Disease kills cats at TAILSDirector says virus likely spread by stray or feral cat

DeKALB - A recent outbreak of a virus that killed 93 cats at a South Elgin animal shelter and several more at a DeKalb shelter should act as a reminder for cat owners to spay and neuter their cats, the DeKalb shelter's director said Thursday. The virus, which is known as feline distemper or feline panleukopenia, recently claimed 93 cats at the Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin. It also killed cats at the TAILS Humane Society during a two-month period beginning in June, shelter Executive Director Beth Drake said. Drake would not say how many cats died from the virus, but did say it was fewer than at the South Elgin shelter. She said about one-third of TAILS' cat population died. Shelter officials said in May that the facility can accomm