Several dozen cats and kittens have died of feline panleukopenia in recent weeks in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of eastern Quebec. The Hôpital vétérinaire de Rivière-du-Loup went public with a warning on 14 October, calling the scale of the outbreak "exceptional." The outbreak is ongoing.

What happened

Panleukopenia, sometimes called feline distemper or feline typhus, is a highly contagious virus that can kill cats, especially kittens and cats that haven't been vaccinated. Vets do see occasional cases in the area. What's different this time, veterinarian Dr. Heidi Pomerleau told Le Soleil, is that there are several separate clusters of infection, which has let the virus spread further than usual.

Dr. Pomerleau said that in some circumstances more than 90% of infected kittens die. Neither the hospital nor the news reports have given an exact count of sick or dead animals.

How it spreads

This is the part that catches owners out. The virus passes directly from cat to cat, but it also travels on objects: bowls, bedding, clothes, hands and shoes. According to the veterinary hospital, it can survive in the environment for more than a year.

That means an indoor cat isn't automatically safe. If you've visited a home with an infected kitten, you could carry the virus back in on your shoes.

Why it matters beyond Quebec

Panleukopenia isn't unique to Quebec; it's the disease the core cat vaccines protect against in many countries, including across Europe. The Quebec vets' warning is a useful reminder for owners anywhere: kittens and unvaccinated cats are most at risk, and a new kitten from a place where nobody knows the animals' health can bring the virus home with it.

What vets are advising

The Rivière-du-Loup hospital and Dr. Pomerleau gave owners clear steps:

  • Make sure your cat is properly vaccinated. Dr. Pomerleau called vaccination the main weapon against the disease. Ask your vet whether your cat's shots are up to date.
  • For now, think carefully before adopting an unvaccinated cat or kitten from a place where the animals' health is unknown.
  • Keep any new cat apart from your other cats for at least 14 days, with its own bowls, litter box and bedding.
  • Leave your shoes outside when you come home, especially after visiting a home with a kitten.
  • Watch for sudden tiredness, loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea.
  • If you see those signs, call your vet before you go in, so the clinic can prepare and keep other patients safe.

We can't diagnose any cat from a list of symptoms, and neither can you. If your cat seems unwell, talk to your vet.

What happens next

The hospital is asking the public to stay vigilant, and it hasn't said when it expects the outbreak to ease. If you live in the region and you feed stray or community cats, or you're about to take in a kitten, talk to a local vet or rescue about vaccination first.

Sources