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A deadly cat virus is surging across South Florida, and Miami veterinarians urge pet owners to get their cats vaccinated.<\/p>\n
Carl Juste<\/p>\n
Miami Herald File<\/p>\n
Late summer brings an increase in a deadly disease spreading in cats across South Florida, causing intense illness and even sudden death.<\/p>\n
More cats are getting sick this time of year because of the region\u2019s high population of strays, lower vaccination rates, seasonal increases in births and the virus\u2019 traditional late summer peak, said Dr. Yamilka Lago-Alvarez, the medical director at VCA Knowles Central Animal Hospital in Miami-Dade County.<\/p>\n
The virus, known as feline panleukopenia, is \u201chighly resistant in the environment and can at least survive up to one year,\u201d and vaccinations are very important to keeping your pet safe, Lago-Alvarez said.<\/p>\n
The virus can be spread from cat to cat and from humans to cats, but humans cannot get the virus themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe typically see this disease in younger cats, but older cats can be affected as well,\u201d said Dr. Andrew Hicks, a veterinarian with Miami-Dade Animal Services, the county\u2019s agency for animal control and pet adoptions.<\/p>\n
Miami-Dade Animal Services say 215 cats in their care tested positive for the virus this year. Broward County has recorded 95 confirmed cases.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re currently not having what we would call an outbreak, but what you need to understand is that the population we see is different from the population that\u2019s seen at a private veterinary clinic.\u201d Hicks said.<\/p>\n
Lago-Alvarez said that she has seen an uptick in cases, especially at the emergency-based Snapper Creek location, where she is the intermedical director.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason why we\u2019re seeing this re-emerging of cases that have started to develop recently is mainly just that we\u2019re not vaccinating enough,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
How does the virus affect cats?<\/p>\n
The panleukopenia virus hits in two ways.<\/p>\n
In acute cases, vets can see side effects. Symptoms include fever, depression, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.<\/p>\n
Peracute cases are more severe and less symptomatic, and can rapidly lead to death.<\/p>\n
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual,<\/a> a reference guide used by veterinarians to get information on diagnosis, treatment and disease prevention, \u201cPeracute cases are common in kittens found outside or living in shelters and catteries, where sudden death may be the first clinical sign noted.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s possible for an acute case to progress to peracute case if the cat doesn\u2019t get immediate medical care.<\/p>\n \u201cKittens can go from happy and healthy to ill very quickly with this disease,\u201d said Dr. David Shapiro, lead veterinarian with Broward County Animal Care, Broward\u2019s animal care agency.<\/p>\n Lago-Alvarez pointed to one study that evaluated hospitalized cats with the virus. She said that of the cats included in the study, almost 80% didn\u2019t survive to be discharged, and the median survival time after hospital admission was three days.<\/p>\n Given the severe, life-threatening nature of the disease, vaccinating your cats is crucial, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest message that we want to try and provide the public with is vaccinating, making sure we\u2019re following proper vaccination protocol,\u201d Lago-Alvarez said<\/p>\n Some pet owners forget or fall behind on vaccinations, leading to a larger risk of their cats and dogs getting sick.<\/p>\n \u201cVaccination is paramount, and early intervention too,\u201d Hicks said. \u201cIf your cat becomes sick, take them to the vet right away.\u201d<\/p>\n How the disease spreads<\/p>\n Panleukopenia spreads mostly through body fluids, but can also be spread by humans to cats through bedding, litter boxes, cages, food and water bowls, toys, hands or clothing of people who have handled infected cats, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s say that I am someone that takes care of my neighborhood cats, and I go, and I provide them with food,\u201d Lago-Alvarez said. \u201cThey go around on my clothes or whatnot, or I carry them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe go home and we pet our own cats, and that\u2019s how we\u2019re spreading that disease in that sense,\u201d Lago-Alvarez said.<\/p>\n And as careful as you may be about bringing the virus home to your indoor cats, Lago-Alvarez said that we never know if a visitor in our home is carrying the virus.<\/p>\n \u201cIn these cases where you have someone coming into your home, they may be bringing it,\u201d Lago-Alvarez said. \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to vaccinate.\u201d<\/p>\n The feline panleukopenia vaccination also protects cats against two other common viruses \u2014 feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. Cat owners should begin vaccinating their pets at six to eight weeks, and continue every three weeks until they reach 16 weeks old.<\/p>\n Pet owners should continue vaccinations yearly, \u201cboosting their immunity,\u201d Lago-Alvarez said.<\/p>\n The vaccine is considered a \u201ccore\u201d vaccine and is recommended for all cats \u2014 including cats that don\u2019t normally go outdoors or interact with other cats,\u201d according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.<\/p>\n The Miami-Dade Animal Services website advertises a combo vaccination that includes the panleukopenia virus vaccine and protects against rabies as well for $40.<\/p>\n \u201cVaccination is paramount, and early intervention too,\u201d Hicks, the Miami-Dade County vet, said. \u201cIf your cat becomes sick, take them to the vet right away.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published September 3, 2026 at 1:42 PM.<\/p>\n