FIV+ cats - a terrible mistake?

[Lizzie]

As many of you know, I recently adopted five FIV+ cats from a local shelter. I felt reassured that they would not pass on the virus to Ginger and Nougat who were already in my care, and I felt confident that I could protect the FIV+ cats fairly well from infections. These were the issues brought up by the shelter, and I thought I'd made a good assessment.

Tonight I came home to find Nougat, who was released from her radio-iodine isolation only a few weeks ago, unable to meow. She kept gagging and making horrible noises and I rushed her to the vet. They stayed late to sedate her and check her throat and nasal passages but all was clear. She does, however, have calicivirus and is going to need a lot of care. She has mouth ulcers and will probably need to be force fed for a week or more.

I know they had calicivirus at the shelter and had to close the FIV room for weeks until all the cats were well. So it looks like one of the cats I adopted later is a carrier of the virus and I've introduced this to Nougat and Ginger. Nougat is going to have a tough time but I think, I hope most desperately, she is strong enough to come through this. Ginger didn't get her flu shot last year due to her age etc. so she is totally vulnerable. I've just put her in isolation but it's the proverbial "shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted".

What have I done to Ginger and Nougat?! Was I arrogant and blind to the effect these FIV+ cats might have on them. If Ginger gets this and dies from it, when she was doing so very well, I will never forgive myself. And what about the future? I don't want to take the cats back to the shelter. I can't isolate Nougat and Ginger in a bedroom because of them. I really despise myself right now for what I've done.

[carole]

Please don't be so harsh with yourself, you mean't well, and were doing a good deed at the time, I am really sorry to hear that the other two kitties may have picked up the virus,this is indeed very sad and I can well understand how you must be feeling, lets us all hope they will be ok, sending you positive vibes and good wishes for the kitties to come through all of this with flying colours.

[Lizzie]

I just found Thumper, one of the original FIV+ cats, has a drippy nose. Now I've got him in isolation in one room, Ginger in another, and the last room ready for Nougat tomorrow. I can't possibly afford to have swabs taken from each cat's mouth to isolate the calici virus carrier and anyway Raven is still very feral and untouchable at this point.

[jenluckenbach]

First off, don't panic! You are just feeling (understandably) overwhelmed right now. ANY home with multiple cats faces this type of possible problem. If you would have adopted only 1 cat and only FIV- cats, this could have still happened.

Just for clarification, is this calcivirus a form of URI? If so, it is just a COLD.

Hang in there, things will get back to normal.

[CultureJunky]

Lizzie, myself and Jack & Sunny are all praying for you and your cats.
I don't think you need to be so hard on yourself, you are doing a wonderful thing by adopting the five fiv cats in the first place, you are opening your heart to give them a home. I'm sure that Ginger and Nougat will be fine and even if they have caught the virus then I'm sure you will nurse them well and they will recover and be fine. If the other cats are living a good life there is not reason why Ginger and Nougat can too.
I really hope everything turns out fine, you are a saint for being so kind to the cats, not many people would adopt a cat with FIV, and even if you may have to return them to the shelter, it will be of no fault of your own. It may be the situation wasn't meant to be but you gave it a try and that's the most important thing that you were willing to help these cats.

[Lizzie]

First off, don't panic! You are just feeling (understandably) overwhelmed right now. ANY home with multiple cats faces this type of possible problem. If you would have adopted only 1 cat and only FIV- cats, this could have still happened.

Just for clarification, is this calcivirus a form of URI? If so, it is just a COLD.

Hang in there, things will get back to normal.

Thank you all for making me feel a little better.

I was rather bouncing off the walls yesterday after going back to work on about 30 minutes of sleep and then coming home to find Nougat sick. Yes, it's a form of URI, but unfortunately it's the one that includes mouth sores which can lead to forced feedings. I'm not so very concerned about any cat getting one cold. My concern is that one of the FIV+ cats, very probably Dude who has to have steriod shots to keep his stomatitis in check, is a carrier and will continue to be a carrier. I started calling him Typhoid Mary this morning - which means my sense of humor is coming back.

Thumper appears fine, eating really well, no sign of mouth sores and his nose is dry again. He hasn't been playing as much as when I adopted him a month ago and I've been wondering why. Perhaps a cold is not the reason.

Ginger still looks okay and is eating, though not a lot. It was pretty insane this morning going into four isolation rooms as well as dealing with the main areas - talk about a home shelter!

[K & L]

You should commend yourself instead of hating. You have taken what is considered unadoptable cats and tried to give them a chance in life. Hopefully all this will get better for you soon. I know that overwhelming feeling and you just want to give up. I go through this myself, but like Jen said, it gets better. Hang in there and please keep us updated.