An update on Demon... and getting another kitty

[Lyn]

First the evil Demon update. For those that don't know Demon is the kitten we adopted from the humane society in July. He's is doing alot better. I found out why his respiratory infection keep reacurring. He has FHV-1.. aka Feline herpes. He will always have it and periodically shed the virus... and it's contagious to other cats and yes he has now infected one of my other cats.. my girly kitty Lucy. Yet they are kept seperate and I thought I was careful as to not spread it. Luckily she has a very mild case.. just a drippy nose. But now she will also be a carrier. The only one not affected so far is Fido my older guy with kidney failure.

So yeah.. thanks to the humane society all my cats and any future cats I bring into this household could potentially become carriers. Nice eh? Just what I've always wanted. 

Anyway.. enough ranting. I was told about a litter of Himalayan kittens that contracted FHV-1 from their mother. Obviously noone is showing any interest in them. Soooo we are thinking about adopting one so Demon has a buddy. Demon is already has it and my other cats have already been exposed to it.. so what's the difference right? I've always wanted a Himi. We are going to see them later this afternoon. They are not well enough or old enough to leave their mom yet. We should be able to bring the little one home around Oct 1st.

Yup I'm turning into the crazy cat lady. LOL

Ooops forgot the new Demon pictures. Don't mind the mess.. this is my parents part of the house. LOL

[vmimom2006]

I just rescued 2 kittens I found in my yard this summer. I tried to catch the momma and ended up with xrays & shots  Anyway the male has herpes too so now all of mine were exposed. So far (knock on wood) no one else has caught it. I have 2 special needs older kittys so it just what I need more trips to the vet for rx's. Watch out!! kittys can end up like dirty dishes they just come out of everywhere!! I had up to 9 in the house full time (so sick of scoopng litter). I was down to 4 and now back up to 6. Don't suppose it will ever end

[Lyn]

True.. still frustrating though.

From what I've been reading more cats are probably carrying the herpes virus than not. Some never show symptoms and some do. But they are only contagious when showing symptoms.

[pyr4me]

I'm so sorry about your cats getting this illness, however, I think it's great that you are considering adopting a Himi kitten! I have a Himi and he is the BEST cat I have ever had. He actually thinks he's a dog and does his best to act like one. He is so very mellow, sweet, and Buddha-like. I adore him. The only downside is the grooming--he has never liked it and still doesn't even after 14 yrs of brushing him! 

[Ali]

Wow - I had no idea there was such a disease. I know about Feline Leukemia, of course, but I've never heard of Feline Herpes. That is so sad...is it fatal in kitties, or is it just a life long pain in the butt that's contagious?

[KiraNGunnersmom]

Is Demon giving us the hairy eyeball in that one pic???  He is a handsome little devil!

[List]

1 of my cats has feline herpes and spread it to my other 2. Luckily, it only presents itself as mild conjunctivits and mild URI when they are stressed. Just a tip though, L-Lysine is an amino acid that helps control the symptoms of feline herpes. I just use it when they have flare ups, but its good to have on hand