Can a 17 week old cat that has received all vaccines get panleuk? please answer!

[lynne8832]

Hi all.
I was in the vet clinic this afternoon to help with one of my personal cat's dentals and they let me know that they had a panleuk positive kitten in isolation a few days ago that ended up passing away. I have three cats at home - one is 11 years old (fully vaccinated), one is 1 year old (fully vaccinated) and one is 17 weeks (he received his final kitten vaccines - Rabies, FVRCP #4, and FELV #2 about one week ago). They told me that the isolation room was sanitized, but I'm sure the kitten touched other things in the clinic (towels, scales, IV poles, etc.) and I probably touched some of these items. When I came home from the clinic, I removed my scrubs and shoes outside and took a shower.
I think I am really just overthinking this, but is there ANY way that my 17 week old kitten could contract panleuk this way? I am not sure when his immune system is considered "fully protected" from panleuk since he just finished his vaccine series 8 days ago.
Thank you in advance for any help!

 

[silent meowlook]

It is possible as no vaccine is ever 100%. At his age he would be more at risk than a healthy fully vaccinated older cat. The problem with panleukopenia is that it is hard to kill and can survive on a surface for over a year. Very scary stuff.

To worry about it is pointless. Won't do any good now and I am sure your cat will be fine.

Just remember that no vaccine ever provides full protection.

 

[lynne8832]

It is possible as no vaccine is ever 100%. At his age he would be more at risk than a healthy fully vaccinated older cat. The problem with panleukopenia is that it is hard to kill and can survive on an innanimate surface for over a year. Very scary stuff.

To worry about it is pointless. Won't do any good now and I am sure your cat will be fine.

Just remember that no vaccine ever provides full protection.

Yeah, I know that no vaccine is not 100% but I feel like for him to actually get it, I probably would have had to come directly in contact with the cat or the cat's feces and then interact with my cat. And I know the panleuk vaccine is highly effective (though not 100%), so I assume the risk is next to 0 for this specific scenario.

 

[silent meowlook]

People can transmit the virus from their hands and clothing. So if you touch something someone else touched and touch your cat it is possible. Like I said before I wouldn't worry about it.

Full immunity from the vaccines comes about 3 weeks after the last booster vaccine.

 

[lynne8832]

People can transmit the virus from their hands and clothing. So if you touch something someone else touched and touch your cat it is possible. Like I said before I wouldn't worry about it.

Full immunity from the vaccines comes about 3 weeks after the last booster vaccine.

How many days will I have to wait to know that I'm "in the clear?"

 

[silent meowlook]

Seriously, you are probably fine. I think incubation is 10 to 14 or 21 days.

 

[lynne8832]

Seriously, you are probably fine. I think incubation is 10 to 14 or 21 days.

I hope so, I know I am probably worried for nothing, but I would never forgive myself if I brought something home that harmed one of my own cats. I guess I just don't see how he could have even been exposed to it, since I never touched the cat or went into isolation. My biggest concerns is if one of the towels that I was using on my cat (that was in the clinic with me today for a dental) came from isolation so it could have acted as a fomite to bring the virus into the house. I assume even though he has not had 3 weeks since his last vaccine, he must have SOME level of protection since he has already had 4 of the FVRCP vaccines.

 

[silent meowlook]

You will make yourself crazy with the what if’s.

I work at a cat hospital. I have a 12 yr old unvaccinated cat ( oneFVRCP when I got her at 4 months) who has cancer and is on chemo and pred. My other cat had one fvrcp when I brought him home. He is healthy and around 3 years old. Both indoor only.

We recently had a panleuk kitten at my work. That kitten seemed to wind up in every room of the hospital and handled by everyone. I was loosing my mind there!! Nobody seemed to understand how serious it is or they don’t react like me. I changed my clothes, washed my hair and did it all over again when I got home. I also waited 6 hours before going home. That was 4 months ago and so far the only case.

I do understand about the worrying. I stress about most everything to some degree, but when it comes to my cats, I am am absolute freak with stress.

I really think your cat will be fine.