Answer: The cat develops a high temperature accompanied by lethargy and a loss of appetite, plus severe frothy vomiting, and later diarrhea in which blood often appears. The fluid lost in the vomit and diarrhea leads to dehydration, which can be demonstrated by a loss of skin elasticity; when a fold of skin is drown up and released, instead of ‘flowing’ back into place, the skin fold remain stiffly standing up and only slowly subsides.
Characteristically, the cat hovers over its water bowl, but seldom tries to drink, and it often cries with abnormal pain. Treatment requires intravenous fluid replacement, and, in severe cases, even blood transfusion. There are no anti-viral drugs readily available, but antibiotics are given to prevent secondly bacterial infection. All infected bedding should be destroyed, the surroundings well disinfected, and any incoming cats isolated. Hyper immune serum is useful in preventing the development of the disease in cats that have been in contact with clinical cases but which are not yet showing signs themselves.
Most untreated cat will collapse and die within three to five days, so that survival beyond five days in an optimistic signs. Hover, even cats that recover may have permanent intestinal damage resulting in frequent bouts of diarrhea. Infection in female early pregnancy can lead to abortion or resorption of the fetuses. Infection just before birth, or just after cab interfere with the development of the cerebellum (the part of the brain responsible for controlling balance) so that affected kittens stagger about and many tremble (juvenile ataxia due to cerebellar hypoplasia). This may not become apparent until about four weeks after birth because before then all kittens seem badly co-ordinated. Because of these dangers, pregnant female should not be vaccinated with live vaccine.
Where a cat has died from the disease, other animals should be excluded from the premises for six months, and even then not to allowed entry unless vaccinated.
