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.