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Red alert: Cat disease threatens animal shelters in Germany!
A dangerous cat virus is spreading in Neustrelitz and Malchow. Six kittens have already died. Vaccinations urgently required.
Red alert: Cat disease threatens animal shelters in Germany!
In the past few days, animal shelter employees in Malchow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, have endured bitter hours. In several German animal shelters, including Neustrelitz and Wolgast, numerous kittens have died due to a dangerous virus. This virus, parvovirus, more commonly known as feline panleukopenia (FPV), has proven to be particularly aggressive, killing kittens at an alarmingly rapid rate. Loud Mercury Six cats died in the Malchow animal shelter within a few days, while only three could be saved.
The symptoms are diverse and usually affect the animals' overall well-being. From listlessness to apathy to serious illnesses such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea - animal rights activists are currently having to wage a real battle against time. In this critical context, the Malchow animal shelter has imposed an immediate ban on admitting cats in order to prevent the virus from spreading further. In addition, two of the deceased animals were sent to the State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety and Fisheries for examination.
Viral transmission and vaccination
The parvovirus is not only resistant, but can also be transmitted by indoor cats if pathogens enter the household from outside. In order to counteract the epidemic, vaccination against FPV plays a central role. However, this is often not easy to implement because many cats in overcrowded animal shelters lack the vaccine. The vaccine is only approved from the eighth week of life, while the basic immunization takes place in several vaccinations at the ages of 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Experts strongly recommend getting boosters after these vaccinations.
There are currently three kittens in quarantine at the Malchow animal shelter and are worried about their first vaccination, which is due to take place in two weeks. The situation is delicate, especially since the availability of the vaccine is not guaranteed. Here you can find veterinary practices like that of Felmo, who specialize in pet health, provide valuable support to provide timely help to affected cats.
Challenges in animal aid
The dismal condition of the animal shelters is not an isolated case, but a symptom of the overwhelmed situation of many facilities. Animal shelters not only fight against disease, but also against overcrowding. Appropriate pay for employees and proper medical care for the animals are often not guaranteed. In the meantime, cost pressure has increased and binding price information for veterinary treatments is not possible because every treatment is individual. Promoting such services is often difficult and so one can only hope that solidarity among cat lovers and the willingness to support remains strong in such difficult times.