09/25/2025
Unfortunately we have gotten reports of cats suddenly dying in Osawatomie. Originally people in 1 neighborhood suspected someone was poisoning the cats but after reaching out to us when 2 colonies over 25 cats had passed away and described symptoms I realized Panleukopenia was the more likely cause. Reports started spreading quickly and several cats have been taken to the vet sick and confirmed to have passed away with the Panleukopenia diagnoses. This virus also commonly referred to as either Parvo or Distemper is a fast acting virus that often kills. It most often effects young kittens and unvaccinated cats.
Here are symptoms to watch for.
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Fever
Depression/lethargy
Loss of appetite
Dehydration (may appear as sunken eyes or dry gums)
Painful belly
If you suspect your cat has panleukopenia its best to get them to the vet ASAP. Some may survive with quick intervention.
What can I do to protect my cat?
Vaccination is very important to help protect your cat. If you cat has never been vaccinated or is overdue for their vaccines you may contact your vet to update their vaccines.
Other ways to prevent infection include:
Avoid contact with known infected cats and their premises.
Keep your cat indoors to reduce the risk of exposure to potentially infected cats.
Wash or sanitize your hands after handling other cats, especially if they appear sick.
Avoid sharing toys, food bowls, and other items between your cat and those of unknown health or vaccination status.
When bringing a new cat or kitten into a home where other cats live, keep the new animal separated until your veterinarian has had a chance to examine the newcomer and they've received their necessary vaccines.
Keep sick cats away from other cats, and disinfect possible FPV-contaminated surfaces with a 1:32 dilution of household bleach (1/2 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water) applied for at least 10 minutes.
Incubation period:
Our vet office has told us that typical incubation period is 3-7 days from suspect exposure. If you suspect your cat has been exposed keep it isolated from other cats till the incubation period has passed. Vaccinated animals can on rare occasions become ill and transfer the illness. However typically is not deadly and much more mild in vaccinated animals.
How is feline panleukopenia spread?
Infected cats can pass FPV in their f***s (stool) and body fluids like urine and nasal secretions. Susceptible cats may become infected when they contact these substances, the infected cats themselves, or even fleas from infected cats. Infected, pregnant cats can also pass the virus to their unborn kittens.
Other possible sources of infection are virus-contaminated items like these:
Bedding
Litter boxes
Cages
Food and water bowls
Toys
Hands or clothing of people who have handled infected cats
How long does Panleukopenia stay in its environment?
We asked our vet this question and she stated it can stay in the outside environment for up to a year. Freezing temperatures can cause the virus to go dormant for a short time but once thawed can/will become active again. It IS possible for the virus to be tracked inside on shoes, other animals etc.
What if I can't afford to vaccinate my animal at the vet?
There are sometimes low cost clinics, you may also purchase the cat FVRCP vaccine at many farm stores and give the shot in home. However ensure you keep it cold during transport home and inject correctly. If you need further assistance please feel free to reach out to us for further guidance.
Some info in this post was taken from https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/feline-panleukopenia
