Special to The Star-Herald
One of the issues we deal with in housing cats is upper respiratory infection. This infection is common in places that house many cats, animal shelters, humane societies and feral cat colonies, not to mention multi-cat households. URI is airborne and easily passed from cat to cat.
Symptoms may be: sneezing, coughing, runny nose and watery eyes. Even if you carefully isolate your infected cat, it is very possible to spread URI because the infection was probably passed on to the other cats before the infection was detected. If you suspect URI in your cat, it is best to check with your veterinarian. If you visit a humane society or animal shelter and see a cat with runny eyes, sneezing or coughing, it is best to choose another cat to adopt and inform staff immediately. We have had some pretty strange weather this year, so it is very common to see kitties getting sick who are left in the cold, wet weather or who have been undernourished.
I have spoken with other shelters all over the state, their answers are all the same “we are full of cats.” I am not sure I have made my point as to how very important it is to have your animals spayed or neutered. Cats multiply quickly and there is nothing more sad or heartbreaking than to see a very sick mother cat come into the shelter and seeing her nurse her little babies who are also sick. Your veterinarian is the best person to answer your questions about URI. Take it seriously!!
If you are looking for a friend for life, please stop by the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Our cats are up to date on vaccinations, feline leukemia tested and altered. They are healthy, happy loving kitties. The Central Aroostook Humane Society is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or give us a call at 764-3441.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
Photo courtesy of Christine Robinson
COLBY CHARETTE. age 4, and his 9-year-old sister Audrey Charette raised $20 and $30, respectively, during a recent family garage sale. Audrey had seen an advertisement about animal abuse and neglect and had felt bad about it. Their mom, Melissa Charette, was going to have a garage sale and so the two children picked out some of their toys and sold them to raise money for animals in the care of the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle. Melissa joined her children, donating an additional $25, bringing the family total up to $75 to benefit the shelter. Here the two youth are pictured with their mom and some of the shelter kitties. The Charettes are from Fort Kent.
