Contagious cat virus outbreak puts MADACC kennels under quarantineMADACC’s cat kennels are under quarantine as the shelter fights a highly contagious virus with no cure.MILWAUKEE —The Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission is over capacity for cats as it works to contain an outbreak of a highly contagious virus.MADACC said it has been over capacity for more than a week, and every cat room is now under quarantine because of feline panleukopenia, or FPV.The virus is highly contagious and can be especially dangerous for kittens. It can also survive in the environment for a year or longer, making outbreaks difficult to control in crowded shelters.MADACC said it has stepped up cleaning and other biosecurity measures to try to stop the spread. The agency said outbreaks like these can become more common during times of year when shelters see more cats and kittens coming through their doors.There is no cure for panleukopenia. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and can be expensive, especially if the illness is not caught early.MADACC is also reminding cat owners to keep their pets vaccinated and indoors. Outdoor cats can be exposed to the virus, and people can unknowingly carry it from one cat to another.With the shelter already overcrowded, MADACC is asking people who find healthy stray cats or kittens not to immediately bring them to the facility.Instead, the agency recommends getting the animal scanned for a microchip, posting on neighborhood and lost-pet social media pages and checking with nearby homes and businesses to see if someone recognizes the cat.MADACC stressed that sick, injured or endangered animals should still get help.Cats currently available for adoption have been kept in a separate room and have not shown symptoms of panleukopenia, according to MADACC.
