ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Animal Resources announced on Tuesday a temporary pause on all cat intakes for the next week due to an outbreak of feline panleukopenia at their facility.
Feline panleukopenia, also known as feline distemper, is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease caused by the feline panleukopenia virus, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. All cats are susceptible, with greater risks for kittens, immunocompromised cats, and those that are unvaccinated.
“We truly want to ensure the health and wellbeing of our feline population, and by closely monitoring that population, we hope to re-open cat intakes quickly by taking these extra steps now,” stated Animal Resources Director Julie Johnson.
Johnson emphasized that vaccinating cats is the best preventive measure against feline panleukopenia.
For further information, individuals are encouraged to contact Director Julie Johnson at 352-264-6890.
