BRADENTON, Fla. (SNN) — A highly contagious and deadly virus is spreading rapidly through the cat population at the Manatee County Bishop Animal Shelter, prompting officials to take drastic action.

The shelter has temporarily suspended all cat intakes as they work to control the outbreak of panleukopenia.

Inside the shelter, dozens of wide-eyed kittens appear healthy and playful — but looks can be deceiving. Every kitten is currently fighting panleukopenia, a virus known for its severe symptoms and high mortality rate in unvaccinated cats.

“Over the last couple of months and a half, we had a lot of cats breaking with vomiting and diarrhea,” said Dr. Syna Johnson, the shelter’s veterinarian. “We diagnosed several positive cases of panleukopenia.”

What began as a few isolated cases has now escalated to over 100 infections. Dr. Johnson said the shelter was overwhelmed by a surge of incoming kittens, and with not enough foster homes available, many unvaccinated kittens remained in the shelter and were exposed to the virus.

“Intake was so heavy we ran out of fosters,” Johnson explained. “That means kittens that are too small and not vaccinated stayed here — and many ended up contracting the virus.”

Currently, the shelter is treating around 40 cats for panleukopenia, and officials are optimistic about their recovery. Once they are healthy, these kittens will be ready for adoption.

Shelter staff hope to resume intakes within the next few weeks, once the situation is under control and it’s safe to bring in new animals.

In the meantime, for those still looking to adopt a furry friend, Cat Town in Bradenton remains open and has cats available for adoption. Officials recommend ensuring all adopted cats are properly vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease.