Comments on: Virus Killing Cats In Gans, Pennsylvania

By: why do my cats fight when i am in the shower

why do my cats fight when i am in the shower — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:50:52 +0000

[…] old pets, … when I come home, right away I throw my clothes in the wash and take a shower. …http://www.itchmo.com/virus-killing-cats-in-gans-pennsylvania-3190Should I bathe my cats? Ask MetafilterJan 13, 2007 … If you do have to do it, the best way I found […]

By: mmfunkhouser

mmfunkhouser — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:07:06 +0000

This situation is a sad one to say the least. I have had personal experience with this and you do all you can to save those already infected and quarantine everyone else. You clean all cages and equipment as thorough as humanly possible and change gloves between handling each cat. And these procedures are followed everyday, but sometimes a virus does manage to fight its way in.

We also do not adopt out any cats which show signs of illness, though sometimes this is hard because viruses can have incubation periods, thus the cat shows no signs for a week or two after infection. However, if someone calls us that has adopted a cat with concerns, we see the cat right away and provide vet care.

As for those who volunteer, I have cats of my own, and when our shelter had distemper, I took every precaution. I purchased scrubs and as soon as I got home, my clothes went into the wash (my cats were permitted no where near dirty clothes), and I took a shower BEFORE handling my kitties. (They hated that but it was for their own good!) Our shelter made it through this rough time and I did not take it home with me.

Those are desperate times and ones no one ever wants to face, but as long as proper cleaning and handling methods are practiced ALWAYS, the chance of an outbreak is decreased. Educating volunteers is a MUST and ALWAYS keep newly adopted (or stray animals) seperated from others, until they have received vet care and are slowly introduced with one another.

I hope my two cents helps! Thanks!

By: Jenny Bark

Jenny Bark — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:13:44 +0000

Here goes my big trap again. I’m sure some of you remember me posting about our Misty & Roxy who I will always blame Eukanuba for killing. Misty was pb show dog, our Roxy came from a shelter about 20 or so miles from this one. I have never been in the shelter above but the one we got Roxy from was really bad. God bless the women that worked there but their was no way they could take care of that place or the $ no matter how hard they tried. Roxy was so sick but my husband said she was comming home with us, her name is Roxy & she is going to make it. Our vet didn’t even think she would make it & of course our other dogs got sick too. We all made it after a long time & lots of money. Roxy turned out to be a beautiful Belgum Tribet (sp) & just a perfect, perfect baby.

I’m sorry if I get some of you upset because i like all of you, but I really believe there are a lot of bad kill shelters & animal control around. I really do belive some of you work in good ones but I think of what the animals would like to tell us about the bad ones they go to. My money goes to our two wonderful no kill shelters. This sickness & other sickness has happened before in this shelter & others & everyone can’t pay like Art & I did nor take off work to take care of the babies.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:05:16 +0000

Diane, I volunteer at a no-kill non-profit shelter and I daily clean the isolation building, which is separate from the main shelter. I have 4 cats at home, and when I come home, right away I throw my clothes in the wash and take a shower. My cats at home are quite peeved that I don’t let them smell the OTHER kitties on me, but after the shower I make it up to them with love and treats, and all is forgiven.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:55:21 +0000

Unfortunately, many shelters don’t have the funds or the room to keep animals isolated. This is why it is so important to quarantine new pets from your old pets, especially if you foster and take in strays. It is not worth risking the health of your longtime pets

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:17:14 +0000

I have to admit, I was thinking about volunteering at an animal shelter but this scares me to death. If I work with cats at a shelter, how likely is it that I will carry something home to infect my own cats?

By: mittens

mittens — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:59:48 +0000

you avoid it by not letting your cats breed and run wild so they end up in a shelter or feral situation. period. it used to be far more widespred as it’s highly contageous but the vaccine is most effective though not fraught with controversy like most all other vaccines.

By: catmom5

catmom5 — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:47:25 +0000

This is beyond sad. Don’t they keep new entries in isolation before putting them out with the resident population? My local hs had to go through and euthanize all the cats for a similar outbreak and it just about put the employees and volunteers over the edge. There must be ways to prevent this kind of outbreak ~ or at least greatly reduce the likelihood that it will happen. I’m so sorry for all those people who took fosters home only to lose them (and their own). Just sad!