'It's what we have to do:' MADACC temporarily halts stray cat intake due to virus outbreak
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Starting today, the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) has temporarily ceased its intake services for stray cats, except for those requiring immediate medical attention.
The decision follows a rise in cases of feline panleukopenia, a disease caused by the feline parvovirus, within the organization's sheltered cat population.
Symptoms include vomiting, fever, lethargy, dehydration, and a loss of appetite.
Seeing the sick animals is "heartbreaking" for MADACC staff, according to Community Engagement Coordinator Kate Hartlund.
"Right now, bringing a healthy cat here is worse than leaving it alone," Hartlund told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White. “We’re hoping that for closing for these nine days, we’ll be able to get everything under control and get a clean break so that we’re not exposing any new animals coming in to the virus.”
#NEW: Starting today, @MADACC will ONLY be accepting sick/injured stray cats who need immediate medical attention, after a panleukopenia or "panleuk" outbreak at the center. If workers are able to curb the disease, the intake suspension will end 9/8. @CBS58pic.twitter.com/HP3NtGxK2i
— Ellie Nakamoto-White (@ellienw_news) August 31, 2023
MADACC attributes the outbreak to unprecedented intake numbers of both cats and dogs that have led to the increased incidence of the disease.
Typically, the organization receive anywhere from 30 to 50 stray cats on an average summer day, Hartlund said, which is why the temporary suspension is necessary to prioritize feline health.
“[Panleukopenia] spreads so quickly and so easily and it’s very hard to get rid of," Hartlund said. “It is what we have to do to help save the population of the cats that we have here.”
The organization has partnered with the UW Madison School of Veterinary Medicine’s Shelter Medicine Program to better manage their current population. This includes transferring healthy animals to other shelters and initiating a "clean break" strategy, where new animal wards are fully cleaned for future intakes.
People who encounter healthy stray cats are advised to allow them to return home, as many are indoor/outdoor pets. MADACC’s website offers a platform for posting photos of lost and found cats, helping facilitate reunions without the need to impound cats.
The facility's services for stray dogs and animal adoptions remain unaffected.
According to a press release, the suspension will remain in effect through the close of business Friday, Sept. 8.
More information can be found by visiting MADACC online.