Exotic Feline Rescue Center working to fight deadly virus outbreak

CENTER POINT, Ind. (WTHI) – An exotic feline rescue center that has been battling an outbreak of a deadly disease says all their cats are currently healthy, but are still working to find out what happened.

The virus known as canine distemper has been infecting cats for several weeks at the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Indiana. The virus claimed the lives of eight large cats and caused several more to become sick, officials said.

The virus, which has no cure, is usually associated with dogs. It can quickly progress from respiratory issues to neurological problems.

On Thursday, Founder Joe Taft, who said the refuge is working closely with pathologists from the University of Illinois talked about the virus and what they still need to find out.

“We are sending them samples, and we originally thought we contracted the virus through a dead raccoon, we have since learned it came from a coyote. We don’t know how it happened, but that’s what we’re working to find out,” he said.

Luckily, all of the cats are currently healthy.

“We haven’t had anyone get sick for a couple of weeks, so we are optimistic,” said Taft.

The center is hoping the worst of the outbreak is over.

Although there are vaccines for dogs and ferrets, studies have shown the dog vaccine isn’t safe for big cats and no evidence the ferret vaccine is effective in big cats.