Guilford County Shelter Pauses Cat Intake Through Nov. 25

Guilford County Animal Services stopped accepting cats and kittens on Monday, Nov. 9. The intake pause lasts until Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving. The shelter made the decision after confirming new cases of feline panleukopenia, a contagious virus that affects cats. This is the third time in three years that the virus has forced the county to halt cat intake.

The county announced that three of its six intake halls are now under quarantine. Staff are working to contain the virus within the facility. The announcement did not specify how many cats tested positive or where those animals originally came from. The department also did not report whether any of the infected cats have died. The notice focused on incoming animals and did not provide updates on the adoption schedule or the Stray to Foster program.

This situation mirrors an incident from almost exactly a year ago. On Oct. 22, 2025, the shelter reported that nine cats from Greensboro neighborhoods, including those near Spry Street, Darden Road, and Chadford Place, had tested positive for the virus. At that time, staff quarantined four of the six intake halls but initially continued to accept new cats. The next day, the county reversed course and paused intake through Nov. 9. That event marked the second time in 2025 that feline panleukopenia disrupted the shelter’s operations.

The virus also caused interruptions earlier in 2025. In June, four kittens from the High Point and Pleasant Garden areas tested positive. The shelter closed two kitten halls and placed existing cats under a two-week quarantine. Staff limited new arrivals during that period. They also urged residents who found strays to use the Stray to Foster program, which allows finders to care for animals while staff check for owners during a 72-hour window.

The shelter has dealt with similar outbreaks for several years. In October 2023, Director Jorge Ortega told WXII that the facility was seeing an unusually high number of stray cats with the virus. Staff isolated the sick animals and paused intake, with exceptions for injured cats needing immediate care. Adoptions continued during that pause. In May 2024, two kittens tested positive and later died. Chief Shelter Veterinarian Dr. Melina Whitaker said the kittens’ conditions deteriorated. The shelter quarantined 28 other cats for 10 days because they had been near the sick kittens.

As recently as July, Animal Services reported an increase in cases in the area. The county quarantined several rooms used for stray cats and kittens for two weeks. By early August, the shelter was caring for more than 700 animals, exceeding its designed capacity of 550. Ortega noted that approximately 1,500 dogs and cats had entered the facility during June and July alone. The November announcement did not provide a current population count for the shelter.

A few cases can disrupt shelter operations because cats can spread the virus before showing symptoms. The ASPCA notes that symptoms typically appear two to seven days after exposure, though they can take up to two weeks to develop. The virus can travel on litter boxes, bedding, carriers, and the hands or clothing of people who handle infected animals. Cornell University’s Feline Health Center states that the virus can survive indoors for months without proper disinfection.

Kittens and unvaccinated cats are especially vulnerable to the virus. Common signs include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, and dehydration. Vaccination remains the best form of protection. The county advises owners to consult their veterinarians about whether their cats need a booster shot.

If you find a stray cat or kitten during the intake pause, call or text the shelter’s intake staff at 336-646-2925 before bringing the animal to the facility. The county also offers an online form for reporting found pets, which allows staff to assist in looking for an owner.