Is cat flu contagious to new kittens from old toys or a healthy cat?

Cat Flu is a general term that refers to an upper respiratory infection. In kittens, the biggest causes are usual one of a couple of different viruses that will go away with the infection. One of the viruses (herpes virus) will stay latent in the body and may come out again during times of stress. However, most cats have this virus already, so it's not standard for us to recommend isolation for the rest of kittenhood based on a history of cat flu. I would double-check the reason for the recommendation. I suspect there was something else going on with that case. The kitten should not be contagious if there were no signs of infection when you got her. Outside cats pose a risk of transmitting FIV and FeLV, which both affect the immune system and can be quite severe in kittens. I'm assuming that's why they recommended her not to go outside. From what you've described, I don't think you have much to worry about. Shelters commonly adopt out kittens with a history of cat flu and it's rarely a problem. Again, I think it's worth talking to the Vet at the SPCA. Sometimes the staff do not fully understand the situation and may have not explained this well enough. I hope that helps and you enjoy the new kitten. It's always great to see people adopting, so good on you.

I'm very sorry Mitzi isn't working out! Calicivirus typically lasts a week to 14 days in the environment, chlamydophila felis doesn't survive well in the environment and is easily killed, and microplasma felis does not survive long in the environment as well. You can get a new cat, but I would wait a couple of weeks to be sure. Be sure to thoroughly disinfect and clean all the cat items you have to prevent any chance of transmission of cat flu to your new cat.

Yes there is a chance that you can carry the disease back home. If your cats are vaccinated against Calicivirus, Herpesvirus and Panleucopenia virus (and eventually Leukemia virus as well), the risk of infection should be basically none. To minimize the risk I would recommend to wash your hands/arms and clothes before getting in contact with your cats again when you are back home. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

There are several upper respiratory PCR tests available that can screen for a number of different infectious diseases that can infect and spread between cats. The Idexx Feline Upper Respiratory panel is one example, but I'm not sure if this particular lab is utilized in the UK. (I'm sure UK vets use a comparable panel!) Influenza (flu) is less of a risk in cats compared to calicivirus and herpesvirus, although other infectious organisms, such as Mycoplasma, can also cause upper respiratory illness. Calicivirus is shed continuously, so if a cat is infected or carrying this virus, it should show up on the panel. Herpesvirus sheds intermittently, so as you mention, odds are good that a flare and shedding will occur during a time of stress and thus be detectable on a test, but there is no guarantee. While there is no way to be 100% positive that a new cat is completely free of all infectious upper respiratory diseases, I think it's reasonable to test the adopted cat shortly after adoption, then quarantine them for 2ish weeks while both waiting for the test results and allowing your current cat to acclimate to the presence and smells of another cat in the home.

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is an undesirable situation to be in when adopting a new kitten. You did the right thing by leaving kitty there becuase upper respiratory infections are highly contagious. However, if your cats are up to date on their FVRCP vaccine, this greatly reduces the chances of them getting ill also. There is a small chance that the virus can survive on fomite objects, but typically it is spread through direct contact or through aerosolized droplets from oral secretions, similar to the flu or common cold. You can change your clothing just to be safe, before coming in contact with your cats and home and just wash your clothing as you normally would, and monitor your cats for any symptoms. However, like I said, there is a low chance of transmission this way. Upper respiratory infections are very common in cats, so once the kitty is free of illness, wait about 10 days before considering adopting him. He also should be up to date on his vaccinations. Once a cat gets infected, they are likely to get re-infected in the future and have upper airway issues as an adult. I hope this helps and best wishes with your prospect kitty. Take care.

Yes, it's best to keep him in and isolated from your cat while he gets over the infection. These infections are quite easily spread from one cat to the other and it's very difficult to prevent transmission in the same household; but you can try to isolate the sick cat away from your healthy one for at-least one week after the infection appears to have resolved. They spread it through nose-to-nose contact, so avoiding this is most important for avoiding transmission. I hope that help and FuiFui gets well soon.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Viruses can be contagious, especially if the healthy cat is unvaccinated. It is always best to keep a new cat separate from your other cat for about 2 weeks (most viruses show up in 7-10 days) and if Sifu is sick I would definitely separate them until Sifu is feeling better. Monitor Sifu, and if he isn't eating/drinking or is having trouble breathing then have him back to the vet. Once he is feeling better then get him vaccinated and then introduce the two. A cage in the same room won't separate the viruses, ideally, they would be in separate rooms where the water from the sneezing won't be inhaled by your healthy cat. Best of luck with them!