Adopted a Feral Kitten...Need Advise.

Just recently, I adopted a cute black kitten that was stranded in the middle of Hurrican Isabel. A neighbor of mine found this little kitten in the road alone hours before the storm hit. She's an animal lover and decided that she couldn't let this little guy die.

As it turns out, this one month old kitten was infected w/ feline herpes (w/ lots of scar tissue on one of his eyes), intestinal parasites, and was grossly underweight. She immediately took him to the vet and got drops/ointment for his eyes, and cured his parasites. Two weeks later, she decided that her dog wasn't going to get used to the cat and asked me if i would take it, and seeing the great disposition of this kitten, i happily obliged.

My problem is my other cat..an 18 year old female w/ a similarly great disposition, who was also feral. I've not integrated the two cats yet, but i'm worried about the older cat contracting feline herpes. Neither of these cats are aggressive or rambunctious (at least so far)..so i don't think there will be an issue of hostilities between them . The older cat has had kittens of her own and was used to sharing her owners w/ other cats.

The older cat might even have feline herpes considering the fact that we found her wild, and her eyes have leaked since we found her (in 1987). My dilemma: I know that i'd never forgive myself if i got her sick or she died as a result of this kitten's communicable diseases. I've seen all the vet paperwork, the kitten is free of AIDs, leukemia, and the parasites are cured (in spite of his red ass). I'm just a bit unsure about this feline herpes thing.....

Can you give me any advise? What would you feline guru's do in my situation? Whaddya think?

Did you ask the Vet, if the kitten can give the other cat feline herpes? I would ask the Vet. He would know. If he could, then I would try to find another home for the kitten. I wouldn't want to mess with the health of an 18 year old cat.

I asked the Vet who the woman took the kitten to about my situation..The vet said that i should keep them apart for a week to get them acclimated to each others scent. I inquired specifically about the herpes and she said that it wouldn't be a problem, and that my older cat probably already had it (which i found strange since she's never seen her).

I'm a little more circumspect about it...Despite the fact that my older cat is quite healthy, i would never want to jeopardize her health.

I'd ask your regular vet, who knows your older cat. That vet should know if your cat has had herpes already. The other vet didn't seem too worried about it, though. Still I'd ask my cat's regular Vet. After all that Vet knows your cat.

I agree with Hope. Seek the advice of your regular vet regarding the feline herpes and if it can be passed. Other then that... I am clueless about ferals except what I read here!

I think my baby neo has herpes. It makes him breath alittle funny and purr really load. My orginal vet acted like it was nothing to worry about. I haven't even thought about it in awhile, I'll have to ask my new vet what he thinks. None of the other cats have it.

Bravo to your friend for rescuing the kitten and Bravo to you for adopting the baby!

Please click here for a thread which explains how best to introduce a new cat to a resident cat.

Also, I am moving this to the Health and Nutrition forum because the experts there often don't get to check out threads in the Lounge. I hope that's okay!

If one vet gives you info you're not sure about, get a second opinion.