COPPERAS COVE, Texas — Copperas Cove Animal Control has temporarily suspended cat adoptions amidst "health concerns" with the shelter's cat population.
A spokesperson for the shelter told 6 News cats and kittens in the shelter are experiencing Upper Respiratory Infections (URI), which cause symptoms like sneezing and runny noses.
The shelter said URI is common but treatable.
To help prevent the infection from spreading, residents are asked to:
- Not trap stray or feral cats/kittens at this time.
- Ensure their cats/kittens are current on their vaccinations.
- Keep their cats away from any sick stray cats they notice around their home.
- Wash outdoor bedding often, as strays sometimes lay on porches.
- Post any found animals to lost/found social media groups before contacting the shelter.
- Wash their hands immediately after petting a stray cat as a precaution.
The shelter said they anticipate adoptions to resume "possibly next week", depending on how well the cats respond to the treatment.
"The shelter is taking these actions out of an abundance of caution to prevent further spreading of the infection and ensure the health and safety of the animals," a spokesperson told 6 News.
"The health of the animals in our facility is important to all of us," said Animal Control in a post on social media.
Copperas Cove Animal Control said there are currently 29 cats and kittens in the shelter.
More information on Copperas Cove Animal Control can be found at this link.
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