COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) - Six Kittens Rescue in Bryan-College Station has suspended its rehoming efforts due to a Panleukopenia outbreak after a dozen kittens displayed symptoms of this highly contagious virus, also known as feline parvo. Abby Rafferty, the Interim Medical Director, explained the challenges faced by the organization, stating, "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."
Read More
The disease, which has no direct cure, can be fatal; the rescue has reported the loss of two kittens so far. Savannah Mendez, an adoption coordinator, expressed the emotional toll of these losses: "I broke down the other day when we lost our first kitten. 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."
Currently, over 20% of the kittens at the rescue are undergoing treatment. Consequently, all intakes and adoptions have been put on hold as affected kittens are quarantined and receive priority care, placing an additional burden on volunteers and foster families. Mendez noted the challenge of managing resources while caring for a full capacity of over 50 kittens.
For those kittens that are recovering, the rescue anticipates a recovery period of one to two weeks. Rafferty mentioned that they are hopeful about the progress, stating, "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."
This marks the third outbreak the rescue has dealt with since 2021. The emotional impact on volunteers is significant, with Mendez highlighting the difficulty of coping with losses while continuing to care for other kittens. The financial strain from veterinary bills related to the outbreak has also escalated, currently exceeding $10,000.
For more information about the rescue and how to support it, links are available on their website.