Mass Cat Vaccination Clinic Set for Sunday

File photo.

By Wendy Osher

The SPCA Maui will hold a mass vaccination clinic for Maui cats this Sunday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at their new Kahului clinic location at 355 Hukilike Street, Unit 112.

All cats will receive a vaccine that includes vaccination against the deadly panlekopenia virus which has been confirmed in at least one cat Upcountry.

The SPCA says there is also a suspected case in Kahului, and that the virus may be spreading on the island.

All vaccines are by donation and on a first-come-first-serve basis. Cats must be in hard sided carriers or traps and covered with a clean dry towel.

When cat owners arrive, they will walk up, get a number, and be called to come in when it is their turn. Cat owners are asked to keep their pet in their vehicle until it is their turn, to prevent any potential spread of the panleukopenia virus.

SPCA Maui’s Peter Tierney said “the panleukopenia virus is not contagious to humans or other animals but can be spread by human contact. The virus is highly contagious to unvaccinated cats and can be fatal to young , senior, and immune impaired cats.”

Signs of the virus in cats can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever, and even sudden death, according tot he Maui Humane Society. The organization released a list of precautions suggested for cat owners and colony caretakers in an effort to protect cats and keep the virus from spreading to epidemic levels.

SPCA Maui President Sue Liscombe also commented in an organization announcement saying, “this virus could hit Maui cats hard so we had to hit the ground running.”

“We feel we need to do more than just tell people they need to vaccinate their cats” Tierney said. “We want to help them vaccinate their cats,” he said.

For more information on the upcoming SPCA vaccination clinic, interested individuals can contact the organization representatives via phone at (808) 280-0738, via email at [email protected] , or online at the SPCA Maui website.