08/29/2026
🚨WHAT IS PANLEUKOPENIA?
Feline panleukopenia, sometimes called feline distemper or parvo, is a highly contagious and most often deadly viral disease in cats. It is caused by feline parvovirus and can spread incredibly easily between cats. 🐈
It is especially dangerous to kittens, unvaccinated cats, and cats with weakened immune systems, and cats can become critically ill very quickly.
Symptoms can include:
• Severe lethargy or weakness
• Not eating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever or low body temperature
• Dehydration
• Sudden decline or death
Most kittens/cats are found extremely weak or deceased before anyone even realizes how sick they were.
‼️THIS VIRUS IS EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS AMONG CATS!!!!
It is spread through infected bodily fluids, f***s, contaminated objects and environments. People can unknowingly carry the virus from one place to another on hands, shoes, clothing, carriers, food dishes, bedding, traps, cages, and more.
This virus is very serious and can survive in the environment for a very long time, which is one reason outbreaks can be so difficult to control.
PANLEUKOPENIA IS NOT A HUMAN DISEASE.
People cannot become infected with feline panleukopenia. Also, your dog cannot become infected with panleukopenia from your cat. Humans can carry this virus on their hands, shoes, clothing, etc. and unknowingly expose another cat.
Please make sure their vaccinations are current, especially their FVRCP vaccine, which protects against panleukopenia.
Keep your cats indoors and do not allow them to interact with unknown or sick cats. This will not always prevent the spreading of the virus since we can carry it indoors to them; however, it's definitely a starting point.
Do not share food bowls, water bowls, litter boxes, carriers, traps, bedding, or other supplies between unfamiliar cats without proper disinfection. The best bowls, litter boxes, etc. are stainless steel since the plastic ones can hold the virus in the deep scratched areas from a cats claws.
If you have been handling an outdoor cat, sick cat, or anything potentially contaminated, wash your hands thoroughly and change/disinfect contaminated shoes and clothing before handling your own cats.
If your cat suddenly stops eating, becomes extremely lethargic, begins vomiting, has diarrhea, or simply seems severely unwell, contact a veterinarian immediately. ‼️DO NOT WAIT‼️
Please take this seriously!!
Please protect your cats!!
And PLEASE SHARE this with anyone you know — especially colony caretakers, people who feed outdoor cats, and families with unvaccinated cats or kittens.
This information could quite literally save lives. 🐾
