So, we are having issues in our foster community with two cats being adopted, separately, and both being subsequently returned for mild URI symptoms. Our feeling as a group is that cats exposed to URI in the past are prone to develop URI symptoms when in stressful situations like a new home.
One of these cats was a girl that I have been treated off and on since she was 2 months old, along with her brother. She appeared fine at time of adoption but not a day later her adoptive family complained of stuffy nose and runny eyes. She is now being returned.
Her brother has fairly constant, yet very mild URI symptoms. I am hesitant to request a vet visit for a problem that can be solved through other means.
Our other two current fosters, a very shy older boy, has constant 'wet eyes' which he will not let us clean or treat but no sneezing. Then there is little Orion, the Manx, who just finished Doxy treatment but still has URI symptoms.
Should I be concerned at this point about a possible FHV infection? Is there a definitive test that can be done to determine whether these cats are infected with FHV or some other type of URI viral activity?
There is a lot of frustration, and I am inclined to partially blame the adopters, both of whom seem to think that because the cat is freshly adopted, they should not have to deal with any medical issues, when we make it plain during the adoption that we do not and cannot guarantee health, and that they should take the cat to the vet within 2 weeks of adoption.
There is additional frustration in that I have had Carlos and Cecilia for nearly 6 months and haven't been able to completely clear them of URI issues. Amy, the other returned cat, has been in our program since birth and was never even exposed to shelter 'germs'. Orion, the Manx, would be adopted quickly because he is adorable, but can't attend adoption events with runny eyes and gunky nose. The last cat at question, the shy one with 'wet eyes'. still needs to be caught, given rabies vaccine and Revolution, and then he is due for a trial as a barn cat because he simply will not allow people to approach him and as such his chances of adoption into a house situation are next to nothing.
Coupling with this, everything on my end is going to have to wait, a little bit. I am consumed with work / looking for different work / studying for the GRE / caring for my partner who was in a terrible car accident last week. I get two days off a week but thus far they have been busy with taking partner to various and sundry doctors and doing accident follow-up--talking to insurance, doctors, and police.
There is a small chance I might be able to get a cat or two into the vet tomorrow to see our preferred vet--but what should I be asking?
One of these cats was a girl that I have been treated off and on since she was 2 months old, along with her brother. She appeared fine at time of adoption but not a day later her adoptive family complained of stuffy nose and runny eyes. She is now being returned.
Her brother has fairly constant, yet very mild URI symptoms. I am hesitant to request a vet visit for a problem that can be solved through other means.
Our other two current fosters, a very shy older boy, has constant 'wet eyes' which he will not let us clean or treat but no sneezing. Then there is little Orion, the Manx, who just finished Doxy treatment but still has URI symptoms.
Should I be concerned at this point about a possible FHV infection? Is there a definitive test that can be done to determine whether these cats are infected with FHV or some other type of URI viral activity?
There is a lot of frustration, and I am inclined to partially blame the adopters, both of whom seem to think that because the cat is freshly adopted, they should not have to deal with any medical issues, when we make it plain during the adoption that we do not and cannot guarantee health, and that they should take the cat to the vet within 2 weeks of adoption.
There is additional frustration in that I have had Carlos and Cecilia for nearly 6 months and haven't been able to completely clear them of URI issues. Amy, the other returned cat, has been in our program since birth and was never even exposed to shelter 'germs'. Orion, the Manx, would be adopted quickly because he is adorable, but can't attend adoption events with runny eyes and gunky nose. The last cat at question, the shy one with 'wet eyes'. still needs to be caught, given rabies vaccine and Revolution, and then he is due for a trial as a barn cat because he simply will not allow people to approach him and as such his chances of adoption into a house situation are next to nothing.
Coupling with this, everything on my end is going to have to wait, a little bit. I am consumed with work / looking for different work / studying for the GRE / caring for my partner who was in a terrible car accident last week. I get two days off a week but thus far they have been busy with taking partner to various and sundry doctors and doing accident follow-up--talking to insurance, doctors, and police.
There is a small chance I might be able to get a cat or two into the vet tomorrow to see our preferred vet--but what should I be asking?
