Deadly cat virus spreads, Palm Beach County cat owners urged to have pets vaccinated

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. - Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control officials are warning cat owners to get their felines vaccinated against a deadly, highly contagious virus infecting animals throughout the county.

Animal control managers say they have seen a rise in the number of cats and kittens being brought to the county's shelter with panleukophenia, a virus that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and fever in cats of all ages. They are urging cat owners whose pets are sick and show signs of any of those symptoms to take their animal to a veterinarian.

For those whose cats are not vaccinated, the county's animal shelter offers a $30 vaccination package for cats over 8 weeks of age without an appointment.

The shelter is located at 7100 Belvedere Road in suburban West Palm Beach. For more information, visit animal control's website at www.pbcgov.com / animal or call (561) 233-1200.