Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Feline Panleukopenia Prevention

Feline panleukopenia (FPV) is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease - vaccination provides near-complete protection.

Key Facts

FPV causes rapid-onset vomiting, diarrhoea, and immune suppression
Survival rates without treatment are under 10% in unvaccinated kittens
Core vaccination protocols protect for 3+ years per booster
The virus is highly stable in the environment - surviving in unvaccinated shelter populations
Pregnant queens infected with FPV can cause cerebellar hypoplasia in kittens

Welfare Considerations

Feline panleukopenia causes severe suffering and death in unvaccinated cats, particularly young kittens. Vaccination is highly effective, cheap, and among the highest return-on-investment welfare interventions available for cats.

What You Can Do

Vaccinate all kittens with core FPV vaccination per veterinary schedule
Ensure shelter and rescue cats receive vaccination on intake
Advocate for vaccination access programmes for cats in underserved communities