INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ A highly contagious and deadly cat virus that's swept through Indianapolis' animal shelter has prompted shelter officials to stop accepting additional felines for up to two weeks.
Animal Care & Control spokeswoman Dawn Contos tells The Indianapolis Star the outbreak began when several cats infected with the feline panleukopenia virus were brought to the Indianapolis shelter. The disease is similar to the canine parvovirus and is often fatal.
Contos says the shelter will have to euthanize up to about 60 cats exposed to the virus and it could take two weeks to decontaminate the rooms that housed the sick cats.
Any cats brought to the shelter by their owners during that time will be at risk for immediate euthanasia, while all stray cats will go to Indy Feral's shelter.
