So I purchased 2 kittens from the same breeder back in the end of July. Because they were from different litters, one was ready and came home with me 7/31 while the other one is not ready until September. The kitten that came home with me got sick with Panleukopenia 2 weeks later because apparently he wasn't vaccinated for it at the breeder, and being a first time cat owner I had no idea what the different shots were and didn't know that he should get it right away.
Fortunately, he survived, but I believe he is now a "carrier cat". Since I am bringing the other kitten back probably within the next two weeks I want to make sure that she won't catch PL from my carrier kitten. I called the breeder and informed him about the situation, and he told me that he would vaccinate the new kitten with PL vaccine before she comes home at 10 weeks old, and that if she gets her booster shot 3 weeks later and then yearly afterwards she will be safe from the virus.
I want to double check, triple check, and just ask all of you to see if this is enough prevention... I almost lost my first kitten to PL and I would hate to see another kitten fighting the PL virus with slim chances... Please advice... thanks!!!
My very best advice would be to not get this kitten. Have you discussed this with your vet? Here is something I copied from a site about it.
"The environment of cats with panleukopenia should be considered contaminated with the virus. A 1:32 dilution of household bleach should be used to disinfect floors, dishes, litter boxes, cages, and other items. Remember that this virus can last for years in the environment. A kitten should not be introduced into a cattery or household unless he has received his series of vaccinations."
What the breeder is recommending is not sufficient. Assuming that kitten has not been exposed (and to me that's a big assumption with the experience you've had), that kitten would need 3 vaccinations with the last being between 16-20 weeks before being allowed to come into your house.
Are you SURE the diagnosis was panleukopenia. That is feline distemper and is very contagious and deadly. There are two or three things that are also covered by the "distemper" shot and you may have confused the diagnosis with the shot. I would not bring another cat into an environment so recently to have distemper and do not understand the breeder's reaction to distemper in the cattery or in a potential new home. You need to work with your vet to understand what it was and how to respond. IF it was rhino or calici, then the response you mention makes more sense and there is no big reason not to proceed to get the second kitten.
It was distemper
When he was receiving treatment (he was in the hospital for 6 days) they isolated him in a separate area close to a dog who got parvo. I am calling several vets to get their opinion on this, but I will for sure not put the second kitten at risk, even if that means not bringing her home. Once I get some concrete response I will share that information here in case other people are interested in knowing as well. The breeder said that he routinely checks his cats for the distemper virus in his cattery and that the last time he checked was when his last litter was born (6/15) and the results were negative.
I don't even know. The vet said that the kitten could have caught distemper while he was still at the breeder, but he came home with the me 7/31 and was hospitalized on 8/14, which is a little more than 2 weeks later. From what I have been reading online it doesn't seem possible because I read that the incubation period is 2-7 days. He had his 3 in 1 at the breeder on 7/1 and I took him to the vet on 8/3 for his second 3 in 1 shot. It seems like I was a little late getting his second shot and that might be why he was vulnerable. I never quite figured out how he caught the virus because I never owned cats, lived in an apartment complex where no pets are allowed, and neither me or the kitten came in contact with any cat since I got him... It was just odd, but yeah... I will keep doing research on this. Thanks for the responses! - now I will be even more careful making my decisions!
Distemper is a rare problem in catteries, although one sometimes sees it in shelters. I have never heard of testing for it in a cattery and have no idea what that would be. A cat with shots is going to show titers, so that would not be a way to test for it. This all just seems very odd to me. I assume you picked up your kitten and observed cattery conditions.
Hi Jan, thank you for all your responses. I don't even know... Bobo is my very first cat ever and there are many things that I didn't understand and still don't understand. When I went to the breeder's house it seemed normal. They raise their cats in house with a dog and 2 children. Some of the adult cats came to greet me at the door and was asking to be pet at my foot. Her children loved the kittens and wanted to hold them all the time. So my thoughts at that time was that the they treated their cats well and the kittens are socialized with adults, children, and also dogs - which sounded perfect to me. But Bobo does seem like a very strange kitten to me.
Anyhow, I reached out to my vet today and they told me to keep the kittens separated until the new kitten is fully vaccinated. But the new kitten, even if fully vaccinated, can still catch the virus because just like flu vaccines that we get as humans, the Panleukopenia vaccine can vary and mutate so the vaccine companies cannot give a 100% guarantee on their vaccines.
That being said, I am probably not going to bring home the second kitten and will reach out to the breeder today and see if I can get my deposit back.
Thanks again for your help!
I think you can rely on your vet to help you scope the risk. Thankfully, distemper is rare in catteries and I just do not know what precautions are appropriate under the circumstances. Of course, nothing is 100%, so do not expect that kind of assurance from the vet. Perhaps just ask how the vet would handle it if they were his cats.
The breeder's environment does sound good for the cats.
Awwww Sunny, it really sounds like poor little Bobo has really been through the mill. You know, Jan is right, nothing is 100%, a couple of years back we fostered a litter of pups from 2 weeks old. One of the six (on the same vaccine schedule as the others) developed distemper and didn't pull through. I was beside myself, none of the other pups showed any symptoms and their titre's were in normal range. Sometimes you just don't know the source so don't beat yourself up. It sounds like you are using very good judgment at the moment and I'm sure that when you eventually do introduce another little one, you'll have all precautions in place and follow your vet's instructions. Much good luck!
The vet said that if it was her bringing back a kitten she would separate them until the new kitten is fully vaccinated and try and keep food bowl, water dishes, and *especially* litter boxes separate until 6 months later, which is about how long the virus survives under normal condition. She didn't specifically try and talk me out of getting a second kitten, but she did mention that the kitten will still be at risk even if 100% vaccinated.
The only reason I was getting 2 cats is because I work (am away about 9+ hours a day), and I didn't want poor little Bobo to be lonely at home. I thought they would make good companion for each other. I believe pets aren't just there to entertain us and that they should be entitled to a healthy and happy life as well. But seeing as how it is, I am really set back on getting the second one. I might wait for half a year before getting a second kitten (ie. after the virus dies). I hope they will still bond with each other and enjoy each other's company then; otherwise it defeats of purpose of getting another kitten.
Most Ragdolls will accept a new kitten at any age. I would not decide based on that worry.