Acute illness is apparent very quickly and the course of the disease
can be very short. From infection to death can be 3-5 days. Sometimes
the
person keeping the cat may not be fully aware that a kitten is ill
before she/he dies as the disease acts so quickly.
Transmission of
disease to kitten in the womb:
Kittens may
develop cerebellar hypoplasia
(underdevelopment of the
cerebellum of the brain). The symptom of this is a loss of balance,
head tremor (from 2 weeks of age). No cure but it doesn't get worse.
See video below.
In an adult who has caught the disease the early
signs are:
Loss of appetite
Severe apathy
Extreme
depression
Fever
(105°F)
May give
impression cat is poisoned
Symptoms
include:
gastrointestinal
symptoms:
Vomiting
repeatedly and immediately after
drinking (some cats do not vomit before death
Thirsty but
unable to drink
Bringing up
yellow stained bile that is frothy
Cat clearly
suffering pain (crying in pain and
crouching, with the head a few inches above the water bowl)
Anorexia
Dehydration
(skin on back of neck doesn't go
back to previous position when pulled)
Vomiting blood
suddenly happens sometimes
bone marrow
severely depressed - lowering of
white blood cell count
Later
feline distemper symptoms:
Diarrhea -
stools are yellow or streaked with
blood or watery, copious and foul smelling (some cats do not
demonstrate this feline distemper symptom before death
main cause of
death for cats that are not
treated is blood poisoning - bacterial infection of the blood stream
(scepticemia)
another cause of
death is dehydration (due to
loss of fluid from vomiting and diarrhea)
Transmission of the Disease
This is a serious and widespread disease. The word "distemper" would
seem to be misleading as there is no relation to distemper in dogs. It
is a highly contagious disease and easily transmitted from cat to cat.
It can be transmitted by people on their hands, clothing and feet. It
is spread by direct contact with infected animals (cats, mink, ferrets,
raccoons and wild cats) and their secretions (e.g. feces). As the virus
is "hardy" it can survive in carpets, crevices and furniture for over a
year.
The virus is more common in kittens before being vaccinated.
Although the virus can be killed by:
Sodium
Hypochlorite (commonly called bleach)
diluted 1 part bleach and 9 parts water
Disinfectants
such as Virkon or Parvocide.
These are both available at Aug. 2008 and of the two Virkon seems to be
more easily obtainable
Treatment
Intensive veterinary care. Important to diagnose the disease as early
as possible. Measures include:
Fluid
replacement (rehydration) to replace
fluids lost by diarrhea and vomiting
Keep warm
Antibiotics
Blood
transfusions occasionally
Supplemental
nourishment
Kittens have a high death rate. Adults usually recover with prompt
treatment. Adults can be carriers.
