I'm wondering how long a kitty with a URI is contagious? We have a sick rescue kitty and I need to know when it would be safe to bring him home without his cold spreading to Riley.
I don't know why, but I was told that a cat can carry it for months without developping the symptoms. Is it possible for the cat that got the URI to still carry it when he recovered from it? I really don't know, I'm just asking..Originally Posted by white cat lover
We usually treat for 10 days. If they're cleared up by then, we consider them no longer contagious.
Probably yes. Because some cats are strong enough to keep it at bay & never show symptoms....but they still techincally have a URI. Commonly, if one kitty in a cage has a URI, we treat them all in case the others have it & aren't showing symptoms or else they just pass it around. In theory, a kitty with a healthy immune system shouldn't be able to get a URI.Originally Posted by Mawilouwl
I don't know why, but I was told that a cat can carry it for months without developping the symptoms. Is it possible for the cat that got the URI to still carry it when he recovered from it? I really don't know, I'm just asking..
Oh, thanks for clearing that up for me, I wasn't sure. Before I realised I didn't either had the space and experience to deal with a new pregnant foster cat, I was sad because my girls got URI and I thought the virus would stay in my appartment (and carried by my cats) for almost a year (and since pregnant cat cannot get vaccines...). I don't think I'll have a foster cat any time soon (I will for sure eventually, though, I'm just not quite ready yet!), so it's not really a problem, but I was still wondering.Originally Posted by white cat lover
Probably yes. Because some cats are strong enough to keep it at bay & never show symptoms....but they still techincally have a URI. Commonly, if one kitty in a cage has a URI, we treat them all in case the others have it & aren't showing symptoms or else they just pass it around. In theory, a kitty with a healthy immune system shouldn't be able to get a URI.