Calicivirus-New Kitten Brought It In-Any Advice Appreciated

Hello everyone, I am new to this site, and joined in hopes of getting some answers that I have questions about.

First a little background info.

On February 14th, I adopted a 16 week old kitten from a local rescue organization. I went with a rescue instead of a local animal shelter because the kitten was fully vaccinated, neutered, on flea prevention and supposedly a healthy little guy. I was trying to prevent bringing in anything my two older Ragdolls (12 yrs and 13 yrs) could catch. I am kicking myself now for not doing a quarantine period, but with three kids aged 7,9 and 12, they all just wanted to play with the new spunky kitten.

Well, 10 days after bringing home the kitten my 12 yr old male Ragdoll, Mullen, came down with a terrible URI and developed sores on his nose and inside his mouth. He was drooling profusely and ended up stopping all food/water intake. He has not had any discharge from his eyes, it's all been focused on his nose and mouth.  I have been syringe feeding for 5 days now, and yesterday he did start eating and drinking some on his own however I have continued the syringe feeding to make sure he is getting enough.

At first sign of Mullen's symptoms I immediately separated all three cats into different rooms, and followed all suggestions I have found online as to try and not spread it any further.  Neither the kitten, Snowy, nor my 13 yr old female Ragdoll, Thistle,  are showing any signs so far. No sneezing, no runny noses and both still have great appetites.  I can only assume the kitten previously had it or was exposed at some point and is still shedding the virus.

I have searched and searched online trying to find info on calicivirus. I think I understand it for the most part, but haven't really been able to find any first hand experience regarding long term care of the three of them together. 

So, now on to my questions.

How long should I keep them separated? If neither the kitten nor my oldest cat start to show signs can I reintroduce them sooner?  Are they going to just keep passing it back and forth? Should I continue giving them their boosters in the future since they have been exposed?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! TIA

In all honesty, the best thing you could do is call your regular vet and put these questions to them. While we are all here to help and support, nothing can replace a vets advice on these matters. Assuming you have a vet you do see yearly or so to keep up to date on vaccines, often all it takes is a phone call to get some of this answered.  If you have already seen a vet on this issue, they should definitely be willing to answer quarantine questions for free on the phone.

One question I have is what makes you sure it is the calcivirus? Did you go to the vet and they told you this? There are other possibilities as to what might be going on here.  I would recommend taking at least the sick cat to the vet as soon as you can.

I am sorry you are going through this, and am sure others will be by soon to offer advice.

Hi and welcome!

You haven't mentioned the older cats vaccines, when have they been vaccinated?

Calici doesn't necessarily involve the eyes like herpevirus does. However it does have more of a tendency to turn into pneumonia.

What's done is done, no looking back, so your other older cat has already been exposed to it.

Vaccines are not 100%, but fairly close. So, while one cat may react to the virus exposure, the other may very well not at all.

It depends on each individual cat's system and resistance.

As for keeping them separated, I don't know at this point there actually is much point, however to help prevent your other cat from getting sick in case additional exposure does happen to nail him with it, I would vaccinate that one, then wait 3 days before exposing him again. NOT the one who is currently sick.

Calici sores are very painful, so I don't blame him at all for lack of eating.

Thank you both for replying.

The first day he was drooling, last Wednesday, I took him in to see the vet.  She noticed the sores in his mouth as well as the URI and suggested Calicivirus.

My two older cats go in yearly for exams and a Rabies shot. They have not had a booster for Calici in several years as they are older indoor cats, we opted to no longer get it. Their last checkup was in May of 2014. I've had them both since they were 12 weeks old. They came from the same breeder as well as having the same parents.

I have unfortunately just discovered the oldest cat, Thistle, does now have a sore on her tongue as well. It would make sense that it took longer for her to contract it I guess. She did not want anything to do with the new Kitten. She may have even caught it from Mullen when he first became sick as they did have direct contact up until the first day he was drooling and they are very bonded.

I just dont know if I should keep them separated still or let them back together.

I guess Im going to have to phone the vet again tomorrow. Thank you again

There's no point in keeping them apart at this point. At least they will have one another's company while healing.

Nope, I do not go for vaccinating cats once they are full grown healthy aged adults. 

Calici is tough, and can be shed for literally months.

No reason to beat yourself up about it, it happens, they will get through it fine, just takes time. Ulcers usually will take a couple weeks to clear up.

Just wanted to give an update. Mullen is doing so much better. He still has somewhat of a runny nose, and still sneezing, but his stuffiness has greatly improved. During our trip back to the vets office, she agreed that there was no point in keeping them separated now that Thistle was also showing symptoms. Thankfully hers are no where near as bad as Mullen so far, I think we may have a jump start with her.  Hopefully she wont get as bad.

Once Mullen was back with Thistle his attitude improved. He has been eating and drinking  much better, and being more active then he was even the morning before they were re introduced. I think he missed his sister and is so much happier with her. 

Snowy, the new kitten, is doing great. It has been so long since I've had a kitten LOL. I had forgotten how highly active they are! Mullen and Thistle are 12 and 13. Other then that, my late cat Fancy, who is the one in my profile picture, passed away this past November at the age of 18. So my kids who are 12, 9 and 7 have never really had a kitten and they are in love!

I wanted to say thank you again for the help @catwoman707 and @tulosai .There are so many interesting threads going on and articles on this site, it's a wealth of knowledge!

You're very welcome! Glad things are looking up for your fur family

Mullen is improving so much day to day. His nose hasn't been running as much and the sores on the tip of his nose look SO much better. No longer huge scabs, just a little pink/raw but is healing up nicely. Thought I would share a photo I took of him and his sister Thistle just now so you all could put a face to the kitty

Aww!! They're both beauties  SO happy he is doing alot better!!