How often at a shelter do you find a cat without cat flu?
Krystal-Elise S asked:
Mum says she would never adopt a cat with cat flu? Most cats at the shelter would have cat flu if I’m not mistaken as they spend heaps of time with other cats, epecially when there with penned with 7 other different cats
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Mum says she would never adopt a cat with cat flu? Most cats at the shelter would have cat flu if I’m not mistaken as they spend heaps of time with other cats, epecially when there with penned with 7 other different cats
It would be virtually impossible to find a shelter cat the didn’t have cat flu? Right or Wrong?
Cats are vacciented at our shelters for cat flu and other disease, but although does reduce the chances of a cat getting sick, does not guarantee the cat will not get sick.
January 13th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Well yes and no, if all the cats had their shots, they might not get it, but I would assume most places will at some point have the flu going around. I myself own 17 cats and deal with the flu once in a while, but there is nothing wrong with adopting one of these cats, if they are sick the meds to clear it up are only about $10-$20, it’s really not a big deal!
January 16th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
wrong a good shelter would have immunised against it and given medical care to kittens with cat flu.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Many shelter cats are very healthy and never get sick, but many cats do. “Kitty Flu” is actually an upper respiratory infection. While it is contagious, it is not a serious problem if the cat is giving proper food, and time to rest. This is one of the many reasons that most cat experts suggest that you isolate any new cat in a bedroom for a few weeks before introducing the cat to the household.
The risk of upper respiratory infection should never be a reason not to adopt.
Also, Upper respiratory infection is more common in shelters that have a large animal load, and not enough staff to keep the kennels clean and sanitary. Well-run shelters will not let cats that are sick with cats that are well, and make sure that all cats are quarantined before placing in the general adoption area.
All four of the cats I adopted were healthy, and never go sick.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Cats don’t actually get the flu but upper respiratory infections (URI) caused by viruses. And yes many cats in shelters have URI, but then again so do many cats at pet stores, neighbors and farms.
Many shelter kitties do just fine once they are in a home environment. There is no way and no place to get a cat guaranteed to not get sick.
January 20th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I don’t know about what the policy is in your community, but here, the kittens get vaccinated against rabies, feline leukemia, etc. The odds of getting a decent cat at the shelter are as good or better than most other places. Besides, if you find a cat you like, isn’t it worth it to nurture her/him back to health and happiness? I picked up two kittens from a private home that were in terrible shape. That was 14 years ago. They’re healthy and happy today.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:09 am
Most of the cats that spend any time in a shelter get “kennel cough.” It’s really no big deal, so long as it’s treated. Both of my cats had just finished their last round of medications when I adopted them and they are happy and healthy years later.
At my local Human Society they have 2 different areas, one for the infected, one for the healthy. You can adopt either. As long as you give the “sick” cats their meds, they’ll be fine…like I said, when cats’ upper respiratory infections are properly treated, they jump right back and it’s like they never had it!
January 24th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Both of my cats were from the local Humane Society, & they visited the vet before they came home to be completely checked. One of them needed to be wormed again, but otherwise both were fine & in good health..
January 24th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I adopted 2 of my cats at the humane society. The one I adoted last year had an URI and turns out she has Feline Herpes Virus. The one I adopted in July had an URI but now she’s pretty much in good health. So, I think it depends on the cat’s immune system.