New flu strain that can blind kittens is spreading among cats

Kittens with eye infection
Flu can brought on eye infections in cats and result in blindness if left untreated in kittens (Image: North West Information Service)

Cat house owners are being urged to have their pets vaccinated in opposition to a flu pressure which may blind them.

Kittens which contract the sickness are the most certainly to lose their sight fully if it goes untreated.

Signs in cats are much like people, together with sneezing, problem swallowing on account of a sore throat and a fever.

Cat house owners have been warned to be looking out for infections across the eyes particularly, an impact of the virus which may trigger blindness.

In some instances the place the sickness turns into very severe, cats could must have surgical procedure to take the attention out altogether.

Su Taylor, from Wigan, Larger Manchester, adopted three kittens who needed to have eyes eliminated due to flu in August.

Su mentioned: ‘The centre supplied a number of useful recommendation on caring for them and so they’ve settled in splendidly and run round like regular cats.

‘Regardless of having no eyes in any respect, Group is totally fearless and resides her finest life, very often leaping round when a toy isn’t even there.

‘However it’s an actual disgrace they needed to lose their eyes because it didn’t must occur. It’s really easy to get them vaccinated.’

A kitten
A number one cat charity is urging pet house owners to think about vaccination (Image: North West Information Service)

4-month-old kittens Cherrim and Hattrem got here into Cats Safety’s Cornwall Adoption Centre with three different siblings from the identical litter, considered one of which died.

The nationwide pet charity feared they’d must have their eyes eliminated however their sight survived due to therapy.

Cornwall centre supervisor Samantha Lawton warned: ‘We’re undecided many individuals realise that cats can catch flu and that it may be life threatening.

‘Hattrem and Cherrim have been fortunate we acquired to them in time and their sight was saved. Typically it’s too late and the poor cat has to reside with just one eye or none in any respect.’

Cats Safety is urging pet house owners to get their animals vaccinated as a result of flu spreads extra simply within the winter months.

Sarah Elliott, the charity’s chief vet, mentioned: ‘Though blind or one-eyed cats can reside a traditional life, they received’t have depth notion so received’t be capable of choose distances or heights very effectively.

‘Like people, cats most certainly to be worse affected are the very younger, very previous or these with a broken immune system, as they discover it tougher to battle off infections.

‘Though the signs is likely to be comparable, people can’t catch cat flu nevertheless it’s extremely contagious between cats.

‘So, when you've got a couple of cat, it’s actually vital to maintain all of them vaccinated.

‘And if considered one of your cats will get flu, ensure you wash the bedding and bowls they use completely to assist cut back the probabilities of spreading the flu between the cats.’

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