A highly contagious virus found in multiple cats Saturday at the Sacramento Animal Care Services has prompted temporary closure of the facility's cat adoption areas.
The virus, called panleukopenia or feline distemper, has killed one cat, said Suzi Springsteen, the shelter's senior animal care technician.
Shelter workers found the cat, which had been showing symptoms of upper respiratory infection, dead in its cage Friday morning.
It tested positive for the virus, prompting officials to test seven other cats displaying similar upper respiratory infection symptoms. Four of the cats, including one kitten, were found to have contracted the virus.
Animal control officials say the influx of cats at the shelter and the general overpopulation of cats in the community could have contributed to the outbreak. That's why it's important for people to spay and neuter their cats, officials said.
"If we didn't have such a gigantic population of cats, the likelihood of there being an epidemic of diseases among the cats would be less," said Claudia Schlachter, who trains volunteers at the shelter.
Donna Wicky, administrative officer at the shelter, said the facility has taken in 600 more cats in the 2007-08 fiscal year than in 2006-07.
"We are still getting as many cats as we do in springtime," Wicky said. The worsening economic crisis may be causing the inundation, as people abandon their cats in foreclosed homes or can't afford the $150 to $200 spay-and-neuter fees.
Wicky said a subsidy for eligible, low-income city residents will reduce the cost to $10 to $15 to spay or neuter their animals.
Panleukopenia primarily attacks the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy and loss of appetite.
Springsteen said the cats that were tested are not vomiting or having diarrhea but that they have "severe snotty noses" and a loss of appetite.
The four cats that tested positive likely will be euthanized, Springsteen said. Also likely to be euthanized will be cats displaying symptoms of the virus and those who have passed the time that animal shelters are required to hold them. The shelter now has 117 cats.
Shelter officials have set aside another room for new cats coming in, which has a holding capacity of 25 animals. Once full, incoming cats will be transferred to the county animal shelter or people bringing in cats will be asked to hold them until Tuesday, when the cat areas are scheduled to be reopened.
Shelter officials say they are not allowing adoptions from the facility for now but have 60 cats in foster care that are available.
Pictures of the foster cats can be found on the city's Web site: www.cityofsacramento.org/generalservices/animal-care/" target="_blank">http://www.cityofsacramento.org/generalservices/animal-care/.
On Saturday, most people at the shelter were looking to adopt a dog, but one couple were able to adopt a 3-month-old kitten that had been in foster care and was not exposed to the virus. Others looking for a feline friend weren't so lucky but have been understanding, Springsteen said.
"We are trying to do the best for the cats that are here and out there in the community," she said.
Call The Bee's Chelsea Phua, (916) 321-1132.
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