Wisconsin shelter pauses cat adoptions after virus

RACINE, Wis. - Cat adoptions will be temporarily suspended at the Wisconsin Humane Society shelter in Racine after four cats tested positive for a contagious and often fatal disease.

The Journal Times reports cat adoptions will resume Sept. 2. A Wisconsin Humane society spokeswoman says adoptions of dogs and other animals won't be affected because the disease is only transmissible to cats.

The four cats that tested positive were euthanized or have died from the disease, called feline panleukopenia (pan-loo-kah-PEE'-nee-ah) virus. The 120 cats at the Racine shelter will be tested for antibodies and observed.

The Wisconsin Humane Society last saw a case of the virus in 2012 in Milwaukee. It is advising people who recently adopted cats to look for signs of the virus including lethargy, vomiting and loss of appetite.