What are the early signs of feline distemper?

Cats usually show signs of decreased mental and appetite status, persistent vomiting, and increased body temperature in the early stages of feline distemper. However, because many diseases can present with these symptoms, it is difficult to diagnose feline distemper through initial clinical symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended that owners bring their cats to a pet hospital as soon as they notice abnormalities, to undergo infectious disease testing to determine if the cat has contracted feline distemper. The earlier the treatment, the higher the chance of recovery.

Decreased mental and appetite status

Healthy cats are usually active and playful, but if they contract feline distemper, they will become lethargic, sleep excessively, and lose their appetite. This symptom will become more prominent in the middle stage, and even lead to complete refusal to eat or drink. Therefore, if a cat has not been vaccinated on time and shows symptoms of decreased mental and appetite status, it is recommended to send the cat to a pet hospital for infectious disease screening, and receive timely treatment after confirmation.

Persistent vomiting

Normal vomit from cats is usually white mucus with bubbles, and after vomiting once, they usually stop and their mental status, appetite, and bowel movements are not affected. However, vomiting in feline distemper is continuous, with at least a few times a day and up to dozens of times. The vomit is usually yellow-green mucus with bubbles. In severe cases, there may be bloodstains in the vomit. Therefore, when a cat vomits frequently, the owner should be alert that the cat may have feline distemper.

Increased body temperature

Feline distemper in the early stages is similar to a cold, with increased body temperature. The cat usually has a fever of 39.5-41 degrees Celsius and remains feverish for several days. The fever is mainly bilateral, with the first fever reaching about 40 degrees Celsius, dropping to normal temperature after 24 hours, and then rising to 40 degrees Celsius again after two to three days. Therefore, if a cat has a high fever, it is necessary to check whether it has feline distemper in a timely manner.