(Saving Grace Animal Society)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

prevention is important

Case of Feline Panleukopenia confirmed in Red Deer

Aug 15, 2024 | 4:01 PM

Red Deer-based Alberta Animal Services (AAS) is advising the public that a cat brought into their care has tested positive for Panleukopenia.

Also known as ‘feline distemper,’ the often fatal and highly infectious disease rears its ugly head yearly, causing kittens (typically) to suffer from depression, anorexia, high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe dehydration. Its incubation period is typically 2-7 days, but can be slightly longer.

In an Aug. 15 Facebook post, AAS notes a lethargic cat was brought to them and tested positive. The cat was found within Mustang Acres (6934 59 Avenue), a local hotspot for strays.

In July, AAS helped Alberta SPCA recover 41 young cats from a property, a case which stemmed from someone taking in strays.

“If you have stray felines on your property showing signs of Panleukopenia, this is an emergency and we are requesting that you please take [the animal] to a local vet hospital and fill out one of our witness statements. The vet staff will contact us with how to proceed,” the Facebook post says.

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“If you are taking a stray directly to Alberta Animal Services that shows symptoms of any virus, please let our office staff know prior to taking into the building. Please do not let cats loose out of carriers in our front office as we have a large volume of animals coming into and out of shelter, and our goal is to ensure we keep them all healthy.”

Jennifer Spinney, AAS Animal Care Supervisor, explains that the best way to avoid a community outbreak of Panleukopenia is to have your feline friends vaccinated, as well as spayed or neutered.

These steps are crucial, she says, because the stray cat population is unlike it’s ever been. Because the disease stays in the ground via feces, it can crop up fairly easily.

“When the population of stray cats increases, the bacteria spreads easier,” she says. “We have hotspots in the city, like Mustang Acres, and the cats are constantly populating. They’re at-large, not owned by anyone, they’re not de-wormed, and the virus spreads like wildfire.”

A cat can survive the disease, but it’s unlikely, not to mention costly to treat.

The difficulty to treat is exacerbated because AAS and local rescues are often overwhelmed with animals already in their care.

Panleukopenia is not the only disease affecting felines, with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) also very common.

“We work with local rescues who have no issues taking some of these cats and can usually place them in single-family, single-pet homes; they can’t live with other cats because scratches or bites will cause it to spread,” says Spinney.

“We don’t want to have to make a call to you saying we found your cat on the road. In addition, our local rescues and vets are able to microchip or tattoo for a minimal fee, which is highly recommended, because then we can tell for sure whether a cat is spayed or neutered, or is or has been owned by someone. Collars with nametags are also great of course because it’s the first thing we’ll check in order to get someone home.”

The City of Red Deer has a Cat Bylaw and a Dog Bylaw, both of which prohibit leaving your pets at-large. A City spokesperson notes an amalgamated Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw — something rdnewsNOW reported on in April 2023 — is still in the works, with budgetary considerations to come forward later this year.

While there is a municipal Cat Bylaw, it does not address licensing of cats, like the Dog Bylaw does.

If you find a stray animal, bring it directly to Alberta Animal Services, if possible, and during business hours. There is an officer on call until 9 p.m. every day, as well as on weekends, says Spinney. If it’s after hours, you would have to hold the animal until AAS opens.

“Our local vet clinics are not holding facilities for AAS, and we don’t want to overwhelm them because they’re already working at capacity all the time,” adds Spinney.

Spinney notes local organization Whisker Rescue has a program called Caring About Low Income Cat Owners (CALICO), which offers subsidies towards spaying and neutering. More info on that is at whiskerrescue.com.

Alberta Animal Services is located at 4640 61 Street in Red Deer, and can be contacted by calling 403-347-2388.

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