text: Although there was no way an actual count could be made, statisticians later estimated that, by early July, over one third of the cats in the contiguous United States had perished. In Seattle, three veterinarians operating their practices as limited liability corporations declared bankruptcy. In many cities, however, pet stores were thriving. Former cat owners were buying up puppies, and, to a lesser extent, rabbits, to fill their need for companionship.
  
  Feline Hemorrhagic Fever spread rapidly across the Western Hemisphere. On the seventh of July, it was detected in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, and Juneau, Alaska. In Arles, France, veterinarian Alain Severins was puzzled by the large number of ill cats brought in during the past week and had not yet related this to the news from Les États-Unis. Scientists expressed concern that the domestic cat might soon disappear from the Western hemisphere.
  
  At the Harvard Business School, the noted economist Ching Kwo Ren predicted that the revenue loss related to FHF at the federal, state, and local level would prove to have a significant effect on the economy. The governments would experience a considerable loss of income taxes from veterinarians and other professionals involved with the care, boarding, and feeding of cats. Ching also foresaw a loss of sales taxes at the state and local level from lower cat-food sales and from diminished purchases of cat paraphernalia.