Cyprus Covid cats can receive unused human vaccines

[Dominic]

Partly because I have seen no evidence of any decline in cat populations on my many and varied travels around Paphos. But mostly because if it was actually an issue then the vet would have said something to us.

[galexinda]

So in effect the answer to the topic is, yes, they can.

Why didn't you bring up the topic with your vet Dominic?

Are you now doubting the knowledge and integrity of the vet that looks after Dominic's cat, Firefly?

[Firefly]

Galexinda

Not at all, why would you think that? I did not say so, nor did I infer so! Interesting.

It was Dominic's decision not to consult his vet in this.

Personally, if we had an epidemic in the UK, that was killing many cats, I would would want to know the score, as far as mine would be concerned. That said, we're all different!

[Dominic]

You have completely missed the point. We don't have an epidemic in Cyprus.

[Firefly]

According to all the media reports in the UK, thousands of cats have died in Cyprus, if that were humans, I'm sure that it would be classed as an epidemic.

So is this true or not, is the question, are all the reports falsified? And, if it is not true, why are Cypriot vets using anti Covid drugs, on cats there?

[WHL]

According to all the media reports in the UK, thousands of cats have died in Cyprus, if that were humans, I'm sure that it would be classed as an epidemic.

So is this true or not, is the question, are all the reports falsified? And, if it is not true, why are Cypriot vets using anti Covid drugs, on cats there?

The Daily Fail made a big issue of 300 000 cats , no one believes what the mail prints

[galexinda]

In the original article at the beginning of this topic there is an explanation for the hypothetical estimate of 300,000 cats compared to the
estimated 8,000 clinical cases that have been reported since January.

''The source for the astounding claim was vice president of the NGO Voice for Animals, Dinos Agiomammitis, who said that his words had been lost in translation. He explained that there is a very rough and hypothetical estimate that there are 1 million cats on the island. Extrapolating from there, if a mortality rate of 20-30 per cent of infected animals dying is applied, the resulting number is 300,000, he told CyBC’s morning programme.

But the director of the Veterinary Services Charalmbos Pipis responded that they cannot confirm the number of 300,000 dead cats from feline infectious peritonitis. Calling the reports “baseless” the veterinary association stated that an estimated 8,000 clinical cases had been reported since January''.

So, at the very least we are dealing with estimated figures, however, the veterinary association's figure is based on clinical cases rather than a hypothetical estimate.

[Firefly]

So yes, there are thousands, albeit 8, reported cases in Cyprus, and of the number unreported? i.e. feral cats, an unknown number.

Let's say we had, today, 8.000 and more, cases of Covid in Cyprus, would you call it an epidemic? Ignoring the pandemic of course.

The thing is that seemingly people dismissed the feline strain as insignificant, however, it appears that veterinary sources in Cyprus, now think that it is, sufficiently so, to use medication based on medication developed for humans, which is the subject of this thread I believe.

[Dominic]

Look we've answered your question. Believe what you want to believe.

[Firefly]

Dominic, facts are facts.

[Dominic]

Yes, and you are massively distorting them.

[Firefly]

Look Dominic, I am quite willing to hold my hand up, and admit it if I'm wrong, no problem.

All I know about the subject, I have read online, and gleaned from PL, the two differ. You say that my questions have been answered, I would differ, however, if that causes you annoyance, I won't ask anymore questions on the subject. Time will tell.

[galexinda]

Maybe I am cynical but I just see this as being an exercise to use up unused vaccines before they expire.
They can't do any harm to the cats, and, who knows, they might even do some good.
We'll never know the outcome as any treatment that improves the condition of any cat will be seen as a positive gesture.

[Dominic]

Without testing - which they appear to have done - you cannot assume that any human medicine will do no harm to animals. Otherwise we would end up giving them paracetemol, with disasterous results.

[Firefly]

How are you going to find out? Which animals are you going to test on?

We gave it to humans, so there must have been human guinea pigs. Thus it seems that there must be ransom tests on cats, to establish if it will work or not. Obviously someone must have given paracetamol to cats, because we know that it extremely dangerous to cats. Trial and error.

[Poppy]

Without testing - which they appear to have done - you cannot assume that any human medicine will do no harm to animals. Otherwise we would end up giving them paracetemol, with disasterous results.

Not sure about cats but I met someone yesterday with a 15 year old dog who was suffering quite badly with arthritis. Her Vet prescribed a quarter tablet of paracetemol twice daily and it appeared to be helping the dog.

[Dominic]

The classic drug mistake with animals happened back in the 60s, when they were investigating the effects of LSD. They calculated the amount of LSD for an elephant, and gave it a dose. Unfortunately, they based their calculation on the weight of the animal, whereas LSD affects the brain, so they should have calculatef on the weight of the brain.

Tusko RIP.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tusko#:~: ... 0he%20died.

[Mark]

I believe that vaccines are not being used, but tablets, so not unused Vaccines. There is no way I could get my cats to take tablets!

Anecdotally, I have 3 friends who have had 3 cats put to sleep, they were extremely bloated, the vets said due to a coronavirus, but they were not tested, so who knows

As I previously reported, the strays I feed have diminished by 50%, but the causes could be multi factorial.

I feel without adequate testing, who knows what is happening.

[galexinda]

An interesting article from 2021 in that there was a Covid vaccine specifically designed for animals.

'Carnivac-Cov, the first vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 specifically designed for animals'.
'After being vaccinated, 100% of the animals developed antibodies against the new coronavirus that is causing the pandemic in human populations'.

Also, later in the article something that may account for why there is a problem now within the cat population.

''The Covidac study conducted by the veterinary school VetAgro Sup in France showed that 20% of animals living in a household with at least one positive COVID-19 patient also tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. This means that animals living with infected owners are eight times more likely to be infected by the virus and suggests a much greater viral circulation in animals than expected''.
https://www.understandinganimalresearch ... or-animals

[Firefly]

Luckily I have not been infected with Covid, up to now that is. So hopefully my cat will be ok then.

My son however, has two cats and one dog, all rescues from Cyprus. He, his wife and two children were all infected with Covid, two years ago, so far, the pets all seem to be extremely healthy.