Small Paws, Large Impact

Staff works hard to give this kitty a medicated bath.

May 1st, 2026

On March 20th, 2026 GCAO made the difficult decision of closing down cat room due to a Ringworm outbreak. Because of this, we were unable to take in any new cats or proceed with adoptions. In simple terms, ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection (not actually a worm) that affects the skin, causing hair loss and irritation. Ringworm is a zoonotic disease meaning it not only can spread to other cats but people as well. It spreads very easily through direct contact with infected animals, surfaces, or even clothing and hands. Because it spreads so quickly, limiting movement in and out of our cat population was critical to stopping it. While we know this news would be disappointing to our community & those we serve, pausing intakes and adoptions was the safest and most responsible way to protect other animals and prevent further spread within our community. Moving cats in or out could have unintentionally carried the infection to new homes, shelters, or stray populations. We estimated a 6 week closure, as that is the minimum time required to safely & effectively treat ringworm. Our estimation was correct! We reopened Cat Room on May 1st for adoptions, this successful closure & reopen is one of the many ways GCAO works hard to protect those currently in our care as well as those that are part of the community we serve daily.