A tense, fast-moving rescue this week pulled 43 cats and kittens out of Cobb County Animal Services after staff discovered cases of panleukopenia, a highly contagious feline virus. Furkids Animal Rescue in Cumming stepped in, agreed to take the exposed animals and moved them into medical quarantine at its headquarters. At least one kitten died in the outbreak, and volunteers say the emergency transfer likely prevented a wave of euthanasia at the Marietta shelter.
According to WSB‑TV, Cobb County Animal Services put out an urgent plea when the virus surfaced and Furkids had only a few hours to decide whether it could help. Furkids CEO Samantha Shelton told the station, “we said yes,” and the rescue scrambled to set up quarantine for roughly 43 cats for about two weeks. Staff and volunteers shifted animals into isolated cages and stacked extra shifts to cover the group’s medical needs.
FOX 5 Atlanta aired video of staffers loading carriers as the cats were moved out. The station confirmed that at least one kitten died as the shelter managed the outbreak, and its report described “dozens” of cats and kittens routed from Cobb County Animal Control to outside rescues in an effort to stop the spread.
What panleukopenia does to cats
Feline panleukopenia, often called feline distemper, is a parvovirus that hits a cat’s immune and digestive systems and can be fatal, especially for unvaccinated kittens, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. The manual notes that the virus is tough to kill in the environment and can stick around unless shelters use powerful disinfectants. That stubborn streak is why exposed animals are isolated and facilities go through deep cleaning and strict quarantine procedures when cases appear.
How Furkids is caring for the group
Furkids says its Cumming campus has the medical capacity and a dedicated quarantine area to monitor the exposed kittens while they receive supportive care and testing, and staff rearranged space to house the sudden intake. The rescue is asking the community for donations, foster volunteers and supplies to cover veterinary care and other needs, with details available on Furkids…