Tara Murray
Cat owners in Melbourne’s north-west are being reminded to make sure that their cats and kittens are fully vaccinated following more than 50 kittens dying across Melbourne from a Feline Parvovirus (Parvo) outbreak.
Paws For A Purpose (PFAP) chief executive and veterinarian, Dr Mark Kelman said that local vets and cat rescue groups have reported deaths from the virus in a number of areas including Deer Park, Altona, Point Cook and Newport in the past month.
Dr Kelman said Feline Parvo is a highly infectious and devastating disease that can kill both kittens and adult cats, with unvaccinated felines at a higher risk of catching the disease.
Signs of Parvo disease in cats and kittens include lethargy, inappetence, diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, and immune-suppression.
“This current outbreak has been especially deadly with near 100 per cent fatality in the last month,” Dr Kelman said.
“Kittens can die as quickly as in 24 hours, often without even showing any clinical signs first.
“What is most worrying about this recent outbreak is the number of kittens affected in such a short time.
“Although most cases in December were in rescue kittens, it is highly likely the virus is circulating in cat populations across Melbourne and pet cats – especially kittens – are at a high risk of the disease if they are not fully vaccinated.”
The origin of the outbreak is unknown, however, it is suspected that kittens brought in from regional areas may have seeded this latest outbreak.
Dr Kelman said there was concerns that vaccination rates in cats and kittens across Melbourne may have dropped in the past 12 months, due to the COVID lockdowns.
