If the World Health Organization considers that 0.4% of the human population infected with Covid-19 is a pandemic, then the following viral diseases in cats are true pandemics:

• It is estimated that 15% of 200 million owned cats around the world have either Feline Leukaemia (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIV) or both.
• It is estimated that another 10% of 200 million owned cats around the world has Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).
• Feline Panleukopenia (FPV) is seeing a marked resurgence in the past 3 years, especially in kittens. It has spread today to many parts of Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe as we receive more and more enquiries from cat owner groups and veterinarians from these territories.
• It is recently reported in scientific journals that chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats has an important viral origin: Feline Morbillivirus (FMV).

This means that 4 in every 10 cats will succumb to one of these fatal diseases in their lifetime.

1. FPV is sometimes misdiagnosed in catteries and rescue shelters because these cats that were brought in are suffering from Feline Leukaemia (FeLV) or Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIV).
2. Since its discovery, the Feline Morbillivirus (FMV) has been reported in domestic cats worldwide, including in Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, US, Brazil, Turkey, UK, Germany, and Malaysia. Importantly, there is a potential association between FMV infection and feline kidney diseases, such as tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) and chronic kidney diseases (CKD), which are known to significantly affect feline health and survival (Eun Jin Choi et al., Viruses [May 2020], Vol.12, Issue 501).
3. According to authors in the Veterinary Research Forum in 2014, the prevalence of Feline Herpesvirus type-1 (FHV-1) and Feline Calicivirus are the main primary pathogens of feline upper respiratory tract disease (FURD).