One kitten has caused a whole load of trouble in Hamilton Township.

Jeff Plunkett, the township’s health officer, said one sick kitten  —  too young to receive preventative shots  —  brought a case of feline distemper into the township’s animal shelter.

“We take a lot of pride in how we maintain [the shelter] and operate it,” he said. “but this is kind of out of our control.”

The shelter won’t be able to take any more cats for at least two weeks while workers clean the area and make sure the virus is handled.

The virus, which can’t infect people, targets a cat’s bone marrow, intestines and other rapidly dividing cells, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

According to the association’s website, the virus can transfer from bodily fluids of an infected cat directly, and also through other surfaces such as bedding.

Plunkett said that, until the shelter gets back up and running, township residents will need to either hold onto any strays they find, let them loose, or find a private shelter to use.

“This sort of thing happens every so often,” he said. “Unfortunately it takes a little bit of time.”