how shocked should I be?

Pop_Up_Pirate

Calici virus can spread among cats in large numbers, so would spread around a cattery for example, but settles down once the cats are on their own again.
Many cats carry cat flu and herpes, the same as humans.

The virus can affect the cats mouths,teeth and respiratory system.

I would happily have a cat with calici virus. Other than maybe needing some teeth removed, there's no issues.

Feral_Moon

nicter wrote: »

Our vets still vaccinate our calici virus carrying cat each year with a "dead virus" as its thought the vaccine can help to reduce symptoms

In other words they still want to blind you by science into getting money for nothing.

Haffiana

adonis wrote: »

I was always told it is wet food that causes teeth problems and dry food causes kidney problems?

If someone told you that eating rusks would keep your teeth clean and in good shape, what would you think?

Raw chicken wings are far better than either for teeth.

K9sandFelines

trailingspouse wrote: »

Our old cat needed to be pts about 18 months ago, and we're now in the market for another one.

We visited a cat rescue place and although we were planning on getting a kitten, one of their older cats (12) took a real shine to my OH and we decided that we would get him instead. We were told that all the cats were vaccinated up-to-date. We were also told that the cat we wanted had a problem with one of his eyes. The lady who ran the place suggested that I meet her at the vet's with the cat, and we could go through any issues with him (as an older cat at a rescue centre, we were prepared for there to be a few issues). This visit to the vet's happened yesterday.

It turns out that this cat has very many problems. Most of them we would be able to cope with, but a few things stood out.
a) he had no vaccination record at all. This means she lied to us when she said all the cats were vaccinated. Alarm bells start to ring.
b) he is a 'likely' (vet's words) to be a carrier for cat flu and herpes - this appeared to be news to the cat rescue lady. I asked if that would be an issue if we needed to put him in a cattery, and the cat rescue lady immediately said 'They only need the vaccination certificate'. Surely the cattery needs to be sure that your cat won't give their other cats cat flu? I wouldn't feel comfortable handing him over knowing he was a carrier - but we also don't want to potentially not have a holiday for the next 10 years!!
c) he has severe gingivitis and will need all his teeth out. So the poor old boy is in pain and the cat rescue place has done nothing about it (they've had him a long time).

In the end, OH and I have decided to walk away. I feel quite upset that this cat is potentially spreading cat flu to the other cats at the place (most were just wandering about outside, so plenty of opportunity for spreading disease), that he is in pain from his teeth, and that she lied to us re the vaccinations. Am I over-reacting?

One of our,cats was born with cat flu and as long as he is kept up to date with boosters, it is not an issue. He has stayed at a cattery when i moved house which was a 50 mile distance away. He has never had any ailments since he initially had it as a kitten.

Helen2k8

My concern would be more that if all the cats are mingling, they've now all infected one another with whatever they have