Distemper has been diagnosed in three cats in Lelystad. This is what Your Veterinarian animal clinic reports. The cats came from the same family. The owner took them to the clinic because they had stopped eating, were vomiting, had diarrhea and had a high fever.
The first cat died within 48 hours. The vet had to put the other two cats to sleep because treatment was no longer likely to succeed.
Feline distemper, also called feline panleukopenia, is a contagious viral gastrointestinal disease. The virus spreads through feces, vomit and contaminated objects such as clothing, shoes and hands. It can survive in the environment for months or even years.
Veterinarian Sander van der Wal therefore expects that more infected cats will enter the clinic. “Any cat that is not vaccinated against it can get it if they come into contact.” There is no medicine against the virus. According to veterinarians, intensive treatment usually offers little perspective.
Vaccinate
Your veterinarian therefore advises cat owners in Lelystad to have their cat vaccinated if this has not already been done. “Until a vaccine provides protection, the advice is to keep unvaccinated cats indoors,” says veterinarian Van der Wal.
How quickly a vaccine works varies per product and can be explained by your own veterinarian. “Vaccinated cats are significantly less likely to get sick.” A vaccine provides protection against cat disease for up to three years.
Cat distemper is not dangerous to humans or other animal species. Dogs themselves cannot become ill from the virus, but they can spread it through their fur or paws, just like humans. Your Veterinarian’s clinic was thoroughly cleaned after treating the three infected cats. Veterinarian Van der Wal has announced that he will soon make extra time available to have cats vaccinated.
date:2026-02-14 15:26:00
Related reading