Humane Society puts down 200 cats after mass outbreak
Springfield, Mo. - 6/21/07 - Almost 200 cats were euthanized, and the remainder quarantined at the Southwest Missouri Humane Society (SMHS) after a suspected outbreak of the fast-spreading calicivirus.
Humane Society puts down 200 cats after mass outbreakSpringfield, Mo. - 6/21/07 - Almost 200 cats were euthanized and the remainder quarantined at the Southwest Missouri Humane Society (SMHS) after a suspected outbreak of the fast-spreading calicivirus.
Believed to have come from an infected feral or stray cat dropped off at the shelter, the outbreak was first identified the week of June 11 when one shelter cat died, according to a report by Ozarks First.
Unable to determine how many other felines were infected, workers decided to euthanize its entire feline population and then shutdown the facility for disinfection.
Many cats are vaccinated against the household calicivirus, but not the deadly strain. VS-FCV causes mouth ulcers, swelling and high fever and often leads to a painful death.
Since reopening June 18, SMHS will be vaccinating every cat for VS-FCV.
