Feline panleukopenia outbreak kills dozens of cats in Rivière-du-Loup
An outbreak of feline panleukopenia, commonly known as feline typhus, has killed dozens of cats in the Rivière-du-Loup region, prompting emergency measures from local veterinarians and animal shelters. There have been other episodes, but as bad as this one, I don’t think so,
veterinarian Dr. Lyne Beaupré said.
The highly contagious viral disease has hit young felines especially hard. According to Dr. Beaupré, kittens and cats under one year old are dying rapidly because they lack immunity and have not been vaccinated. It spreads quite fast… especially among young cats, cats under a year old,
she added.
Refuge Boule noire absorbs heavy veterinary debt
Refuge Boule noire, a local shelter for stray and abandoned cats, vaccinated roughly 60 animals to contain the outbreak, running up an unexpected medical bill of more than $6,300. Result: over $6,300 vanished into vaccination. The organization noted that the expenditure was essential, but it placed a severe strain on their operating budget.
The financial pressure on the shelter continues to mount. Within a month, the organization must administer booster shots, microchip the cats, and cover ongoing veterinary fees. To prevent financial collapse, Refuge Boule noire launched a GoFundMe campaign with a target of $13,000. The shelter thanked the Rivière-du-Loup Veterinary Hospital for providing discounts on medical services during the emergency.
Emergency measures at local veterinary clinics and shelters
The crisis has forced regional institutions to alter their daily operations. With the virus spreading rapidly through the local cat population, several shelters in the region temporarily suspended the intake of new cats to prevent further exposure. Local businesses that typically allow customers to bring in companion animals have also shifted to emergency protocols.
Veterinarians recommend that pet owners verify their animals are fully vaccinated and advise against adopting unvaccinated cats from environments with unknown health statuses. Dr. Beaupré emphasized that immunization remains the only reliable defense against the virus. Standard protocols require kittens to receive vaccinations spaced four weeks apart, with the final dose administered when the animal reaches at least 16 weeks of age to ensure lasting immunity. The cat must be vaccinated at 4-week intervals and must be at least 16 weeks old when it receives its final dose to be immunologically strong enough to carry the antibodies that will last a year,
Dr. Beaupré stated.
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