Distemper Hits Shelter

I'm so upset. The animal shelter that I voluteer at sometimes in South Elgin, IL was hit with the distemper virus. So far 85 cats have died. I can't stop crying, most of them were kittens. They say a stray must have brought it and the kittens are the most vulnerable. I'm so depressed.

oh good grief - I am so very very sorry to hear this. How simply awful.

sending the biggest biggest your way

Originally Posted by sharper16

I'm so upset. The animal shelter that I voluteer at sometimes in South Elgin, IL was hit with the distemper virus. So far 85 cats have died. I can't stop crying, most of them were kittens. They say a stray must have brought it and the kittens are the most vulnerable. I'm so depressed.

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I'm sooo sorry.

Katie

Originally Posted by sharper16

I'm so upset. The animal shelter that I voluteer at sometimes in South Elgin, IL was hit with the distemper virus. So far 85 cats have died. I can't stop crying, most of them were kittens. They say a stray must have brought it and the kittens are the most vulnerable. I'm so depressed.

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Does the shelter vaccinate the cats? Disempher should be vaccinated against.

Oh, that is just terrible! 85 cats? What a tragedy. Please be very careful about washing well when you get home so you don't bring the virus home with you to your cats.

I am just north of you, I used to work at the Larkin Center in Elgin. What is the name or link to the shelter?

How horrible I'm sorry you must be extremely upset. I have never volunteered at a shelter. I guess I just assumed they got their shots right away. I suppose some of the kittens were too small , though Sending good thoughts your way and for the lost kittens

HUGS i am sorry to hear about that. sounds like our shelter isnt the only one who got hit with stuff this year

I am so sorry to hear that happened. My Vinnie died when he caught Feline distemper--also called panleukopenia. He had been vaccinated once for it, but it was a intranasal, and he had to have sneezed some of it out, he was at the vets getting his 3rd vaccine when he contracted distemper.
After he passed I was horrified by what I was hearing on other forums about distemper taking the lives of so many of our babies.

My prayers and thoughts are with you. Having just gone thru this about 2 months ago at home I know the pain. I had 11 fosters with me and lost 8 of them and one of my own. The best I can figure is a litter of 3 week old babies brought it into the house. I don't blame them. The remaining three fosters are now part of my household. Two of those are distemper survivors and with all the time and energy spent trying to keep them going there is special bond with them now.

Dozen2Luv

I'm so sorry to hear about that. It's certainly going around lately. We had a calici outbreak at one of our shelters. So sad.

Oh, how sad. My heart goes out to you.

my heart broke when i read the story about the outbreak in Tribune this morning! the article said the virus claimed 93 cats and kittens. so sorry.

Ugh... I'm so sorry, for you, and for all the fur babies who passed.

This is a terrible tragedy
My heart goes out to you & all of the dedicated people who are working with these poor innocent kittens.
Rest in peace little babies.

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

Oh, that is just terrible! 85 cats? What a tragedy. Please be very careful about washing well when you get home so you don't bring the virus home with you to your cats.

I am just north of you, I used to work at the Larkin Center in Elgin. What is the name or link to the shelter?

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(It is the Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin. )

Here is the article from the Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...ck=1&cset=true

Nasty stuff, there are outbreaks everywhere. In California especially many cats are dying from it-

Saw this on the news a couple nights ago. Very sad. Since we just adopted a sheltered rescued kitten who almost died a couple of times, this hit us kinda hard, knowing the lives that have been affected. Hope the other cats there that are left make it through.

That's really sad!

I couldn't read the article because you have to register. Were the cats vaccinated or not? The reason I am asking is that I am wondering if the vaccine actually works.