We experienced heartbreak and trauma:…read more
On February 27th, 2026, we adopted three cats from Kitty City: one 2.5 year old adult female (Asia) and two 8 wk old male kittens who were brothers (we named them Cirrus and Nimbus). All appeared healthy at adoption.
What happened to the kittens:
On the evening of March 4th, Cirrus began acting off. By the morning of March 5th, he was lethargic and had vomited. On March 6th, he was diagnosed with feline panleukopenia virus (FPV). Despite treatment, we found him deceased early on March 7th. Nimbus began showing early symptoms that same morning- bloody diarrhea and weight loss (I did baseline weights for both kittens on February 28th). We made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize Nimbus on the evening of March 7th.
About FPV and shelter environments:
FPV is an extremely hardy virus that can persist in the environment for a year or longer. Kittens are especially vulnerable because of their immature immune systems. Adult cats can have milder FPV infections and may not show dramatic symptoms, but they still shed the virus during active infection. FPV can spread through contaminated surfaces, clothing, shoes, or contact with infected cats. Because of these reasons, shelters typically vaccinate every cat on intake, including adults, unless detailed medical records confirm current vaccination status.
Concerns about vaccination protocols:
My concerns arise from what I learned about Asia's history:
* Asia was born as an outdoor colony cat in 2023.
* She was captured in August 2024, spayed and vaccinated, then released.
* She was captured again in October 2025 and brought to Kitty City.
* She did not receive any vaccinations at that time.
* The rationale was that her ear tip indicated she had been spayed and vaccinated previously.
However, an ear tip only confirms that a cat was spayed/neutered and vaccinated at the time of surgery. It does not indicate:
* which vaccines were given
* when they were given
* whether boosters are due
* whether the cat is currently protected
Without records, vaccination status is unknown. Asia was vaccinated again only on the day we adopted her, so that Kitty City would "have something on paper."
I believe that every cat should be vaccinated on intake unless detailed records clearly show which vaccines were given and when boosters are due. Assuming a cat is up to date increases the risk of disease transmission in a shelter environment.
Emotional and financial impact:
We invested significant emotional energy and financial resources into these three cats. After losing two beloved cats in August 2024 and May 2025, we hoped this adoption would be a joyful new beginning. I planned to raise the kittens as bonded brothers and eventually introduce them to Asia. Instead, we witnessed two kittens decline and die within days -- an experience that was devastating and traumatic.
FPV causes a very painful death in kittens. Watching this unfold was horrific.
We now also have FPV contamination in our home, which will prevent us from safely adopting kittens for at least a year, possibly longer. Luckily, Asia is still healthy. As an adult cat with at least one FVRCP vaccine on board- and because she never entered the room where the kittens were housed- I do not anticipate that she will contract the virus.
Financial losses:
* Adoption fees + vet bills and cremation services for Cirrus and Nimbus: $1,759.24.
* Supplies that had to be discarded due to contamination: approximately $500.
* Kitty City provided $450 toward vet bills, which we appreciate.
* Adoption fees were not refunded, and the remaining vet bills and cremation services were our responsibility.
Website inaccuracies:
Kitty City's website (under 'Adoption Fees') states that adult cats are:
* vaccinated for rabies and FVRCP
* dewormed
* treated for fleas/ear mites
* microchipped
* spayed/neutered
Asia did not receive deworming, flea/ear mite treatment, or microchipping. I requested Panacur myself to bring home and deworm all the cats. I requested this, because virtually all kittens have worms even if the fecal test is negative.
For kittens, the website states they receive:
* FVRCP
* deworming
* flea/ear mite treatment
* spay/neuter when old enough
* microchipping at the time of spay/neuter
The kittens had only received FVRCP. We were told we could send Kitty City a receipt for $100 off the neuter surgeries when we would have had them done at 16-20 weeks old.
It also says that every cat is vetted which is untrue.