A highly contagious strain of feline panleukopenia -also known as feline parvo- is rapidly spreading across South Florida this summer, causing cat deaths in Miami-Dade and Broward counties at levels that experts describe as unusual.
Miami-Dade Animal Services has recorded 216 confirmed cases to date, while Broward County Animal Care has had to quarantine its cat rooms between eight and 10 times this season due to the rise in infections.
What distinguishes this outbreak from previous ones is that the circulating strain not only affects kittens -historically the most vulnerable- but also adult animals.
«Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious and often deadly parvo virus that spreads quickly. It has been very common among small kittens for a long, long time, but now we are starting to see a different strain that is also affecting adults,» explained Local 10 Amy Dombkowski, veterinary technician at Purrr Adoption & Sanctuary in Pembroke Park, an organization that cares for over 200 felines.
Experts point to two factors driving the spread: the extreme summer heat in South Florida and the chronic overpopulation of stray cats in the area, which facilitates transmission among unvaccinated animals.
The incubation period of the virus ranges from two to seven days, meaning a cat can transmit it before showing any visible symptoms.
Once the signs appear – loss of appetite, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy – the outcome can be swift: many animals die within 24 to 48 hours.
Deborah Pachano, from Pretty Kitty Rescue in Miami, has dedicated years to feline rescue and claims to have never experienced anything like this before.
"Generally, we have a few cases each year, and that is completely normal, but we had never seen anything like this," said Pachano, who added, "I have survived many cases before, but with this particular strain, it took them very quickly."
Specialists have noticed that this strain of the virus is adapting and has become stronger.
The risk of indirect transmission is another concern: the virus does not infect humans, but people can mechanically transport it on clothing, hands, or surfaces and unknowingly infect other cats.
There is no antiviral cure for feline panleukopenia; treatment is solely supportive, and by the time cats show symptoms, it is often too late.
Vaccination is the only effective prevention tool. The FVRCP vaccine - which protects against panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus, and calicivirus - is available at Purrr Adoption & Sanctuary at a low cost: $25 per injection, with a three-dose schedule.
"If they can receive at least one dose, it helps. Two help to protect them, and three really solidify the protection," said Tanya Lynn Heller, founder of the organization.
The problem is not new in the region: in July 2025, Broward County Animal Care temporarily suspended the admission of stray cats due to a previous outbreak of panleukopenia, and in July of this year, Friends of Strays in Pinellas County closed its feline admission services for the same reason.
But the outbreak this summer surpasses the previous episodes in scope and severity.
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