introduced new kitten, old cats are now getting URI

Took in a kitten that was found during a storm and flood outside by a friend of mine. Had it tested for leukemia and FIV and also it was dewormed because the vet thought she had worms. The kitten was too young for rabies and going to do it when I take her to be spayed, soon as possible.

When I adopted my other two cats in August 2014, from the same place, they both had an Upper Respiratory Infection that cleared up within a month on it's own and did not return, until now, after meeting the kitten. Kind of didn't think about the URI with the kitten.

My cats were not showing any symptoms when I brought the kitten to vet almost a month ago. 

Now, my 3 year old has a full blown Upper Respiratory Infection, with one eye closed, sneezing fits, runny nose. It seems worse this time. I've had her isolated from other two since realized it was happening again. The 9 year old is just starting to sneeze, nose is running.

Kitten appears to be symptomless, though appetite is maybe a little weaker, maybe just stressed because she is back in her room, away from the sick cats. Kitten is still acting  like the Tasmanian Devil cartoon.

This Kitten is very lively and feisty, think it's stressing my cats out. I didn't realize there is a vaccine for URI,  totally should have done that!! The vet knows I'm trying to avoid spending too much money so she didn't try to tell me to do too much right now. Someone told me should have done distemper shot too, but right now URI booster is my biggest regret.

Can the kitten be a carrier of URI without showing symptoms?

I live on ground level, how likely is it that my cat could get sick from distemper through an open window? Not that I leave them too long unattended. My last cat broke through the screen to chase another cat away.

Should I go bring kitten  back to be vaccinated before her next appointment in the fall? Should I bother the vet about this?

In the pix the one on the tree, oldest is on bottom, youngest on top, no one is acting sick yet. The one on the bed with an imaginary Pina Colada is the Kitten. Kitten is maybe 10 to 12 weeks old? Looks bigger in tree pic. Don't have a name for kitten.

 

URIs are kitty colds--they are quite contagious.  Unfortunately, certain types of URI tend to hang around in a cat's system and get re-activated during times of stress.

The FVRCP vaccine does not prevent all URIs but does provide some immunity from certain of the nastier ones.  Your adult cats were probably adequately vaccinated while at whatever shelter or rescue you got them from, but kitten should have the FVRCP shot, mostly to protect against distemper/panleukopenia, but also for the R/C portions.

If you are comfortable giving a sub-cutaneous injection you can generally purchase FVRCP vaccines at a feed store or similar and administer them yourself, if money is an issue.

Distemper (panleukopenia) is highly, highly contagious and very hard to clean up in the environment.  So it is well worth your time ensuring that the kitten has sufficient immunity.  If she is 12 weeks old and has no history of prior vaccines, I would do two courses of FVRCP vaccine about a month apart.

My guess, though, is that the flare-up of URI in your cats is not due to the kitten bringing in new germs but to their dormant URIs awakening from the stress of meeting a new cat.  It's not as bad as it sounds; many cats who have spent time in shelter environments have dormant URI in their system.  Best thing you can do for a URI cat is supportive care--extra canned food, encourage eating and drinking, lots of love and attention.  If ocular or nasal discharge becomes yellow or green, you will need a vet visit to get antibiotics because a secondary bacterial infection has crept in.  That's usually the real danger in adult cats, because they are substantial enough in size not to get quickly dehydrated like the tiny ones can.  If congestion is an issue, 'steam treatment' by having the cats join you in the closed bathroom while you take a hot shower can help loosen the mucus.

Both my 17 year old Caedwyn and the Meezer girls, Sara and Shoshanna, have dormant URIs that act up in times of stress.  Generally it's nothing serious, just a bit of sneezing and some clear eye discharge.

kat hamlin thanks so much for all your useful info. Glad I'm not alone with having cats with uri. Never had a kitten before. Used to older sickly cats that vaccines don't really seem to help. Now I know vaccines and kittens are very important . Thanks again! Sorry I started this reply days ago, but I never submitted it and went to update. Took kitten to vet middle of week to get vaccinated and afterwords they told me she needs another in 3 to 4 weeks! She's only 10 weeks old I thought she was 12. So now what is going to happen if she starts having URI? there waa no point in putting her through this now because they can't do it again if she is sick. Only went to do it because someone I know was urging me to do it and said should have done it last time I went. They had a kitten who died from distemper. Don't think should have done it though at this time, should have waited until after spay, when she's a little older. Guess the kitten could get exposed to a cat through a window, live on ground level. Oh well, if it was wrong decision and time, it's too late now.