<body><div>COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - It is the busiest time of year for rescues as kittens flood into shelters.But Six Kittens Rescue in Bryan-College Station has temporarily paused rehoming efforts after a dozen kittens were diagnosed with, or are showing symptoms of, Panleukopenia.“While we always keep this panleukopenia in the back of our mind, we like not to expect it. And then it’s just, it’s like wildfire because kittens always come in groups,” said Abby Rafferty, the Interim Medical Director for Six Kittens Rescue.The virus, also called feline parvo, is highly contagious and has no direct cure. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1HrppU_1FS4X0yg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1HrppU_1FS4X0yg00" width="1300" height="730" ><figcaption>Six Kitten Rescue makes post about Panleukopenia outbreak (Alex Weister)</figcaption></figure>It can also be fatal. The rescue said they’ve already lost two kittens.“I broke down the other day when we lost our first kitten,” said Savannah Mendez, an adoption coordinator for the rescue. “That’s just kind of the sake of kitten rescue. But it just feels really hard when it’s something that you work really hard to prevent.” Just over 20% of their kittens are being treated for the disease. Intakes and adoptions have been paused as affected kittens have to be quarantined and take priority vet visits, something that volunteers said has put an increased burden on them and foster families.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=30PnXo_1FS4X0yg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=30PnXo_1FS4X0yg00" width="1300" height="730" ><figcaption>2 of over 50 kittens currently with Six Kitten Rescue (Alex Weister)</figcaption></figure>“It really takes all of our efforts, all of our resources. And so it makes us unable to take on any other kittens, because we’re at capacity to be able to take care of these kittens safely; we have to have limits,” Mendez said.For the kittens that have survived, the group expects them to recover in one to two weeks. “So we’re shooting for a week; if we can make it and we’re having that forward progress, then we’re likely on the up and up,” Rafferty said.The rescue said this is only the 3rd time since 2021 they have dealt with an outbreak. With situations such as this, where kittens become very ill or even die, it also takes a mental toll on volunteers.“It’s hard for a lot of us to lose a kitten and then have to turn around and stuff that emotion down and kind of get it together to be able to continue to care for the other kittens,” Mendez said.Everyone at the rescue is either a volunteer or a foster family that takes care of the cats with the rescue. The financial burden that these outbreaks cost can also be difficult to manage.“We’re up to another vet bill that’s probably over $10,000 at this point,” said Mendez.To learn more about the rescue, click the link here.To donate, click the link here.</div></body>

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - It is the busiest time of year for rescues as kittens flood into shelters. But Six Kittens Rescue in Bryan-College Station has temporarily paused rehoming efforts after a dozen kittens were diagnosed with, or are showing symptoms of, Panleukopenia. “While we always keep this panleukopenia...

Local kitten rescue faces deadly virus outbreak

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - It is the busiest time of year for rescues as kittens flood into shelters. But Six Kittens Rescue in Bryan-College Station 

Local kitten rescue faces deadly virus outbreak

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