-
The problem of neighbours feeding your cat in France – and why it happens
Spoiling someone else’s pet is better than abandoning their own, says columnist Samantha David
-
EU pet passports and GB-France travel: five questions answered
We answer your questions re French citizens, those taking pets to GB, and the closing of a potential loophole for second-home owners
-
Why do so many French pet names start with the same letter?
Naming traditions are used by breeders to simplify registration
Cat owners in France urged to vaccinate pets against fatal disease
An epidemic of cat typhus prompts vets to call for more vaccination and vigilance over symptoms
Veterinarians have called on cat owners to vaccinate their pets against an epidemic of cat typhus.
A spate of cases have been reported in Mulhouse (Haut-Rhin), Angoulême (Charente) and Liévin (Pas-de-Calais).
They say kittens should be initially vaccinated from an early age, around eight weeks, with a second injection a month later, followed by a booster jab after one year.
Read more: Cat euthanised after being infected with bird flu, a first in France
Highly contagious among cats but no risk to humans
Cat typhus, also known as feline panleukopenia, is highly contagious and is transmitted through contact with faeces and urine, as well as objects that have been contaminated by an infected cat.
It is resistant to heat, as well as to many common disinfectants, solvents and detergents.
It does not affect humans but can severely impair cats’ health, affecting their organs, intestine and bone marrow, as well as causing digestive problems.
Without swift medical treatment, it can be fatal.
Symptoms usually appear around two to seven days after infection and include acute vomiting, diarrhoea and a fever.
Related articles
Don’t give human drugs to pets’ alerts French health safety agency
