New cat

[Shannon's Mom]

Hi, Traci,

I have a question about taking in a new cat. I know people do this all the time and it is fine. The cat belonged to a relative who had to give it up and I am taking it in. I already have a cat so I had tests done on the new cat, bloodwork, checkup and the snap test which was negative for all disease and the only problem it has is bad teeth for which surgery is already scheduled. Having only had one cat at a time all my life, have I done all I can to protect my own cat? Thanks so much.

Peg

[Cleo]

As a multi-cat owner who only started off with one, I would say yes.

How old is kitty? I'm assuming kitty also tested negative for fleas and worms? If that wasn't checked, I would do that too.

Slow introduction is best too. Although by the time I got to #'s 8 and 9, I just threw them into the mix figuring the rest wouldn't care or notice. Thankfully it worked out.

If the blood work was done within a month of the dental appointment to my experience and knowledge (although I could be wrong) there wouldn't be the need for a pre-anesthetic blood test before the procedure. Traci will fill in what I've left out and/or add to it. If that doesn't happen before the appointment, double check with your vet about this.

Congrats & good luck!

[Shannon's Mom]

Thanks so much, Cleo. She is 6 yrs. old and has been an indoor cat. She has been treated for fleas she got when she was temporarily housed with a dog and we will have her stool results tomorrow. She will have her dental tomorrow and she has been isolated from my cat until all tests are in. Her snap test was negative on all counts. That was my main concern. She is healthy except for some really bad teeth resulting in a lot of weight loss but she is eating well now. I feed her minced wet food and wet, mushy dry. I think she will regain her weight once the teeth are fixed.

She had her bloodwork done Saturday and will not need to be re-tested before surgery. I will definitely ask about the bloodwork for Felv and FIV. I just would die if my cat got sick.

[Traci]

What is kitty's vaccination history? That would tell you a lot about how to "technically" proceed. If she is current on FVRCP and Rabies, and lived in a pretty secure environment with no other ill cats, things should be fine. Do you know if she ever had an FELV vaccination?

The snap test IS the FELV/FIV, as long as it was the "combo" snap test. Did your vet send out for other tests and what are those tests?

I'm assuming YOUR kitty is current on her vaccinations as well?

Might want to ask the vet why kitty's oral health is in such bad shape - is it due to neglect in oral care or to something like stomatitis? Is it plaque and tarter or is the vet suggesting extractions? If extractions are necessary, please ask the vet for short-course pain medications to give at home, I recommend oral buprenorphine. Also pick up a few cans of Prescription Diet A/D if the vet approves, this is good for cats recovering from dentals or extractions, can be mixed with just a bit of water for a slightly soupy consistency and the cat doesn't have to chew - shouldn't have to feed it for more than a couple days, but do keep your vet updated on her recovery and eating.

[Cleo]

I just had one of my cats in for dental surgery. She had 4 minor and one major extractions. Sent home with two days worth of oral buprenorphine, prefilled in a needless syringe. All I had to do was put it under her tongue. It was a blessing. She did very well recovering and I only wish and question why this wasn't given to me when my other kitties had just as many extractions.

Anyway, good luck with everything! New kitty is lucky to have a home with you now.

[Shannon's Mom]

Hi, Traci,

This cat has been indoors with three other cats for 5 1/2 years. All were in good health. She was due for her rabies and distemper shots which were done Saturday. She had the snap test which was negative, bloodwork for kidneys and liver and Chem 11 w CBC panel, we gave a stool sample and she was treated for fleas. Her bloodwork came back fine and we were told her teeth are really bad and one fang was hanging by a thread. The owner did not realize teeth were an issue. She moved to a place where she could not keep the cats so they were given to friends and family. There was some infection in the gums and an abscess on the fang.

The two days she was here she ate very well. She did not vomit or have any problems with the wet food and mushy dry I gave her. She is lively and playful. She was given Buprenex for pain and an antibiotic for the infection. She is right now in surgery for her dental and it was known she will lose a few teeth and the fang. She was diagnosed with Halitosis, Gingivitis and calculus. I can't read if the dental index is a 3 or a 5! Looking at her teeth, They were brown and some were black! Upon examinationof her teeth, she screamed out in pain so we took the first dental appt. we could get.

My cat is current on everything and is in excellent condition. He is a little less than 2 yrs. old and he is my main concern to keep healthy while giving the new kitty a forever home. I'm not sure if she ever had a Felv vaccination. And not sure about FVRCP. How would I know if she had stomatitis? Is this contageous?

[Traci]

Stomatitis is an oral disease, we're not sure what causes it specifically, sometimes it is hereditary, sometimes due to lowered immune function, sometimes FELV, sometimes just ignored dental health. If the condition is severe, it can cause red/swollen gums/chronic inflammation, accelleration of tooth decay and loss, sometimes cats have to have all their teeth pulled depending on the severity - but most cats do just fine with little to no teeth. In serious cases, the inflammation can spread to the throat making it difficult to swallow or even breath because inflammation is severe. Pain is usually always a problem with stomatitis because of the inflammation and potential bacterial infections etc. It's not contagious. Treatment usually involves antibiotics, veterinary prescribed pain medication, detailed removal of teeth and proper suturing of the sites and diligent monitoring.

Your vet should be able to diagnose stomatitis by exam and what he finds during the dental/extractions - sometimes in chronic conditions, a biopsy could be done to determine extent of disease or differentiating between a combined bacterial or viral infection etc.

If you have no prior health records for the new kitty, I would strongly suggest that after she is COMPLETELY HEALED and recovered completely from the dental, that she is vaccinated at least once for FVRCP and FELV. I don't think your vet would require booster series, but she should have at least one of each. If the vet doesn't feel she needs the FELV vaccination, she should definitely receive the FVRCP vaccination (as well as Rabies), so this would make her current on vaccinations. After that, as long as she's healthy, kept indoors etc, she may not require additional vaccinations (due to age, or if she has a chronic health condition for example).

[Shannon's Mom]

She has gotten the Rabies and Distemper shots Saturday. I am trying to get some records on her vaccinations. I know she did not go to the vet for a couple years. Would the shots she got Saturday be boosters? I will ask about the FVRCP? Would it hurt her to get it if she's had it before?

[Shannon's Mom]

If she was negative on the snap, does that rule out FelV?

[Traci]

The FVRCP *is* the distemper vaccination (along with feline rhinotracheitis (herpes), and either calicivirus or chlamydia)

I would ask the vet if he feels an FELV vaccination is necessary. But, if he suggests to do so, please wait until AFTER she's completely healed from her dental work, is eating well, perhaps gaining a bit more healthy weight.

As for boosters, it depends on the cat and the vet's opinion. Some vets recommend cats without a vaccination history have boosters of the FVRCP and FELV - If the cat is less than a year or two old, I suggest a booster of at least 2 of each. In an older cat, one of each vaccination should be sufficient for awhile, but your vet's opinion trumps my opinion.