How to ensure new kittens are healthy for my senior cats?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding the kittens. I would also check to see that they have been tested for FeLV (feline leukemia) and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). They need a fecal sample tested and to have been dewormed prior to introducing them to each other. If they have had these tests done, then they certainly would likely enjoy some companionship. I hope this information helps!

It really depends. Stress and underlying illness (in both cats) can cause a weakening of the immune system which may lead to secondary illnesses taking hold. That said, it would be a good idea to make sure the new cat's health issues are managed and not currently flaring to decrease the chances of spread. Taking a slow approach to introductions (giving each cat their own space, using pheromone diffusers, separate litter and food access) can also help to reduce stress and reduce the chances of spreading illness. I would make sure both cats are healthy enough for the potential stressor by talking to the vet that is treating them. From there, formulating a slow introduction plan, sanitizing any shared spaces, and monitoring for any signs of illness (sneezing, fever, loss of appetite, etc) can help catch early illness and reduce the potential of any problems.

Hi there! It's wonderful that you are adopting and fostering kittens! Thank you for helping these animals in need. If you plan to only have the foster kittens for a week I think it would be safest and maybe easiest to keep them separate. Often times shelter and rescue kittens can come down with upper respiratory infections and sometimes it can take a couple days for the symptoms to appear. So even though they may appear healthy initially it is possible they may be sick a few days later. The other concern would be parasites such as worms, coccidia and Giardia which can be shed in the bowel movements. So if they are sharing a litter box they are are increased risk for that too. If you wind up keeping the foster kittens longer than the week and if they haven't shown any signs of upper respiratory infection (sneezing, runny nose, discharge from the eyes, coughing) you could consider introducing them with supervision. I would also recommend having a fecal checked by the rescue on those kittens and Bob as well before letting them play together. With young animals it's always better to err on the side of caution as they can get much sicker, much faster, than an adult cat. I hope you find this information helpful. I wish you and Bob and your foster kitties all the best!

It would be helpful to know the age of kittens when you got them and how soon they developed symptoms as this would help determine whether they had it before you got them or were exposed afterwards, by other cats or possibly common food bowls, litter trays etc. I would recommend getting an older cat/kitten that has been fully vaccinated at least 3weeks before you take it next time and sterilise or replace all bedding, bowls etc

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.

Hello, chronic rhinitis and stomatitis tend to be from inflammatory autoimmune disease. However, some infectious organisms may cause this as well. In general, you kitten as an older cat may have adequate immunity against the viruses which she was vaccinated for. One way to prove this would be to check her titers. Make sure that the cat you are adopting is FeLV/FIV negative as these can still be transmitted to Mittens and significantly affect her quality of life. Once you have confirmed the adequate immune status of both cats either through titer testing or vaccination, then you may then introduce them slowly for the best success. Hope this helps and best of luck.

You have a little bit of a tricky situation. The only way your 8 year old cat can get Feline Leukemia is if the kitten is infected and shedding the virus. Since the kitten tested negative before you brought him home, you know he was not shedding the virus at that time. BUT since you know he was around another cat that could have have been shedding the virus, he could still become positive from that exposure (which can take a little while to test positive for). The safest thing to do for your 8 year old cat would be to keep him separated from the kitten for the next 90 days, then retest the kitten for Feline Leukemia. If he is negative at that time, then you can reintroduce them. Good luck! I hope everything is fine and that was helpful. Let us know if that doesn't make sense or if you have any other questions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.