Dronten – The deadly feline disease is roaming in Dronten. The Cat Shelter warns Swifterbant, Dronten, Biddinghuizen and Urk about this. Recently, a number of kittens have been introduced that suffer from the disease. Vets also warn against spreading the disease.
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Contagious virus
The feline disease is caused by the parvovirus. It occurs mainly in kittens and is highly contagious and often fatal. Infected animals spread the virus through the faeces. A kitten can become infected through contact with a sick animal, a recently recovered animal or an infected and not disinfected area. The virus can also be transmitted through clothing and hands of owners and carers. This allows the virus to be transmitted from outside to inside.
It can also survive in contaminated sources for a long time, from months to years, as it is resistant to most disinfectants. After an infection, a cat can quickly become ill. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and high fever. In more than four out of five cases, the cat dies afterwards. There is no treatment once a cat is infected. Kittens can be vaccinated against the disease. Once they are adults, this vaccination must be repeated every three years. Cats vaccinated against sneezing and feline diseases are well protected against the virus.
Keeping Cats Inside
The animal shelter and the vets warn Drontense cat owners about the disease. The animal shelter advises cat owners to let their pets in for the time being and if they have not yet been vaccinated, have them done so immediately.
The cat disease appears more often in the Netherlands. Only when 70 percent of cats have been vaccinated against the disease, it hardly stands any chance of spreading. Recently, the disease has also been diagnosed in cats in Harderwijk and Ermelo.
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