Animal shelter halts cat intake for 30 days

Pitt County Animal Services (PCAS) has announced the shelter will not accept cats and kittens through Aug. 26. The purpose of halting intake services is to effectively quarantine and treat the cats diagnosed with feline calicivirus (FCV).

FCV is host-specific, meaning it can spread to other cats but not to other animal species or humans. FVC is a significant cause of contagious upper respiratory infections (URIs) in cats, also called the “cat flu.” FCV can also cause oral diseases or limping syndrome.

PCAS currently has 84 shelter cats with approximately 47 diagnosed with FVC. The affected cats were diagnosed and quarantined with a treatment plan by the shelter’s veterinarian, Krystel Riggione. The supportive care plan is a two-week course of multiple antibiotics.

The remaining 37 healthy cats have been successfully cleared by the veterinarian, quarantined and are available for adoption. Learn more about adoptable shelter pets at 24petconnect.com.

The Animal Services protocol is to vaccinate healthy cats with FVRCP, a broad-spectrum vaccine, that protects felines against feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes), calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia (feline distemper).

The sick cats will be vaccinated when cleared by the shelter vet. Post treatment and vaccination, the cats are expected to have a normal prognosis and life expectancy. They will be transferred to the healthy quarantine section for adoption.

Although several shelters and cat rescues in the area have taken in cats from a regional hoarding situation, a spokesperson for the shelter said none of its quarantined felines were from that group The shelter was already at capacity when those cats were discovered, the spokesperson said.

For more information, contact the public information office at 902-2955.