Silver Ghost.

Yes, ferals are always put down immediately. After age 9 weeks or so, it takes a LOT of work, by a very special person / family, to tame the cat. With all the domestic cats in need of homes, ferals are PTS right away. With or without a URI. Dealing with, coping with, handling ferals is quite different from dealing with domesticated cats. the moment I read that he was "quiet" the whole drive to the shelter, I knew where the story was heading.

Ferals won't make a sound in a car; they are trying to be invisible to the "predator," the human. Domesticated cats have learned to communicate with their humans and know that making a racket will get attention: food, water, toys, let up from the cellar, etc. So in the car, they let you know they aren't happy about the situation. (Some few cats do enjoy riding, there are truckers who have cats with them for company; another story for another day. Those cats are not the majority.)

A shelter is not equipped to handle ferals.

Apart from that, if they are full, any cat requiring any sort of treatment becomes high on the list for euthanasia.

I am so sorry to read about this sweet kitty.