October 01, 2024
Scientists have found a virus that causes an ailment called staggering disease in cats in the USA. This disease is caused by one of the Rustrela virus variants known as RusV and infects big cats, small cats and other animals. The symptoms of the disease include seizures, loss of the ability to retract claws, staggering movements and tremors. Scientists found the presence of the RusV virus in a mountain lion in Colorado, USA, for the first time in 2023. This disease has been observed in various animals in Europe including pet cats and zoo animals over the last 50 years.
DID YOU KNOW?
Puma and cougar are different names for the same species, while panther is a broader term used for different big cats, often those with a black coat.
Puma
