MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two local animal shelters are asking for the public's help in managing the spread feline panleukopenia, an extremely contagious and potentially deadly virus affecting cats and kittens in Milwaukee County. 

Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 12, all kittens brought to the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) will be assessed for illness, and anyone bringing in a kitten deemed healthy will be asked to take them to the Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) Milwaukee Campus for intake. 

In a joint press release shared Wednesday, MADACC and WHS said stray kittens have almost always been born outside as opposed to being missing household pets and have a near 0% reclaim rate. They say moving healthy stray kittens to WHS will decrease their chances of being exposed to panleukopenia and give MADACC more room to manage the cases in their care.

Stray kittens who are sick, and all adult stray cats, will remain at MADACC for stray hold as usual.

While both MADACC and WHS currently have hundreds of cats in their care, but WHS is working to convert spaces for temporary cat housing to accommodate an uptick in intake. 

The shelters say community members can help by:

• Leaving healthy cats alone. They say lost cats are more likely to find their way home when left alone rather than being brought to a shelter (learn more here), however sick or injured cats of any age should be brought in.
• Adopt -- You can view MADACC's current list of adoptable cats here, and WHS's current adoptable cats here. 
• Foster cats/kittens through MADACC or WHS foster programs 
• Have your cats vaccinated and keep them indoors. Both WHS and MADACC hold low-cost vaccine clinics along with other providers.
• Consider supportive resources rather than surrendering your cat to a shelter