It has been an exhausting and sad weekend. A six-week old kitten who came into my care, who tested negative for FeLV and FIV, who was seemingly healthy, failed rapidly and disastrously, and died this afternoon. Three veterinarians working on him could not find a conclusive cause, although one thought it might have been feline panleukopenia, AKA feline infectious enteritis, distemper, or parvovirus. I only knew Simon for three days, but already he had worked his way into my heart. I was hoping that I would be reporting on the antics of our new family member to you all as soon as his quarantine was ended. Instead, I have to bring you sad news.

Very young kittens are fragile creatures, and they often die suddenly - I knew that already. It is one of the reasons I prefer to adopt older kittens and cats - but sometimes a kitten comes to you under circumstances that have nothing to do with your reason or logic. In this case, a cat rescuer friend told me about him, knowing I like Siamese mixes, and I couldn't say no once I saw him. What I didn't know was what a terrible disease panleukopenia is - all my other cats have been vaccinated against this killer, so I never have had to experience it. Simon was scheduled for his vaccines - little did I know that the disease had already gotten him in its deadly grip - perhaps from his mother or at the shelter.

Quite frequently, owners of indoor cats post to this group, inquiring about the necessity of vaccinations for their pets. They are worried about fibro-sarcomas. I am not sure which vaccination is implicated in this cancer, but all I can say is DO NOT FORGO the combination vaccination for panleukopenia and upper respiratory infection vaccinations. I have now had one cat who lived for four years after being diagnosed with fibrosarcoma (although not vaccination-related) and one kitten now who died from panleukopenia or something like it in less than 24 hours - needless to say the latter was far, far more devastating. I hope I never see another kitten suffer like Simon did. Panleukopenia is highly infectious and the virus is hard to destroy - I've washed everything in Simon's room down with bleach, but I have been warned that the virus can still survive for up to one year. I don't dare bring in another cat or kitten, unless it is already vaccinated (I have been reassured by all three vets that Mini and Denali are not at risk, being up to date on all vaccines, thank God).

The virus can be transmitted through the air, or brought in on clothing. That means if your indoor cat has ANY way of contacting another cat - through a screen or window, - it is at risk. Likewise, it is at risk if you EVER even touch another cat - a stray, or a cat at a shelter.

We're all so scared of cancer - the big C - that its easy to forget what killers infectious diseases are. Please don't forego those vaccinations for your cats - you never want to see what I saw this weekend.

This article is Copyright © Marca Doeff, and printed with permission of the author.
August 24, 1998

Read Marca's story: Ugly Cat Contests