Expert: Jessica - 6/5/2010

Question
We adopted a 4 month old kitten last week from an animal rescue league. We have since discovered the kitten has ear mites, ringworm on several places on his body, an intestinal parasite and now he has an upper respiratory infection. We have shelled out quite a bit of money on medical care so far but luckily we purchased insurance for him.  We have a one year old healthy cat and 3 young children so we are keeping him isolated in the bathroom until we get the all clear from our vet (4+ weeks from now). I'm very worried about my kids catching something and especially our 1 yr old cat.  Another big concern is Feline HIV since we don't know the background of this little kitten, he was not part of a litter. He tested negative on May 17th but was not vaccinated for it and a retest is recommended in 6 months. I worry that once his present illnesses clear up and we bring him out of isolation he might infect our healthy cat. Given the 4 illnesses, the unknowns about Feline HIV, the risks to my cat and kids, and the amount of time, attention and money required to nurse him back to health, would you recommend returning him to the rescue league? They are a no-kill shelter w/ an isolation area so I feel they would try to get him healthy again and I wouldn't be sending him to certain death.  I am terribly torn about this. The last thing I want is to harm my healthy cat but I feel terribly for this little kitten!

Answer
Hi Elaine.  I wouldn't recommend returning the kitten to a shelter.  All of the illnesses you mention are actually very common in cats and are ones most pet parents end up having to treat at one point or another.  I certainly understand your frustration.  Everyone hopes and expects that bringing home a kitten will be a fun and happy event, and I'm sorry that this wasn't true in your case.  But I sincerely believe that this kitten will not be a big threat to your other cat.  Healthy adults are rather resistant to all of the germs that you mention (unless the intestinal parasite is roundworms, but these can be effectively killed with Revolution).  In all practicality, the only threat to your children would be ringworm, but your children could just as easily pick this up from a playground, etc.

I have ten years experience with FIV+ cats.  I currently have two cats who are infected, both adopted with the disease already, and have had 5 others.  I've kept them together with my uninfected cats, and the disease has never spread, proven by tests and retests.  This is because the disease is only passed through bite wounds, and occasionally from mother to kitten during pregnancy or birth.  In a friendly household, where no bite wounds occur, there is no risk to uninfected cats.  The only way to absolutely guarantee that no deep, penetrating bite wounds would occur would be to separate the cats.  However, in a peaceful household with two fixed cats, chances of significant bite are just about none.  In my opinion, and the opinion of many others who are familiar with the disease, FIV is not contagious enough to be worrisome in a friendly household.

Having said all that, I can't understand why your vet is suggesting a retest, especially as far off as 6 months.  Even if the kitten was bitten today, he will have developed significant antibodies to cause a positive test in about 3 months maximum.

Kittens are actually more likely to give a false POSITIVE result.  A negative is generally accepted as negative in a kitten at this age.  They simply don't engage in the behavior (serious fighting) that is required to become infected.  Perhaps the vet is being thorough...perhaps the vet is aware you have pet insurance on the kitten and feels that since the money isn't coming out of your pocket ultimately, you may as well tack on another test.

If it would ease your mind, you could try keeping the kitten separated for the three months and having him retested, but I don't feel that's necessary.  I feel your adult cat would be safe, even if the kitten WAS infected.  And I don't personally feel a retest is worth the trouble, but again, that may give you peace of mind.

I understand you have your hands full, and maybe working with this little one is too much to handle.  But all of the kitten's conditions are treatable and not a serious threat to your other cat or children.  Of course, the children should not be directly exposed to the kitten's stool because if they place their hands in their mouths and they contain fecal matter, parasites could be a problem, but I hope this is practiced with your adult cat as well!  Only you can decide how much time you can dedicate to this baby, but I don't think there is a big worry as far as your other cat or children are concerned.

Good luck!

Jessica