New Here! Exposing cat to URI?

Hello! I just joined today.   I have a 4-year-old spayed female that I rescued two years ago. The shelter told me that she had been treated for a URI. She never showed any symptoms by the time I got her.

This past Monday I rescued another kitty, a 2-year-old spayed female. The day before I got her, the cat sanctuary had an open house with about 100 people. It stressed her out so much that she is having a URI (feline herpes?) flare-up. The only real symptom is a very leaky eye and occasional snuffling. She is eating well and isn't lethargic. Her symptoms started on Sunday/Monday, right after the open house. When I visited her last week, her eye was fine. Right now I'm giving her lysine and today she will be starting on antibiotics.

Both cats are super-laid back and have been seeing each other through a crack in the door. They just stare at each other and slow-blink. I don't allow them to sniff each other because I don't know if the older cat can get a flare-up from being exposed to the new cat. Also, I don't know if she actually had feline herpes. The cats are ready to meet each other, but I'm afraid of getting my older cat sick. Is this a possibility?

Thanks for your help!

Forgot to mention that the older cat got the feline rhinotracheitis/calici panleukopenia vaccine last week. Will this protect her?

Aytees said:

 
Forgot to mention that the older cat got the feline rhinotracheitis/calici panleukopenia vaccine last week. Will this protect her?

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It will offer some protection, perhaps not 100%, was this the first time she was vaccinated?  Current thought is the FVRCP vaccine is good for at least 6 years, possibly longer.  Your new cat may indeed be having a little flare up, if its just a little eye discharge many vets will skip the antibiotics (its a virus).  The lysine can help.  How contagious is the new cat?  Great question, answer is probably unclear.  Slightly?  Again your cat has protection and the new cat isn't sneezing all over the place.  I have a cat with herpes (mild, only one real flare up) and the other cats never caught it.

So you could delay the intro a little bit longer if you want.  Do some gentle scent exchange (especially giving the new cat a sock that you've rubbed on the resident cat, and vise versa) and then offer the sock as a gift, and observe.

Thanks, StephenQ! The older cat was vaccinated back when she was at the shelter as well. Does this mean she can be exposed to the other cat? That would make me really happy! I haven't even done any scent swapping yet because I'm afraid of rubbing a cloth on the new cat and transferring the virus to it!

I'm assuming the cat sanctuary is giving me antibiotics so the new cat doesn't get an eye infection. Or would eye drops be better for that? Her eye is so leaky that when she shakes her head, the stuff goes all over the place.

Good point about the scent exchange! Wait on that. The resident cat is at decreased risk of catching it but not zero chance. As for eye drops, there is really only one antiviral eye drop and it's called Idoxuridine, not cheap but quite possibly what will help her eyes. It will also likely get better in time on its own.

Oh, really? How disappointing! I wonder how long I'll have to keep them apart. I just got some eye drops from the cat sanctuary, so hopefully all will be well in a few days.

Thanks for your help!

How long you keep them apart is up to you, but the more symptomatic the new cat is, the more likely our cat could catch it although the vaccine does provide decent protection. It's a judgment call but think of it this way, there is no immediate need to do an introduction and generally the slower you go the better. Again it's up to you.

I guess I'm confused. I thought the vaccine would fully protect her.

The new cat has been living in my daughter's room because we have no spare rooms. The washroom is way too small. My daughter hasn't been getting any sleep and is now sleeping on the couch. (Don't worry, she's 20 and not a child. haha) Kitty is super-active at night... which I guess is a good thing because she hasn't been lethargic. I know the two cats are ready to meet because I am always opening the door a crack and there are no concerns. Just a bit frustrating not knowing what to do.

Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it!

Just read this online:

"This vaccination also works in cats like a flu vaccination works in people.  It does not prevent cats from getting herpes virus, but if they are vaccinated, it drastically minimizes their symptoms to mild cold like symptoms."

http://www.allfelinehospital.com/vaccinations.pml

Ok, it makes sense now. You were right. Stephen! Not that I doubted you... I was just confused.

I posted something new but I guess I'm not allowed to post links.

I found this online: "This vaccination also works in cats like a flu vaccination works in people.   It does not prevent cats from getting herpes virus, but if they are vaccinated, it drastically minimizes their symptoms to mild cold like symptoms."

Ok, it makes sense now. You were right, Stephen. Not that I doubted you... I was just confused.

Aytees said:

 
I posted something new but I guess I'm not allowed to post links.

I found this online: "This vaccination also works in cats like a flu vaccination works in people.  It does not prevent cats from getting herpes virus, but if they are vaccinated, it drastically minimizes their symptoms to mild cold like symptoms."

Ok, it makes sense now. You were right, Stephen. Not that I doubted you... I was just confused.

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No worries, do the intro when you feel ready.  Is the washroom too small because there isn't room for a litter box, food and water and room for you to get around those items? 

Yes, it's way too small. And my boys could easily let the cat out when they go in there.

The new cat's eye isn't dripping as much today. I'm assuming that once her eye has cleared up, she won't be contagious any more? In any case, she can't be in my daughter's room for weeks!

Aytees said:

 
Yes, it's way too small. And my boys could easily let the cat out when they go in there.

The new cat's eye isn't dripping as much today. I'm assuming that once her eye has cleared up, she won't be contagious any more? In any case, she can't be in my daughter's room for weeks!

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If she's no longer symptomatic her chances of getting your other cat sick are very low.

Just a point about antibiotics and viruses.  There is no point in giving antibiotics for conditions that are caused by viruses.  The antibiotics will have no effect and can only contribute to the rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria.  The same applies to the giving of antibiotics as "a preventative against infection".

With regards,

Geoffrey

I'm assuming they were given because of her eye. Any chance of it getting infected? It's still watery, but not as much today.

Aytees said:

 
I'm assuming they were given because of her eye. Any chance of it getting infected? It's still watery, but not as much today.

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If antibiotics were prescribed, then I assume the eye was already infected and is now improving.

With best wishes to you both,

Geoffrey

I don't think the eye was infected, but it has been watering for almost a week and she is always squinting. How long will this last? Is it possible that it will be chronic?