Cat flu warning as nine kittens die from disease

Nine of 11 kittens with cat flu have died in what an RSPCA officer described as the worst case of the disease she had ever seen.

The animals were found at a property in Stoke-on-Trent underweight and suffering from symptoms including eye infections and dehydration, the charity said.

They had been living among a large group of cats and the RSPCA believed the disease spread when a feral colony merged with a litter of domestic kittens.

Nine of the kittens were put down due to the severity of their condition and the surviving two have been sent to a vet for treatment.

"This is the worst case of cat flu I've ever seen," said Sophie Taylor, an animal rescue officer with the RSPCA.

"Clearly, a lack of awareness of cat flu, its symptoms and how easily it spreads, alongside a delay in seeking treatment, sadly resulted in these poor kittens experiencing such a difficult time."

Following the kittens' deaths, the organisation has urged cat owners to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of cat flu and take action as soon as they develop.

They include sneezing, runny eyes and noses, sore or inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fever and lethargy.

Rebecca Ashman, head vet for the RSPCA, said: "We would always advise owners to seek veterinary advice as soon as symptoms appear.

"Early treatment can make a huge difference to a cat's recovery."

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