Stray cat that caused school flea outbreak is put to sleep

Jun 26 2012 by Chris Clements, Paisley Daily Express

THE stray cat at the centre of an outbreak of fleas at a Paisley primary has been found.

It’s understood that the feral, flea-ridden moggy was caught near Williamsburgh Primary as a pest control team fumigated the building at the weekend.

Sadly, the cat had to be put to sleep after it emerged it was extremely ill.

The school was closed for two days last week after angry parents and teachers refused to send kids into the flea-infested classrooms.

Yesterday, Williamsburgh reopened for the last few days of the school term.

Environmental services chiefs at Renfrewshire Council gave the nod after checks found the classes to be flea-free after two days of fumigation.

A council spokesman said yesterday: “Parents were advised via text message, web and Twitter over the weekend that the school would reopen as normal on Monday for the last few days of the school term.

“A full fumigation programme had been carried out between last Thursday and Saturday.

“The feral cat thought to be the cause of the flea infestation was caught in the basement of the school on Friday.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t in a condition to be brought back to health and was humanely put down by a vet.”

The cat had been living underneath the Lacy Street school and its adjoining nursery for some weeks, and it is widely thought that the pesky pests were connected to its appearance.

However, when a pest control team found the flea-bitten feline on Friday, it was so unwell, it had to be put down.