In a move stirring concern among cat lovers, Lake County Animal Shelter (LCAS) is curtailing services for our feline friends in response to an outbreak of Panleukopenia, an infectious virus posing a high risk to cats, particularly kittens and those unvaccinated. According to Lake County, measures include the suspension of the Operation Community Caturday – Every Day is Caturday program, designed to trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) free-roaming cats, this suspension, alas, remains in effect until further notice, in efforts to stem the virus's spread.
Despite the alarming development, LCAS is determined to continue its mission with modified operations, ensuring that recovered, unexposed, and well-vaccinated cats remain available for adoption, while at-risk cat and kitten adoptions will be put on hold. Emergency cases involving injured or ill cats are still to be received by the shelter, which also urges the public to consider the Wait-til-8 program, where they can find support in fostering kittens with provisions of free vaccinations, food, and supplies.
Panleukopenia, which is exclusive to felines and not transmissible to humans or other animals, is caused by the feline parvovirus and is known for its severity and high contagion rates among cats, especially the vulnerable kittens and immunocompromised or unvaccinated adults. Lake County's shelter emphasizes the role of vaccination in reducing the infection risk, with the shelter highlighting that a routine vaccine regimen indeed includes protection against this aggressive virus.
The community's support is crucial during this time, the shelter notes, accepting donations of linens to aid in the fight against cross-contamination, residents looking to help can provide supplies such as towels and sheets, which may be dropped off at the shelter's front door, in addition, residents with the capacity to foster can register for the shelter’s foster program to care for unexposed shelter cats. For more information about the Wait-til-8 program and fostering interested individuals are directed to the links provided at the LCAS official news release.
