MILWAUKEE – In the wake of rising panleukopenia cases in cats and kittens in Milwaukee County, the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) has seen an uptick in panleukopenia cases entering their shelter. To keep new intakes healthy, the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) and MADACC are asking for the community’s help in addressing the spread of the deadly virus.
Kittens arriving at MADACC will be assessed for signs of illness, and anyone bringing in kittens deemed healthy will be asked to take them to the WHS Milwaukee Campus for intake. Stray kittens are almost always litters born outside, and not household pets; they have a near 0% reclaim rate. By moving the healthy kittens directly to WHS, they are less likely to be exposed to panleukopenia and provide MADACC with some breathing room to manage the cases in their care. These kittens will then move into adoption programs through WHS and other local partners. Stray kittens who are sick, as well as all adult stray cats, will remain at MADACC for stray hold as usual.
Both facilities have hundreds of cats in care, but WHS is working to convert spaces to temporary cat housing to accommodate additional local intake.
Panleukopenia (FPV) is an extremely contagious and frequently fatal viral disease affecting the intestines and immune system. While reported mortality rates vary, kittens are especially vulnerable and can be much more likely to die from the disease. FPV can also survive in the environment for a year or longer, making it incredibly difficult to control. The feline panleukopenia vaccine is a core vaccine—often given as part of the FVRCP (feline distemper) shot—that protects cats from panleukopenia.
WHS and MADACC are asking for the public’s help in the following ways:
- Leave healthy cats alone. Lost cats are more likely to find their way home when left alone instead of being brought to a shelter. If you spot a healthy adult stray cat, don’t automatically bring them to your local stray holding facility. Learn more here. If you find a sick or injured stray cat of any age, please do bring them to your local animal control facility.
- Adopt! Every animal adopted from MADACC and WHS frees up more space and resources, whether a dog, cat, or small animal!
- Foster! Join the MADACC and/or WHS foster programs to temporarily care for animals in your home. Both are in high need of new foster parents, especially for cats/kittens!
- Get your cats vaccinated and keep them indoors as much as possible. The FVRCP vaccine is available during low-cost vaccine clinics at both WHS and MADACC, as well as other providers in the area.
- Consider alternatives to surrendering your cat to a shelter. Supportive resources can be found here. WHS is the agency that intakes surrendered animals in Milwaukee County.
