Discussion
Having just takin in a kitten with symptoms similar to this virus, ulcerated eyes, slight sneeze and little snotty nose what's the likelyhood that this may be something less serious? The kitten is eating well, popping and running about like a goodum however it certainly was not well in the care of its breeder beforehand.
Vets mentioned the virus when we took her there today but can't be sure of anything and not sure how bad her eyes have been effected due to inflammation of the surrounding tissue which we have medication for. Going back Wednesday to re assess and we are keeping our other cat away from the new kitten.
Vets mentioned the virus when we took her there today but can't be sure of anything and not sure how bad her eyes have been effected due to inflammation of the surrounding tissue which we have medication for. Going back Wednesday to re assess and we are keeping our other cat away from the new kitten.
Who was the breeder that you got her from? Sphynx breeders are a funny lot,very close knit.They don't normally mess about. Unless its one of the ones that do it just for the money of course. Surely any desent breeder should have had that kitten put to sleep,if theres any risk of disease being spread.
Did you pay much for her? mine is 5th gen and i paid £1k which is about the going rate for show quality
Did you pay much for her? mine is 5th gen and i paid £1k which is about the going rate for show quality
Sounds more chlamydia tbh far more common and prevelant amongst kittens.
Re FiV most breeders will have had both parents tested before using and have certification to prove they were negative.
If FiV is suspected the kitten will need a blood test, if -ve it's likely to be ok but a repeat test a month later would be advised. If positive a retest is needed 3 months later to see if antibodies kicked in but that is only usually if they are asymptomatic when tested.
Have they swabbed for chlamydia?
Should also consider Calici virus, herpes, cat flu.
None of these illnesses are gold and are often lifelong but are manageable and flare ups reduced with good care. Cats can live many years with FiV but if the signs he has now are because of FiV long term prognosis is not so good
Re FiV most breeders will have had both parents tested before using and have certification to prove they were negative.
If FiV is suspected the kitten will need a blood test, if -ve it's likely to be ok but a repeat test a month later would be advised. If positive a retest is needed 3 months later to see if antibodies kicked in but that is only usually if they are asymptomatic when tested.
Have they swabbed for chlamydia?
Should also consider Calici virus, herpes, cat flu.
None of these illnesses are gold and are often lifelong but are manageable and flare ups reduced with good care. Cats can live many years with FiV but if the signs he has now are because of FiV long term prognosis is not so good
Edited by bexVN on Saturday 21st February 23:40
Breeder advertises on preloved and lives in Bournmouth. Not tested for anything yet as just got her and treating the issues she has to start with. Back Wed to the vets and will discuss tests etc then.
We didn't pay anything for her as she was not well and we took pity. If it costs a few quid to sort her out its no issue so long as she does not affect our other cat who is also a house cat, they are currently separated in different parts of the house and will stay like that with hand washing etc if we swap between playing with them.
I did mention to the missis that it may be best to put her down if she is a carrier along with the state of her eyes although the swelling has gone down allot and was meet with floods of bloody tears!
Our 2 dogs are transfixed, the chug probably wants to sniff and play and the British bull dogs is just plain nosey but her hate if rodents means we will have to introduce very very carefully in case she miss reads what the kitten is. She is fine with cats mind so we will get around to that if the kitten stays.
We didn't pay anything for her as she was not well and we took pity. If it costs a few quid to sort her out its no issue so long as she does not affect our other cat who is also a house cat, they are currently separated in different parts of the house and will stay like that with hand washing etc if we swap between playing with them.
I did mention to the missis that it may be best to put her down if she is a carrier along with the state of her eyes although the swelling has gone down allot and was meet with floods of bloody tears!
Our 2 dogs are transfixed, the chug probably wants to sniff and play and the British bull dogs is just plain nosey but her hate if rodents means we will have to introduce very very carefully in case she miss reads what the kitten is. She is fine with cats mind so we will get around to that if the kitten stays.
Sorry I misread your title, I thought it said FiV, I see now it said FHV-1!!
Luckily I did briefly cover that in my answer!! Would still be worth checking for FiV aswell though.
Swabs would clarify things for you so may be worth spending out a bit on those.
I think my phone put in the word gold when I'm sure it should have said curable curable, I have no idea how it found that word instead.
I hope she responds to treatment quickly, keeping my fingers crossed for her.
Luckily I did briefly cover that in my answer!! Would still be worth checking for FiV aswell though.
Swabs would clarify things for you so may be worth spending out a bit on those.
I think my phone put in the word gold when I'm sure it should have said curable curable, I have no idea how it found that word instead.
I hope she responds to treatment quickly, keeping my fingers crossed for her.
The poor little thing has cat flu, a combination of one or more viruses (FHV, FCV etc) + potentially other bits, hugely common in unvaccinated cats and show cats. Most kittens will do fine in a couple of weeks with supportive care - antibiotic cover, keeping nose and eyes clean, lots of tlc etc.
Make sure your other cat's vaccinations are up to date , ie. has had one in the last year. Cat flu is hugely contagious and your other cat will definitely catch it if unvaccinated.
Highly bred cats often seem to end up with a chronic intermittent rhinitis (snuffles) after flu, others frequently become carriers and get ill periodically at times of stress, or may just shed the virus without actually being ill.
Most show cats and most cats and kittens that go through rescue centers will suffer from or be exposed to flu.
No vaccine is 100% effective so even if your cat is vacc'd it may still be affected in the face of persistent exposure.
There wouldn't be much point in testing for FIV in a young kitte. (Maternal transmission is low risk + there is a cross rxn with maternal antibodies, and FeLV wouldn't likely show up yet either..)
Use this website for everything cats,
http://www.icatcare.org:8080/advice/cat-health/z-c...
Make sure your other cat's vaccinations are up to date , ie. has had one in the last year. Cat flu is hugely contagious and your other cat will definitely catch it if unvaccinated.
Highly bred cats often seem to end up with a chronic intermittent rhinitis (snuffles) after flu, others frequently become carriers and get ill periodically at times of stress, or may just shed the virus without actually being ill.
Most show cats and most cats and kittens that go through rescue centers will suffer from or be exposed to flu.
No vaccine is 100% effective so even if your cat is vacc'd it may still be affected in the face of persistent exposure.
There wouldn't be much point in testing for FIV in a young kitte. (Maternal transmission is low risk + there is a cross rxn with maternal antibodies, and FeLV wouldn't likely show up yet either..)
Use this website for everything cats,
http://www.icatcare.org:8080/advice/cat-health/z-c...
It is worth testing for FiV if kitten is showing chronic illness and if queen not been certified clear (a responsible breeder would do this) It's true it is less likely but we've been caught out before so it has to be suggested and advised even if a retest is needed a month later (or 3 months I always forget the timings) to rule it out completely.
It cannot be diagnosed as cat flu over an Internet, I never diagnose as a) I'm not allowed to as a vet nurse and b)It would be irresponsible of me to do so in case it's wrong info and misleads the OP. Having said all that it is obviously high on the suspect list!!
It cannot be diagnosed as cat flu over an Internet, I never diagnose as a) I'm not allowed to as a vet nurse and b)It would be irresponsible of me to do so in case it's wrong info and misleads the OP. Having said all that it is obviously high on the suspect list!!
Edited by bexVN on Sunday 22 February 17:08
Well whatever she had is getting better although the damage to her eyes from not being treated asap looks like being permanent although again we will have to wait another few weeks to be sure. If she stays she will be very well looked after like the rest of our brigade so stress won't be an issue I hazard to say.
Our other cat is a house cat and not inoculated however he is being kept up stairs and the kitten down stairs only. We have put in place hand washing stations between the two areas and my missis changes her top when going up and down to try to stop contagion. He is also being booked in for the jabs tomorrow and will be kept apart till it's safe to interact although I appreciate he could still get mild symptoms just so long as he stays healthy.
Picture from today
Our other cat is a house cat and not inoculated however he is being kept up stairs and the kitten down stairs only. We have put in place hand washing stations between the two areas and my missis changes her top when going up and down to try to stop contagion. He is also being booked in for the jabs tomorrow and will be kept apart till it's safe to interact although I appreciate he could still get mild symptoms just so long as he stays healthy.
Picture from today
Glad to hear the little one is getting better, keep up the good work!
Cat flu is a bit of a misnomer, it refers to a collection of transmissable diseases that cause similar clinical disease in cats, none on which are an Influenza virus.
By far the most common causes would be FHV and FCV ( Calici), followed some time later by Chlamydia (no, not contagious to humans), + a couple of lesser ones too. I fully agree that a diagnosis should not be made over the internet, I was simply agreeing with the attending vet and hoping to clarify things and reassure the OP, FHV-1 sounds much more ominous than cat flu.
The problem in testing young kittens for FIV is interpretation of the results, the increased false positives due to maternal antibodies and false negatives due to delay in seroconversion combined with the low prevalence in young kittens and a less than perfect sensitivity and specificity of the Snapp test make the results pretty meaningless in kittens under 6 months. FeLV is a very different matter, and there is an argument that any cat with a questionable background should be tested before being introduced to a new household...
Cat flu is a bit of a misnomer, it refers to a collection of transmissable diseases that cause similar clinical disease in cats, none on which are an Influenza virus.
By far the most common causes would be FHV and FCV ( Calici), followed some time later by Chlamydia (no, not contagious to humans), + a couple of lesser ones too. I fully agree that a diagnosis should not be made over the internet, I was simply agreeing with the attending vet and hoping to clarify things and reassure the OP, FHV-1 sounds much more ominous than cat flu.
The problem in testing young kittens for FIV is interpretation of the results, the increased false positives due to maternal antibodies and false negatives due to delay in seroconversion combined with the low prevalence in young kittens and a less than perfect sensitivity and specificity of the Snapp test make the results pretty meaningless in kittens under 6 months. FeLV is a very different matter, and there is an argument that any cat with a questionable background should be tested before being introduced to a new household...
Well we are arranging to get our other house cat innoculated against everything and the 2 will be kept well apart till we get the ok to let them mix. Kitten is very lively although she has bumped her head a few times when in full blind pursuit so we have removed glass items.
The Chug loves her and alls well, vis versa with the cat, we won't chance the BBD till she is twice her current size and not as rodent looking, think she will be fine though.
The Chug loves her and alls well, vis versa with the cat, we won't chance the BBD till she is twice her current size and not as rodent looking, think she will be fine though.
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