Mixed messages from Vet introducing Rescue cat to Pure Bred

Back story: I got a Ragdoll kitten because, for health reasons, I needed a mellow cat. Lesson learned, kittens will be kittens. I cannot keep up with him and his play aggression/playing biting is out of control (I'm doing everything right, he is just a little stinker - typical single cat situation).

So, with great reluctance I've gotten a second kitten who, contrary to my aforementioned needs, is a very active little girl - but I wanted one that could keep up with him so the two can "rumble," something he very much wants me to do. So let them wear each other out, and he will have a play pal, and she will have a home.

This second kitten is a rescue. When I picked her up I was told she had some conjunctivitis and to give her drops. All the more reason to keep them separated. Well, I ran out of drops so I took her to my vet who told me that actually, her eyes look good and she appears very healthy. But along with that he gave a warning that is kind of a mixed message.

He said that rescues are more likely to have viruses (recommended Lysine, which the rescue organization gives to everyone), and that they should be kept apart for a week. Fine. But he also said it may not matter because the viruses are airborne, and so exposure would have already happened via the air conditioning.

I know this rescue organization quarantines their newbies for two weeks before allowing them into the common area.

So, I could not get a definite answer on how cautious I need to be for the pure bred. I have read the article on cat introductions and would like to proceed with the scent swapping (of a towel). 

For what its worth, before he told me this, I was avoiding only physical contact (i.e. washing my hands and changing clothing between them), but allowing them to get a peak at each other through a crack in the door.

Am I being too paranoid? 

What you are doing for the introductions are good so they aren't going to be together soon.  What the vet was probably talking about was feline herpes virus which is chronic.  I know vets can test for it but I don't know if it has to be active to test.  The Lysine is an immune system booster which will help his system suppress the virus.  Really the vet would be your best source of information and he gave you ambiguous answers.  I wouldn't be able to say if it was just a kitty cold or feline herpes.  You could call the vet and ask about the herpes virus and your rescue kitty.

Denice said:

What you are doing for the introductions are good so they aren't going to be together soon.  What the vet was probably talking about was feline herpes virus which is chronic.  I know vets can test for it but I don't know if it has to be active to test.  The Lysine is an immune system booster which will help his system suppress the virus.  Really the vet would be your best source of information and he gave you ambiguous answers.  I wouldn't be able to say if it was just a kitty cold or feline herpes.  You could call the vet and ask about the herpes virus and your rescue kitty.

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I'm thinking this through. He implied that it was too late for an airborne virus, but everything I read says FHV is contact transmitted. Maybe he was talking about more than one virus (I may see if I can stop by their office to get clarification)?

His concern was to wait a week to see if she displayed symptoms similar to respiratory infection - which FHV does present as, but then I don't understand keeping them separate. Rats. I just want to take her towel and start the scent swapping process, and I don't understand waiting to see if she gets symptoms. HV are chronic and cyclic, right? Sigh. I never thought of this when thinking of getting him a play pal.  

Y'know, I remember being shown her eye at the shelter (when I asked what it would look like so I could watch my guy - conjunctivitis is contagious) and thinking, THAT DOESN'T LOOK SO BAD, my guy looked worse when I brought him home, and the vet confirmed her eye(s) look good.

Both of them are eager kittens and it is so hard to slow down the already slow process. (Point in fact, I wasn't quick enough and my guy managed to get his paw inside the crack and touch her food, so that is done.)

I'll just have to trust that all the kittens I saw at the shelter looked great and happy.

Yes a lot of cats are exposed to feline herpes and do not present symptoms if they are healthy and not stressed. Almost all catteries have been exposed to herpes so chances are your ragdoll probably has been exposed. 

One thing I would worry about is coccidia and giardia which are extremely common in shelter pets and can be asymptomatic but could cause future health problems like IBD

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I am sure the kitten has been dewormed but these two are not covered in general dewormers. I would get a fecal done on the new kitten and it is actually suggested to do three fecal tests to make sure.

Okay, thanks. I wish I had thought of that while she was there.

She looks really good (and like the vet said, appears really healthy) - and I came to the same conclusion regarding FHV so.....

Per the guidelines on this site, I brought out her blanket and just tossed it on the carpet. Artemis (the Ragdoll) was immediately curious. He sniffed and actually purred then licked (yikes) the blanket. So much for careful exposure. I think this response bodes good.

I let him watch her eat through a crack in the door and he seemed to get jealous or something, growled and tried to get to the food so.... I brought his food dish over to the door and he unexpectedly ate heartily while she watched. Must be some possessive thing about food going on. I think I will hold off on their breakfast on introduction day and see if I can have them both eating when I crack open the door?

Anyway I have to space these bills out so I'll get her checked in a couple of weeks and the results will determine if he needs checking again.