Fatal Virus Puts 36 Mississippi Cats In Danger, But Amazing Cross-Country Rescue Saves Them All
It all began with an urgent situation at a shelter in Rankin County, Mississippi. One of their cats had tested positive for panleukopenia, a highly contagious and potentially fatal virus, especially dangerous in a crowded shelter.
To make things even harder, the summer heat was sweltering, and the shelter’s air-conditioning was barely hanging on.
The staff worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe and comfortable, but with the risk of the virus spreading, they knew they had to act quickly before things took a turn for the worse.
That’s when Best Friends Animal Society jumped in to help. They’d seen shelters face this kind of crisis before and knew just how urgent the situation was.
Their plan was straightforward: get every cat out of the shelter and into a safe spot where they could be closely watched and treated if necessary.
It was the only way to stop the virus in its tracks and give the cats a real chance.
Leah Massey and Parker Marine, two devoted Best Friends caregivers, got right to work. They flew into Mississippi, rented a van, and headed straight for the shelter.
One by one, they loaded 36 cats and kittens into kennels. The van filled with a chorus of meows led by a feisty tabby named Edamommy. But once the wheels started rolling, the cats seemed to relax.
After a long day on the road, they headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the Humane Society of Tulsa had set up a safe, quarantined area just for them.
Leah and Parker made sure every cat had fresh food, clean water, and a soft place to curl up before finally checking into a hotel to grab some well-earned rest.
The next morning, Leah and Parker made sure every cat was fed, watered, and ready to roll before loading up the van again.
The road to the Best Friends Sanctuary in Utah wasn’t exactly smooth. At one point, they even had to navigate through unexpected flash floods, but nothing was going to stop them from getting these cats to safety.
When they finally pulled into the sanctuary, the vet team was ready and waiting. One by one, each cat and kitten was given a full check-up.
To everyone’s relief, not a single one showed signs of panleukopenia. Before long, many were already on their way to loving foster homes.
Edamommy, the chatty tabby who’d been the loudest voice on the rescue trip, was one of the lucky ones to head straight into a foster home. But no one could’ve guessed the surprise she was carrying with her.
Less than a day after settling in, Edamommy welcomed three tiny, healthy kittens into the world.
Her foster caregiver, Jill Williams, was over the moon. She not only made sure the little family had everything they needed but also gave them names that suited their sweet personalities: Mochi Nugget, Mew-shroom, and M.C. Peapod.
From their first wobbly steps to their kitten-sized wrestling matches, Jill cherished every moment, falling a little more in love with each curious glance and tiny purr.
In the end, the cross-country rescue was about so much more than just getting cats from one place to another. It was about proving what can happen when people come together with compassion and a shared goal.
Because of the hard work, teamwork, and love poured into this mission, 36 cats who once had no hope now have bright futures ahead. Many of the kittens have already settled into their forever homes, and the rest are just days away from meeting their new families.
And the kindness didn’t stop there. Best Friends also gave the Rankin County shelter a grant to help them build a brand-new facility, making sure this rescue’s impact will last for years to come.
