[livingwith]

We had 9 cats including 2 full pedigree siamese. Our Grandson was given 2 kittens for his birthday recently but his Dad refused to have them in the house so he asked if we would have them for him (we’ve usually got a lot of cats). The kittens arrived and settled in well with 2 ‘teenage’ male cats looking after them. After a month or so, some of the older cats started showing flu like symptons and were taken to the local vets.

We were assured that they would be fine and just...Read the full article

[LVC]

I HAVE 4 CATS WELL NOW 3 WITH IT. ONE DIED....TWO ARE STILL VERY SICK
THE FIRST ONE GOT IT FROM GOING TO THE VET FOR AN INJURY.
I JUST SWITCHED VETS BECAUSE THE ONE I HAD SEEMS TO JUST LIE TO ME
AND MAKE UP STUFF BECAUSE HE DOESNT WANT TO ADMIT THAT MY FIRST
CAT GOT IT FROM THIER OFFICE. THEY NEED LOTS OF ANTIBIOTICS AND IVS.
SOMETIMES NOT EVEN THAT HELPS. I AM SORRY ABOUT YOUR CATS, I KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH.

[Beanpole]

I read also, where Siamese cats are phone to get this.

[vickihurst]

I can relate to what you are going through. I am living you nightmare at the present time. My beloved thirteen year old Persian caught it from the new kittens I brought into my home to be company for HIM after his "grandmother" died. They supposedly had "recovered" from it. In my stupidity in not realizing they were "carriers", I infected him. He came down with symptoms almost two weeks ago. He has a feeding tube now, but I really don't think he's going to make it. I hate myself and these two kittens for all the suffering it's put him through. I'll never be able to forgive myself.

[Beanpole]

vickihurst:

Do not blame yourself or the kittens. It is neither of your faults what happened. What's strange is that in my cat medical book it states that the disease is not fatal. That doesn't make sense. I guess maybe it's the complications. And what's stange is my feral cat who was diagnosed with Calicivirus doesn't seem sick at all. So I guess she's a carrier and the disease can be spread to unvaccinated cats. Maybe one day she will not be as strong and the disease will run it's course. Would be nice if a veterinarian would respond.

[LVC]

MY CATS ARE BETTER NOW. I HAD JUST THE ONE DIE... (TWO ALMOST DIED). THEY ARE STILL SEPERATED.... THIS HAS BEEN ALMOST 2 MONTHS OF HELL. MY NEW VET TOLD ME THAT IT DOESNT REALLY MATTER IF THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT. THE NEW STRAIN IS DEADLY, AND THE VACCINE THAT'S OUT DOESNT PROTECT AGAINST THE HARSHER FCV (VS-FCV). ITS STILL IMPORTANT TO VACCINATE REGARDLESS... IT SEEMED TO HELP ONE OF MY CATS TO BOOSTER HIM RIGHT BEFORE HE GOT IT. TO THE PERSON BLAMING YOURSELF... I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL... MY ONE THAT DIED WENT FROM SNEEZING ON DAY 1 AND 2.. THAT WAS IT... THEN ON THE 3RD DAY HAD PNEUMONIA AND DIED THE NEXT MORNING. ONE OF THE OTHER CATS JUST GOT SNEEZES AND CONGESTION... SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON YOUR CATS ABILITY TO FIGHT IT OFF.. THERE IS NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO.... JUST KNOW YOU THAT GAVE YOUR CAT A GOOD LIFE. ANYBODY OUT THERE WITH CATS WITH THIS.. ALL YOU CAN DO REALLY IS GIVE THEM ANTIBIOTICS, SEPERATE THEM, KEEP THEM WARM, KEEP EVERYTHING SUPER CLEAN AROUND THEM, TRY NOT TO STRESS THEM, THATS ABOUT IT...... AND JUST KNOW, ITS NOT SOMETHING THEY GET OVER IN A FEW DAYS, MINE WERE ALL SICK ABOUT 2 WEEKS. I WISH OTHER PEOPLE WITH SICK CATS THE BEST OF LUCK.

[Beanpole]

LVC

Sorry about your loss. I cannot separate this cat. The only place I could put her would be in my closet and that's not right. Fortunately, my other cats don't get near her and I do keep my bedroom clean. I use Lysol bleach wipes to clean up the dried stuff from her eyes. The cat I do worry about is my old diabetic male -- though he is a carrier also, and has the herpes deal. I'm wondering if when I had her vaccinated in the beginning, it brought the disease out of dormancy (is that a word?). The antibiotics haven't seemed to help the eye discharge. Who knows, that could be allergies. What I feel bad about is that rescue groups can't even seem to help either. I guess they have too many 'hardship cases' already.

[vickihurst]

What makes me MOST angry is that the kittens I brought home were from a "shelter". The vet had given them a clean bill of health, and they knew I had a 13 year old cat at home (this was the reason I got them- to keep him company after I had lost my 19 year old baby. I think cats and kittens who are known carriers should not be released into homes with other cats! This has caused so much anxiety and pain. I'm still not sure if my "little guy" is going to pull through it- not to mention the expense!

[Beanpole]

I totally understand what you're saying. I guess it's up to us to totally check out a cat or kitten before we take it home. I suppose the shelters could not afford to check the animal for all the diseases out there, plus sometimes they can be false/positive. They probably only check for AIDS and Leukemia. I think my vet figured I was going to release the feral after she recovered from her surgery, but how could I knowing what condition her mouth was in? I've already spent $480 on this cat and I can't see putting her down when she is not suffering or in any pain. I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope none of my other cats come down with it. All of them were either ferals or strays at one time so they may have been exposed and have antibodies, I don't know. I'm hoping your cat gets better.

[LVC]

JUST TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW,,, LYSOL DOES NOT KILL THE VIRUS. YOU HAVE TO USE A MIXTURE OF BLEACH... 1:32 MIXTURE.. THE CLOROX ANYWHERE SPRAY IS REALLY GOOD. IT DOESNT CLEAN, BUT IT WILL KILL THE VIRUS THAT CAN LIVE FOR UP TO 10 DAYS OUTSIDE THE BODY..... YES.... 10 DAYS... IF YOUR OLDER CAT DOES GET IT.. FIRST SNEEZES... TAKE HIM/HER TO THE VET RIGHT AWAY.... THE BEST ANTIBIOTIC IS CLAVAMOX.... 1ML 2X A DAY..OR.... 2ML 2X A DAY IF THEY ARE HEAVY CATS... I KNOW THE CALICI AND HERPES VIRUS' RUN TOGETHER A LOT... FOR THE EYES, THERE IS ANTIBIOTIC EYE OINTMENT YOU CAN GET FROM YOUR VET ITS ABOUT 10$ A TUBE... ONE OF MY CATS HAD TO HAVE IT. YOU JUST PUT A SMALL STRIP IN THE EYE 3X A DAY. . . . . YES ... VET BILLS ARE HELL... IN THE LAS T 2 MONTHS I SPENT 2000$ ON THEM.... SUCKS!!!!! BUT THEY ARE WORTH IT... I CAN REPLACE $, NOT THEM. . . . IT IS VERY EASY TO CATCH THE VIRUS TOO... MY 1ST CAT W/ IT WAS SEPERATED FOR HIS INJURY AND THE OTHER CATS STILL GOT IT... SO.... I HOPE YOU GET LUCKY, BUT THEY USUALLY SHED IT FOR AROUND 3 MONTHS....