper causes an extreme drop in the number of white blood cells. Cats with feline distemper may have a high fever.

Cats infected with feline distemper often become depressed and lose their appetites. They may stop grooming themselves. The third eyelid may become more noticeable in the corner of the eye.

Feline distemper is highly contagious. It is transmitted from cat to cat by shared litter boxes, fleas, shared food or water bowls, mutual grooming, or shared bedding.

If a person handles a cat with feline distemper and then handles a non-infected cat, the non-infected cat can become infected. Kittens can acquire feline distemper from their mothers before birth.

Though kittens born to mothers with the antibodies have a natural immunity to the virus that causes feline distemper, this immunity is temporary. The temporary immunity to feline distemper lasts about eight weeks. In order to be protected, the kitten needs to receive the appropriate vaccines.

If a cat has feline distemper, it is at risk of dying from the disease unless the cats immune system can fight off the viral infection. The only treatment for feline distemper treats the diarrhea and vomiting but it does not fight the viral infection.

All surfaces in an area where a cat with feline distemper has been need to be disinfected with a bleach and water solution. If not thoroughly disinfected, the surfaces can remain contaminated with the virus that causes feline distemper for years.

Related posts:

1. Ways To Prevent Common Dog Illnesses
2. What Is Feline Coccidia?
3. Canine Parvo
4. Preventing Common Dog Illnesses
5. Prevention Of Common Dog Illnesses

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