Deadly feline disease hits animal shelter

An outbreak of feline distemper has forced the Calgary Humane Society to close its doors to cats coming and going from the animal shelter.

"Temporarily we're not able to take in any cats and we aren't able to adopt them out," Cheryl Wallach, a society worker said Wednesday. "We don't want to put more cats at risk by bringing them in and we don't want to send cats home that may be ill."

A stray kitten turned in last week had feline distemper which spread through the shelter. Veterinarians had to euthanize one cat and six kittens and are monitoring another 100 for symptoms.

Feline distemper is a highly contagious viral infection that kills cats quickly. It causes severe dehydration and has no cure. Veterinarians recommend euthanizing cats that show symptoms, which include high fever, loss of appetite and vomiting.

An outbreak in 2005 resulted in 150 cats dying or being put down.

The society said it's seeing feline distemper spread faster than before because fewer people are vaccinating their pets, the only prevention for the virus.

In the meantime, the society is sending healthy cats to pet stores across the city and scrubbing down its rooms.

The humane society hopes to start taking vaccinated cats again within the next few days. Wallach said it could take up to two weeks to resume all adoptions.