NSW animal shelters stop accepting stray cats amid global vaccine shortage

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A global shortage of feline vaccines has forced cat boarding facilities in NSW to suspend vaccination requirements which is a relief for "cat parents". But it also means animal shelters are having to turn away cats and kittens.

Transcript

00:00 It's a core vaccine generally referred to as F3, so it protects cats against feline

00:06 parvovirus, feline calliticivirus and feline herpesvirus.

00:11 Most cats, if they receive their full course of vaccinations as kittens and receive boosters

00:16 as adults, they'll be fairly protected.

00:18 So if they're not getting an update at the moment, the delay won't be crucial.

00:23 But the issue is with kittens who don't have that immunity.

00:26 It's a yearly job, is it?

00:28 Usually it depends.

00:31 As a kitten, they'll usually get a course of three or four, one at six months, then

00:35 at a year, and then after that it might be yearly or it might be less frequent, depending

00:40 on the cat's circumstances.

00:41 If they're regularly boarding or at high risk, they might be annual vaccination.

00:46 The period in between might be a bit longer.

00:48 That's usually a matter that's discussed with the vet.

00:51 So your vets just simply can't get it?

00:54 A lot of the vets we work with have completely run out.

00:59 Some still have some supplies and in line with the AVA recommendations, they're prioritising

01:04 kittens because they're most at risk.

01:07 We still have some supplies at our shelter and we've been able to vaccinate our kittens.

01:11 So we have a fantastic shelter manager, Nerida Atkin.

01:15 She's always prepared.

01:17 But it is a really difficult time because we're in kitten season and kittens are the

01:21 most vulnerable.

01:22 It must be difficult to turn away kittens as well.

01:26 So what happens?

01:28 You just say, "I'm sorry, we can't take any more now."

01:30 We have a waiting list and we typically have a waiting list anyway because we're a managed

01:36 admission shelter.

01:37 So as cats are rehomed, we can take more in, but we also have a lot of foster carers and

01:43 they're an absolute lifeline to us.

01:45 And thank you to all our foster carers and to all the people who do fostering for rescue

01:49 because they're so important because they help you to manage those peaks and troughs

01:53 of cats coming in and cats going out.

01:57 Might we see, Christina, an increase in cat illnesses then if this problem persists?

02:04 I think for cats who are homeless, it's going to be a very, very high risk period and kittens

02:11 will be most at risk.

02:13 And it can be fatal, things like pavovirus can be fatal.

02:16 Humphelin herpes virus can leave a cat blind.

02:22 These can be really severe diseases.

02:24 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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