Some 700 cats killed by feline coronavirus in Büyükada: Locals

Some 700 cats have been killed by "feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)," known as the "cat coronavirus," in the last four months in Büyükada, the biggest island of Istanbul's Princes' Islands, local officials have announced.

"There were around 210 cats in the region that I looked after. Now that number is only 50," Neslihan Sipahioğlu, a volunteer for Büyükada Animal Rescue Society, told the Demirören News Agency.

FIP is a systemic disease caused by the mutant form of cat corona viruses (FCoV), the most common cause of death, especially of young cats and immune system depressed cats. Coronavirus (FCoV) in felines spreads in areas where cats live in crowded groups.

"Seven out of ten cats die of FIP [on the island]. The state or the Islands Municipality should do something," Metin Türkmenoğlu, another volunteer said.

Stating that he has been recording all the cat deaths since 2013, Türkmenoğlu pointed out these spectacular statistics.

"Between 450-500 cats die in Büyükada annually. In the first five months of this year, the number of deaths surpassed 700. This is nearly three times more than annual numbers," he expressed.

The cat coronavirus pandemic on the island have pushed the scared animal lovers to adopt their methods of cure management. The volunteers of Animal Rescue Society have set up some "quarantine rooms" where they look after the sick felines.

"[In the first five months of the year] We picked up the dead bodies of the cats from the streets," Sipahioğlu said and added: "Eight of my own cats died due to FIP."

When asked if there is essential medical treatment, Sipahioğlu highlighted the costliness of the medicine.

"There are jabs and tests against FIP, but they are extremely expensive. I had...

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