In Cyprus there are many cats living on the streets and it is not easy to calculate the exact number of deaths.
Photo: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS
An outbreak of feline coronavirus has been reported in Cyprus. The disease has already claimed the lives of some 300,000 cats living on the island, thus reducing its population by more than a third in a short period. At the same time, veterinarians do not consider these figures to be definitive, since in Cyprus there are many cats living on the streets and it is not possible to calculate the exact number of dead individuals. But in any case, the carcasses of animals were found there and are found more and more often.
Separate cases of this disease have already been reported in the UK and Israel.
A certain strain of coronavirus causes peritonitis (FIP) in cats, leading to the death of the animal. Both domestic and outdoor cats are equally susceptible to infection. In Cyprus, an increase in the incidence of this coronavirus was recorded in January and peaked in June.
The most common symptoms of FIP are fever, swelling, and sometimes aggressive behavior from the animal. Kittens and cats under the age of two are most at risk of infection.
The disease is curable, but the cost of drugs that effectively combat this strain is incredibly expensive and, depending on the weight of the animal, can range from $3,000 to $7,000 per treatment. Molnupiravir, a cheaper option that treats people with COVID-19, is also showing good results, but has not been approved by Cypriot authorities for use by vets.
Cypriot doctors urged the government to solve the problem and start vaccinating cats. Meanwhile, animal owners and activists buy medicine for animals at their own expense.
Cats have been living in Cyprus for a long time, the history of the island of Aphrodite is closely intertwined with these creatures: archaeologists have found evidence of the domestication of cats in Cyprus dating back to the 6th century BC.
