Animal Welfare Professionals

I'm sorry if this has been handled elsewhere ~ I don't see any posts or resources that address this issue.

I volunteer in a resource-poor program in the tiny Balkan country of Montenegro.  There are gazillions of community cats, and people are beginning to invest more time and love into caring for them (they don't have money).  There are NO shelters, rescues, foster homes...

We have a mixed colony of adult cats and kittens that were dumped over the summer.  Some people discovered them and started feeding.  There is suddenly a great deal of sickness killing the kittens that sounds like panleukopenia.  When kittens were taken to a local vet, he didn't give a diagnosis but said to "give them water".

Does anyone have recommendations for supportive care and treatment within a "colony" environment?  I would love to share information with a nearby partner vet to see if we can help the feeders feel supported and the remaining cats and kittens suffer less, and perhaps survive.

We have vaccines available... for cats and kittens that appear healthy and aren't running a temp. does it make sense to use these?  The vets in this country need guidance, as they just recently started working with "street cats".

Thanks!

Sorry to hear you are dealing with this awful disease.  Hopefully something in here may help?  

Shelter Diseases -Prevention and Management - PDF.pdf    

U.C. Davis also has some good resources and trustworthy info.   

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amber dennison

Original Message:
Sent: 10-01-2023 11:37 AM
From: April King
Subject: Panleukopenia in cat colony

I'm sorry if this has been handled elsewhere ~ I don't see any posts or resources that address this issue.

I volunteer in a resource-poor program in the tiny Balkan country of Montenegro.  There are gazillions of community cats, and people are beginning to invest more time and love into caring for them (they don't have money).  There are NO shelters, rescues, foster homes...

We have a mixed colony of adult cats and kittens that were dumped over the summer.  Some people discovered them and started feeding.  There is suddenly a great deal of sickness killing the kittens that sounds like panleukopenia.  When kittens were taken to a local vet, he didn't give a diagnosis but said to "give them water".

Does anyone have recommendations for supportive care and treatment within a "colony" environment?  I would love to share information with a nearby partner vet to see if we can help the feeders feel supported and the remaining cats and kittens suffer less, and perhaps survive.

We have vaccines available... for cats and kittens that appear healthy and aren't running a temp. does it make sense to use these?  The vets in this country need guidance, as they just recently started working with "street cats".

Thanks!

#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

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April King
Volunteer and Board Member
Kotor Kitties
+1 206 407 5336
http://www.kotorkitties.org
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I'm sorry if this has been handled elsewhere ~ I don't see any posts or resources that address this issue.

I volunteer in a resource-poor program in the tiny Balkan country of Montenegro.  There are gazillions of community cats, and people are beginning to invest more time and love into caring for them (they don't have money).  There are NO shelters, rescues, foster homes...

We have a mixed colony of adult cats and kittens that were dumped over the summer.  Some people discovered them and started feeding.  There is suddenly a great deal of sickness killing the kittens that sounds like panleukopenia.  When kittens were taken to a local vet, he didn't give a diagnosis but said to "give them water".

Does anyone have recommendations for supportive care and treatment within a "colony" environment?  I would love to share information with a nearby partner vet to see if we can help the feeders feel supported and the remaining cats and kittens suffer less, and perhaps survive.

We have vaccines available... for cats and kittens that appear healthy and aren't running a temp. does it make sense to use these?  The vets in this country need guidance, as they just recently started working with "street cats".

Thanks!

Oh my April, how heartbreaking and tragic.  Panleuk is a horrible and nasty disease even when a kitten is under full time care and observation.  I lost two of my own fosters to panleuk and was able to save two siblings...but it was touch and go for two weeks.  From what I understand it's basically therapeutic treatment for the symptoms while their bodies fight off the virus.  We used over the counter famotidine (pepcid) for upset tummys, unflavored electrolytes in the water, scrambled eggs and forti flora for easily digestible high protein food and probiotics.  I'm not sure what food options there are where you are, but eating and drinking are critical to recovery.  As for those not showing signs, I would think a vaccine would be warranted at least for a little protection.  Our vets and fosters operate under that platform and while not guaranteed, it seems to have benefit.  In my experience hydration and food are the two most critical things panleuk kittens need.  So if you can get water and electrolytes down them that is the best first step.  I wish you all the best in your amazing efforts and will keep you in my thoughts.

I'm sorry if this has been handled elsewhere ~ I don't see any posts or resources that address this issue.

I volunteer in a resource-poor program in the tiny Balkan country of Montenegro.  There are gazillions of community cats, and people are beginning to invest more time and love into caring for them (they don't have money).  There are NO shelters, rescues, foster homes...

We have a mixed colony of adult cats and kittens that were dumped over the summer.  Some people discovered them and started feeding.  There is suddenly a great deal of sickness killing the kittens that sounds like panleukopenia.  When kittens were taken to a local vet, he didn't give a diagnosis but said to "give them water".

Does anyone have recommendations for supportive care and treatment within a "colony" environment?  I would love to share information with a nearby partner vet to see if we can help the feeders feel supported and the remaining cats and kittens suffer less, and perhaps survive.

We have vaccines available... for cats and kittens that appear healthy and aren't running a temp. does it make sense to use these?  The vets in this country need guidance, as they just recently started working with "street cats".

Thanks!

I'm sorry if this has been handled elsewhere ~ I don't see any posts or resources that address this issue.

I volunteer in a resource-poor program in the tiny Balkan country of Montenegro.  There are gazillions of community cats, and people are beginning to invest more time and love into caring for them (they don't have money).  There are NO shelters, rescues, foster homes...

We have a mixed colony of adult cats and kittens that were dumped over the summer.  Some people discovered them and started feeding.  There is suddenly a great deal of sickness killing the kittens that sounds like panleukopenia.  When kittens were taken to a local vet, he didn't give a diagnosis but said to "give them water".

Does anyone have recommendations for supportive care and treatment within a "colony" environment?  I would love to share information with a nearby partner vet to see if we can help the feeders feel supported and the remaining cats and kittens suffer less, and perhaps survive.

We have vaccines available... for cats and kittens that appear healthy and aren't running a temp. does it make sense to use these?  The vets in this country need guidance, as they just recently started working with "street cats".

Thanks!