I adopted a kitten in February from the local animal shelter, and she fell ill and died within two weeks. She had Panleukopenia.

My husband and I had been planning to adopt two cats/kittens for a very long time, and her death was so sudden and tragic… But we still want cats.

I have done quite a lot of research about Panleukopenia, and have found that it is really difficult to eradicate from the environment, so the only way to really protect a new animal is to make certain it is vaccinated before ever being exposed to a place where a sick animal has been.

I just wanted to know what everyone else thought about this issue. Is it safe to bring new cats/kittens to my home if they are vaccinated? How long before I bring them home should they be vaccinated? What about kittens? I have read that the vaccinated for Panleukopenia can often be ineffective for the first few months of a kitten’s life because of antibodies that they receive from their mother. So, if this is the case, how old does a kitten need to be before I would bring it home and when should they receive their vaccines?

I have been trying to find out the answers to these things since the little kitten died, because we would really still like to adopt cats. I have also spoken with my vet, but I wanted a few more opinions.

Thanks!

I am very sorry about the loss of your little kitten.  Even though she was with you a short amount of time, I’m sure she wiggled into your heart.

With panleukopenia, I recommend the following:  Discard all cat boxes, cat beds, toys and food and water bowls that the first kitten came into contact with; wash all hard surfaces with a bleach and water solution (generally one part of bleach to 30 parts water); and wait 4-6 weeks after the death of the kitten to bring others into the home.

Unless the first kitten spread feces over surfaces that cannot be cleaned well, I think you’ll be fine to bring in another one or two kitties.

The first vaccination doesn’t protect against panleukopenia, so boosters are necessary.  Depending upon the age of the kitten or cat you choose and the time spent at the shelter, your new kitty may have one or two vaccines already on board.

Michele Gaspar, DABVP (Feline)