Feline parvovirus outbreak hits Finland’s largest cat shelter with nearly 1,500 cats

A deadly outbreak of feline parvovirus, commonly known as cat distemper, has struck Finland’s largest cat protection association in Kankaanpää, forcing the cancellation of all meetings for at least two weeks, reports Yle.

The Kankaanpää Animal Welfare Association currently houses nearly 1,500 cats, making it the country’s single largest organization for feline care. The virus, which attacks a cat’s immune system, poses a severe risk to unvaccinated animals.

This marks the tenth time in eight years that parvovirus has been detected among the shelter’s cats. In the latest case, seven cats tested positive for the virus. “The cats don’t arrive here with medical records in paw,” said Anna-Maija Pellonpää, chair of the association’s board. “The virus can be present in any of them, and most aren’t vaccinated when they come to us.”

Newly arrived cats are placed in a two-week quarantine, and those testing positive are isolated and cared for by staff wearing protective gear. “We’ll get this under control, but it’s stressful,” Pellonpää added.

The outbreak will cost the association around €10,000, as all porous materials must be destroyed and remaining surfaces thoroughly disinfected. The shelter, which spans nearly 450 square meters, takes in cats from across Finland, often in cases where populations have grown uncontrollably—meaning breeding exceeds legal care standards.

The most recent parvovirus outbreak in Finland was reported at the Hämeenkyrö-based Kissankulma animal welfare association.