AN CAT DUBH Sanctuary has been forced to close until further notice following a highly contagious viral outbreak.
Located in Clonlaheen on the Doolough Road which is off the R474 between Inagh and Miltown Malbay, the animal sanctuary was founded by Rhona Lucas and has grown from two dogs and two cats in 2009 to over 200 cats along with donkeys, hens and dogs.
An outbreak of feline panleukopenia has resulted in the temporary closure of An Cat Dubh until further notice.
Blood tests results have confirmed that a group of cats and kittens at the sanctuary died from the disease. “We have no way of knowing if this viral condition was picked up here or was brought in by this particular family of cats. This is a highly contagious virus and has a high mortality rate in kittens in particular,” Rhona stated.
Following on from the outbreak, Rhona has decided to close the sanctuary with no visitors, admissions or re-homing until further notice. More “stringent infection control” will be introduced for all volunteers.
Eighty three old Rhona admitted, “Having this infection in the sanctuary is my worst nightmare. Please do not make this situation more stressful by continuing to ask to adopt kittens. There is no point in homing kittens that may die soon after placement and bring infection in to your home and that put your other animals at potential risk”.
Elsie, a pregnant cat returned to the vets on Thursday morning as she is not eating or drinking. “Fortunately she spent her short time here in the catio, not venturing in to the house but she has had contact with me and I have had contact with infected kittens,” Rhona outlined.
Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious, potentially fatal disease of cats caused by the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). Kittens are most severely affected. FPV attacks cells that are rapidly growing and dividing, such as those in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, intestines, and developing foetuses. The name ‘panleukopenia’ stems from the damaging effect that FPV has on white blood cells (leukocytes), which the body needs to fight off infection.
