TAMWORTH’S animal shelters may see an influx of animals as Gunnedah RSPCA closes its doors to cats and kittens following an outbreak of Feline Panleucopaenia (FP).
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The volunteer branch made the announcement via its Facebook page on Friday after it discovered two of the kittens in its care had tested positive for the virus.
FP is a highly contagious viral disease in cats and kittens. Initial symptoms include lethargy, diarrhoea and loss of appetite.
“Parvo has a smell,” RSPCA member Maddison Lawback said
“Once you’ve smelt it, you’ll never forget it. It’s like death.”
Ms Lawback said the virus is transferred through contact with bodily fluids including blood, saliva and faeces. It can live in soil for many years and comes to the surface when it rains.
On Wednesday, the RSPCA euthanised two kittens with feline parvovirus and six puppies with canine parvovirus.
“It was just devastating,” Ms Lawback said.
The branch is pushing for pet owners to prioritise vaccinations to kerb the spread of the virus.
Saleyards clinic veterinarian Tina Clifton said cats were often viewed as “mouse chasers” with only about 10 per cent regularly vaccinated in Gunnedah, which contributed to the spread of viruses.
She said Gunnedah was the first confirmed case of FP she was aware of outside the Sydney and Melbourne metropolitan areas.
“We don’t see a lot of [these outbreaks] because we vaccinate them for it,” Ms Clifton said.
“It’s a disease we didn’t really think we had… and it basically stresses the importance of vaccination.
The veterinarian said there was no treatment for parvovirus, only support treatments to help get the infected animal through.
“It’s one of those scary, tip of the iceberg [situations],” Ms Clifton said.
“It’s a good wake-up call that these diseases are still around.
“As the population of unvaccinated animals grows larger… these diseases can potentially make a comeback. It’s a good reminder that they’re not gone, they’re just dormant. There is the risk that they will come back, and it puts everyone’s animals at risk.”
Ms Clifton said the shutdown of the RSPCA branch to cats and kittens would have a big impact on both the Gunnedah shire and outlying towns.
“As far as the community is concerned, it’s going to be a pretty big issues because it puts more animals out on the street,” she said.
Pet owners are urged take their cats or dogs to a vet if they show any of the symptoms of parvovirus.
