Feline infectious diseases are common in animal shelters due to overcrowding and stress. Common illnesses include cat flu caused by viruses like feline herpes virus and calicivirus, ringworm fungus, parvovirus, and feline leukemia virus. Strict isolation protocols, disinfection practices, vaccination, and early disease detection are needed to contain outbreaks and prevent disease transmission between cats in shelters.

1. Snuffles, scabs and squitsSnuffles, scabs and squits
Dealing with feline infectious disease in aDealing with feline infectious disease in a
sheltershelter
Maggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVSMaggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVS
Director of Veterinary ServicesDirector of Veterinary Services
Cats ProtectionCats Protection

2. OverviewOverview
Infectious disease in theInfectious disease in the
sheltershelter
Common infectiousCommon infectious
diseasesdiseases
Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
RingwormRingworm
Infectious diarrhoeaInfectious diarrhoea
FeLV & FIVFeLV & FIV
Containing diseaseContaining disease
Disease preventionDisease prevention

3. What makes cats different?What makes cats different?
Cats were originally solitary hunters.Cats were originally solitary hunters.
Not evolved to live in close proximity with otherNot evolved to live in close proximity with other
cats.cats.
Cats can be carriers of disease without showingCats can be carriers of disease without showing
symptomssymptoms

4. Infectious disease is more likelyInfectious disease is more likely
in the shelter situation because:in the shelter situation because:
Population densityPopulation density
Transient populationTransient population
Frequent introduction of differentFrequent introduction of different
infectious agentsinfectious agents
StressStress
Environmental factors eg ventilationEnvironmental factors eg ventilation
Host susceptibilty eg age, health statusHost susceptibilty eg age, health status

5. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
CausesCauses
Feline herpes virus (FHV)Feline herpes virus (FHV)
Feline calicivirus (FCV)Feline calicivirus (FCV)
Chlamydophila felisChlamydophila felis
Bordetella bronchisepticaBordetella bronchiseptica
Mycoplasma spMycoplasma sp

6. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
SignsSigns
 Intermittent sneezingIntermittent sneezing
 Runny nose and eyesRunny nose and eyes
 Swelling of the eyelidsSwelling of the eyelids
 UlcersUlcers
 DribblingDribbling
 High temperatureHigh temperature
 Quiet and subduedQuiet and subdued
 Loss of appetiteLoss of appetite
 Cough or loss of voiceCough or loss of voice
 LamenessLameness
 Gingivo-stomatitisGingivo-stomatitis

7. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
Feline herpes virus

8. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
Feline calicivirus

9. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
Feline chlamydophilosis

10. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Oral or conjunctival swabs are needed for aOral or conjunctival swabs are needed for a
definitive diagnosisdefinitive diagnosis

11. Cat ‘fluCat ‘flu
TreatmentTreatment
Isolate affected cat and barrier nurseIsolate affected cat and barrier nurse
Good nursing careGood nursing care
No drugs available to kill virusesNo drugs available to kill viruses
Antibiotics for secondary infectionsAntibiotics for secondary infections
DecongestantsDecongestants
Pain killersPain killers

12. Cat ‘flu CarriersCat ‘flu Carriers
Cats with herpes virus can become infected forCats with herpes virus can become infected for
lifelife
They can show symptoms or shed the virusThey can show symptoms or shed the virus
intermittently especially when stressedintermittently especially when stressed
Cats with calcivirus can shed the virus forCats with calcivirus can shed the virus for
many weeks or occasionally for lifemany weeks or occasionally for life
Chlamydophila can be cured but if not treatedChlamydophila can be cured but if not treated
thoroughly it will recurthoroughly it will recur

13. RingwormRingworm
CauseCause
A fungus known as a dermatophyteA fungus known as a dermatophyte
90% of cases in cats caused by90% of cases in cats caused by
Microsporum canisMicrosporum canis
Trichophyton speciesTrichophyton species

14. RingwormRingworm
SignsSigns
Hair lossHair loss
Crusting and scalingCrusting and scaling
ItchingItching
UlcerationUlceration
Can mimic other skin diseasesCan mimic other skin diseases

15. RingwormRingworm

16. RingwormRingworm
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Woods lampWoods lamp
Hair cultureHair culture

17. RingwormRingworm
TreatmentTreatment
Isolate affected cat and barrier nurseIsolate affected cat and barrier nurse
Appropriate disinfectantsAppropriate disinfectants
Oral antifungal medicationOral antifungal medication
Topical treatmentsTopical treatments
If long haired may need clippingIf long haired may need clipping
Ideally have 3 negative culture tests beforeIdeally have 3 negative culture tests before
hominghoming

18. Infectious diarrhoeaInfectious diarrhoea
CausesCauses
Viral agentsViral agents
ParvovirusParvovirus
CoronavirusCoronavirus
Bacterial agentsBacterial agents
CampylobacterCampylobacter
SalmonellaSalmonella
E ColiE Coli
WormsWorms
RoundwormsRoundworms
TapewormsTapeworms
Protozoan agentsProtozoan agents
GiardiaGiardia
CoccidiaCoccidia
TritrichomonasTritrichomonas
foetusfoetus

19. Feline parvovirusFeline parvovirus
Greatest disease threat to any rescueGreatest disease threat to any rescue
facilityfacility
Very high death rate, particularly inVery high death rate, particularly in
unvaccinated kittensunvaccinated kittens

20. Feline ParvovirusFeline Parvovirus
Three different names for the sameThree different names for the same
diseasedisease
Feline parvovirusFeline parvovirus
Feline infectious enteritisFeline infectious enteritis
Feline panleucopeniaFeline panleucopenia
Spread between cats by direct or indirectSpread between cats by direct or indirect
contact with contaminated faecescontact with contaminated faeces
Survives in the environment a long timeSurvives in the environment a long time

21. Feline ParvovirusFeline Parvovirus
SignsSigns
Severe vomitingSevere vomiting
Severe diarrhoea withSevere diarrhoea with
blood and mucusblood and mucus
High temperatureHigh temperature
DehydrationDehydration
Weight lossWeight loss
Lack of appetiteLack of appetite
Sudden death with no signsSudden death with no signs

22. Feline ParvovirusFeline Parvovirus
DiagnosisDiagnosis
Faecal sampleFaecal sample
Blood testBlood test

23. Feline ParvovirusFeline Parvovirus
TreatmentTreatment
Isolate affected cat and barrier nurseIsolate affected cat and barrier nurse
Appropriate disinfectantsAppropriate disinfectants
Good nursing careGood nursing care
No drugs available to kill virusNo drugs available to kill virus
Fluids – oral, I/VFluids – oral, I/V
Antibiotics for secondary infectionsAntibiotics for secondary infections
Vaccinate in face of outbreakVaccinate in face of outbreak

24. Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)
Most common in young catsMost common in young cats
Recurrent secondary infectionsRecurrent secondary infections
High temperatureHigh temperature
LethargyLethargy
TumoursTumours
AnaemiaAnaemia
Very poor outlookVery poor outlook

25. Feline immunodeficiency virusFeline immunodeficiency virus
(FIV)(FIV)
Non-specificNon-specific
Often older catsOften older cats
May survive manyMay survive many
yearsyears
Recurrent secondaryRecurrent secondary
infectionsinfections
GingivitisGingivitis
DiarrhoeaDiarrhoea
Neurological diseaseNeurological disease
Skin diseaseSkin disease
TumoursTumours

26. FeLV and FIV in the shelterFeLV and FIV in the shelter
Virus does not survive long in theVirus does not survive long in the
environmentenvironment
Usually needs direct contact (grooming,Usually needs direct contact (grooming,
fighting) to be transmittedfighting) to be transmitted
Housing singly and using good hygiene isHousing singly and using good hygiene is
sufficientsufficient

27. ContainingContaining
DiseaseDisease
Some infectious diseases areSome infectious diseases are
ZOONOTICZOONOTIC eg ringwormeg ringworm
Some infectious diseases can survive inSome infectious diseases can survive in
the environment for a long timethe environment for a long time
– Parvovirus survives up to 12 monthsParvovirus survives up to 12 months
– Ringworm spores up to 2 yearsRingworm spores up to 2 years

28. DiseaseDisease
transmissiontransmission
Direct (from cat to cat)Direct (from cat to cat)
Saliva e.g. FeLVSaliva e.g. FeLV
Sneezing e.g. cat ‘fluSneezing e.g. cat ‘flu
Fighting e.g. FIVFighting e.g. FIV
Rubbing e.g. RingwormRubbing e.g. Ringworm
Indirect (from people orIndirect (from people or
objects)objects)
Pens e.g. RingwormPens e.g. Ringworm
Litter trays e.g. CoronavirusLitter trays e.g. Coronavirus
Food bowls e.g. FeLVFood bowls e.g. FeLV
People’s hands,People’s hands,
shoes etc e.g.shoes etc e.g.
ParvovirusParvovirus

29. Containing DiseaseContaining Disease
 Keep infected cat isolatedKeep infected cat isolated
from all other catsfrom all other cats
 Wear and use PersonalWear and use Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE)Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Use suitable disinfectant thatUse suitable disinfectant that
is effective against theis effective against the
diseasedisease
 Clean and handle infectedClean and handle infected
cat lastcat last

30. Containing diseaseContaining disease
Have separate cleaning utensils forHave separate cleaning utensils for
isolated catisolated cat
Use disposable litter trays and foodUse disposable litter trays and food
bowls or return trays and bowls to samebowls or return trays and bowls to same
catcat

31. ContainingContaining
DiseaseDisease
 Use disposable bedding or soak inUse disposable bedding or soak in
disinfectant before washing on hot cycledisinfectant before washing on hot cycle
 Wash contaminated bedding last andWash contaminated bedding last and
separate from other beddingseparate from other bedding
 Use footbaths containing disinfectantUse footbaths containing disinfectant

32. Containing diseaseContaining disease
Deep clean area forDeep clean area for
5 continuous days5 continuous days
after housingafter housing
infected catinfected cat
Steam clean first ifSteam clean first if
possiblepossible
Stop the movementStop the movement
of cats in or outof cats in or out

33. Disease preventionDisease prevention
Avoid over-crowdingAvoid over-crowding
Keep cats singly or only with cats fromKeep cats singly or only with cats from
the same sourcethe same source
Use full height sneeze barriersUse full height sneeze barriers
Quarantine new arrivals and isolate sickQuarantine new arrivals and isolate sick
catscats

34. Disease preventionDisease prevention
Reduce stress as much as possibleReduce stress as much as possible
Health check by a vetHealth check by a vet
Screen for disease where possibleScreen for disease where possible
Good preventative medicineGood preventative medicine

35. VaccinationVaccination
CoreCore - essential in all- essential in all
rescue facilities as arescue facilities as a
minimumminimum
FHVFHV
FCVFCV
FPVFPV
Rabies in endemicRabies in endemic
areaarea

36. VaccinationVaccination
Non-core –Non-core – dependsdepends
on risk, fundson risk, funds
availableavailable
FeLVFeLV
ChlamydophilaChlamydophila
felisfelis
BordetellaBordetella
bronchisepticabronchiseptica

37. AfterAfter
Thank youThank you
BeforeBefore