Viral diseases in adopted kitties

**Kirsten** · 12-20-2005, 03:57 PM

It's encouraging to see that so many of you made positive experiences.

Cathy, that's very sad about that kitten you wanted to adopt!

Kirsten

**Maya & Inka's mommy** · 12-20-2005, 04:41 PM

Our newest cat Zaou is a carrier of "ringworm". Of course my 2 other cats got infected..... . But that is all over now

**moosmom** · 12-20-2005, 04:48 PM

I NEVER allow a new kitty into my house without first seeing the vet and being tested and vaccinated. There are FAR too many risks involved to not be careful. My cats come first. I protect them like I do my kid. Gary, you are very wise.

MooShoo tested positive for FIP when he was 10 weeks old. He doesn't have it, it just means he was exposed to it.

I have had kittens that I rescued and kept isolated that died from Feline Panleukopenia (Distemper). I had to literally wash down the walls, carpeting and everything in the room and seal it off for a year because it is the type of thing that can stay airborn for up to a year.

**rosethecopycat** · 12-20-2005, 07:07 PM

Our rescue cats are combo tested (FeLV/FIV) before entering the program. One cat in the 4000 rescue history came down with FeLV (false neg on the test)
The cats are immediately vaccinated against distemper. FVRCP.

There is no way to tell if an unfortunate kitty has FIP or may develop it. I don't think we can do any rescuing if we are that afraid of FIP. It is unpredictable, and sad. I've lost 2 former fosters.

There is always the possibilty of RW, and the probability of URI.

How else can we save them considering there are viral diseases? Only by being cautious as possible, I guess.

The VAST majority turn into healthy, happy cats.

So, Kirsten, the risk of FeLV/FIV is extremely LOW, if they are combo tested.

The statistics for FIP are low also, kittens, elderly and immuno-comprimised cats have a higher risk. I believe it is under 2% risk.
In my case, it took the kittens at about 7 months of age.
Being that FIP is 'partially' genetic (which cat will mutate the corona virus) there is no way of determining the true risk to resident cats.
Breeders have a slightly higher incidence of FIP.

**Uabassoon** · 12-20-2005, 07:29 PM

I've never had this problem with cats however I did have this problem with a dog that I adopted from the shelter who had distemper and had to be put down.

Generally though I always excpect any cat adopted out of one of our local shelters to come home with a URI. They are usually in a cage, tons of cats in a room and they are stressed which causes it. Both of Alexa's cats had a URI when she adopted them and so did her sisters. But I don't count that as anything serious. So I voted that I've never had this problem.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 12-21-2005, 12:45 AM

I've never had this happen to me yet and hopefully I never will. When I adopted Storm from the Humane Society he did come down with an URI and he also had fleas, ear mites,coccidia, and probably other internal parasites. He was a mess but luckily the only cat I had at the time so nothing spread. Now my local Humane Society has become much better so these things don't happen as often. Sky was also from the Humane Society and I later found out that he had tapeworm but my vet told me that the fecal test doesn't pick this up so I was the one who noticed he had tapeworm. I'm just glad that it wasn't contagious. Starr came down with ringworm and also had coccidia which I already knew about and he was from a rescue /shelter group.

A friend of mine adopted two kittens who were brother and sister and they had been strays. Unfortunately the male kitten developed FIP when he was only about 3-4 months old and his sister developed it when she was a little over a year old.

She had adopted them from a rescue group and I had even recommended the foster mom to her. I still feel terrible about this.

I know there's no good accurate FIP test yet but hopefully there will be one in the future.

**Kirsten** · 12-22-2005, 02:20 PM

She had adopted them from a rescue group and I had even recommended the foster mom to her. I still feel terrible about this.

Oh, this is terrible!

I would feel bad about this, too, even though it's not your fault and you couldn't know... But it's sad.

I know there's no good accurate FIP test yet but hopefully there will be one in the future.

Oh yes, I hope that, too!!! An accurate test AND a treatment! I really hate FIP.

Kirsten

**sirrahbed** · 12-22-2005, 06:26 PM

I voted that it has never happened to me because I have only had my resident cats get sick from fairly minor illnesses they got from new kitties. But, it was traumatic enough that I am very cautious about letting any new cats near by babies. They are my family and I have to protect them. As much as I admire those who do the riskier rescue work - I simply do not have whatever it takes. If my kitties were to come in contact with any of the serious viral illnesses, I would be a total wreck. Any new cats I adopt must be tested in any way possible and also remain separate for a moderate amount of time.