Expert: Jessica - 8/22/2009

Question
i adore this cat that belongs to my ex-neighbors.  my friend still lives in the apartment next to them.  he became an outdoor only cat once the neighbors had a baby.  he looks like a ragdoll and is super friendly, but has always sneezed a lot.

i stopped by my friend's place tonight, and saw the cat outside.  he was skin and bones.  you could see his hips (for a long hair, that's pretty bad) and the fur near the base of his tail was really thin.  my friend assures me that they leave food out for him in the back at all times, but when i got some of my old cat food from inside my friend's apartment that i had left there (just some dry iams) he attacked it voraciously.  i have NEVER seen a cat eat anything like that (not even turkey).

i'm worried about the cat and would love to adopt him (if the owners consent, but even if they don't i have convinced my friend to sit outside with him once a day and give him food and water to make sure the strays in the area don't scare him away from it). my concern is i have a 20 week old kitten.  he has been vaccinated, but i know that vaccines are not always effective.  the other cat had a sneezing fit that lasted over a minute (he has done this for as long as i have known him).  i would love to give this cat an indoor home where i could be sure he is getting the nutrition and attention he deserves, but i'm not sure if they can test for all communicable cat diseases and don't want to risk my current cat's health.  i would, of course, get him checked by a vet before bringing him home, but what sorts of things should i be worried about/getting him tested for?  is sneezing a lot more common in some cat breeds?  he does not have a squishy/pansy face like some persians.

i'm assuming it's not fiv since he seems to have a terrific appetite.

thanks

jenn

Answer
Hi Jenn.  It would be great if you could adopt him!

The two diseases that are of the biggest concern are feline leukemia and the feline immunodeficiency virus, which you are already aware of.  Although these often cause a poor appetite in their terminal stages, milder symptoms such as upper respiratory infections, eye infections and oral infections that don’t cause too big of a problem can be common in earlier stages of the diseases.  Both viruses are easily tested for, often in a combination test that gives you results right in the vet’s office.

However, the most common communicable illness which causes long-term sneezing with thick nasal discharge is the feline herpes virus.  Once infected, cats become carriers of this virus for life.  As with human herpes infections, most cats have long periods of remission between flare ups and will experience symptoms periodically.  Flare ups are often triggered by stress.  But there are some cats who just seem to struggle with the symptoms of herpes on a constant basis.

Another virus of concern may be calici.  Like herpes, many cats become carriers of this disease for life, and it can reactivate during times of stress.  Calici causes sneezing fits but does not generally result in much nasal discharge.  It tends to cause sores in the mouth and throat.  Most cats don’t suffer with calici as chronically as they will with herpes.

The two diseases are similar in many ways.  Kittens are vaccinated against both diseases with any “combo shot”.  It’s most often mixed right in with their panleukopenia vaccine (distemper), and the whole combo may be listed as an FVRCP vaccine on their records.  Unfortunately, the vaccines against both of these viruses do not provide full immunity.  They do serve to greatly lessen the severity of the infections when the cat does become infected.  I say “when the cat does become infected” because about 90% of cats contract herpes at some point in their lives, and calici is almost as common.  It’s probable that your kitten is already a carrier of these viruses.  Because nearly all cats have been exposed to them, most people aren’t too concerned about these two diseases when introducing new cats into their homes, as long as all cats are up on their vaccinations.  

Nevertheless, there are tests for these viruses that could be run.  Herpes can be detected through nasal/eye secretion or throat swabs or with blood tests, and calici can be confirmed with a throat swab.  Throat swabs may come back negative even if the cat is carrying calici, unless it’s taken when the kitty is suffering a flare up.

It’s possible all this cat needs is a good round of antibiotics.  While viral illnesses aren’t treatable, there are some bacterial infections, like chlamydia or pasteurella, that cause these symptoms and will be completely cured with an appropriate medication.  With the symptoms you’re describing, most any vet I know would prescribe an antibiotic, and it will typically result in improvement, even if a component of the infection is viral.  This is because viral infections very often come along with bacterial infections, which end up being the worst part of the situation.

Your best bet is to have a vet look over the kitty to see if there is anything of great concern (leukemia or FIV), or anything treatable.  If herpes or calici is suspected, then you can weigh your options as far as bringing him into the home.  If herpes is diagnosed, I would urge you to give the kitty a lysine supplement.  This will help suppress the virus and give him more time between flare ups.  There are supplements made just for cats, including Viralys and Enisyl F.  Formulations include gels, powders to mix into food, and cat treats containing lysine.

As for breed disposition, there definitely are some cats who suffer from upper respiratory ailments more often than others.  Persians and Siamese are among them, but thus far, the Ragdoll has not been proven to be.

Good luck with all!

Jessica