Potentially fatal virus strikes cats, forces closure at Blacktown Animal Holding Facility

A RARE, life-threatening disease not seen in Sydney for 40 years, has struck down cats across the city and forced one of the largest pounds to close its doors to felines for at least six weeks.

Former Blacktown councillor Russ Dickens with Mayor Stephen Bali at Blacktown Animal Holding Facility.

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A RARE, life-threatening disease that has struck Sydney cats has forced Blacktown Animal Holding Facility to close its doors to felines for at least six weeks.

The Prospect pound, which takes in animals from eight council areas across Sydney, has been closed to cats following a rare outbreak of feline panleukopenia virus, commonly referred to as feline enteritis.

Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali said the disease had not been seen in Sydney for more than 40 years and many people had therefore stopped vaccinating their cats against it.

“As a result, it is now attacking a largely unprotected cat population,” he said.

Cr Bali said other animal holding facilities in Sydney were affected and they were urging people not to bring cats to the facility until the epidemic had passed.

“This may take at least six weeks and we will be doing all we can to prevent it from spreading,” he said.

Cat adoptions will be put on hold.

The outbreak can be life-threatening.

“Please do not bring cats to our animal holding facility until we are sure the epidemic has passed and because other facilities across Sydney are affected, cat owners need to check the status of any facility where cats are held.’’

The council has suspended adoptions and cat rescues until the outbreak is under control.

Staff are vaccinating cats held at the Flushcombe Rd facility.

The council is consulting with Sydney University’s Sydney School of Veterinary Science and Marie Bashir Institute’s Professor Vanessa Barrs to address the epidemic.

She urged pet owners to ensure their dogs and cats were vaccinated against deadly infections.

“The message for pet owners is make sure your dogs and cats are vaccinated against these deadly infections,” Professor Barrs said.

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“Disease in cats is caused by two parvoviruses, small DNA viruses. The main one is feline panleukopenia virus but parvoviruses that infect dogs can also cause the disease in cats”.

However, there is no risk for humans as the disease cannot be passed on to them.