Discussing Cats Health History With Potential Adopters

Hello,

My last set of 4 foster kittens came to me with a mild URI which was quickly knocked out with antibiotics. The symptoms were very mild just a little bit of discharge from the nose , and light sneezing. One kitten had crusty eyes that healed in afew days. I wasnt even sure they had a URI as the symptoms were much milder than i would expect coming from kittens that were just a couple weeks old.
The 4 kittens were vaccinated and fixed and the URI returned, im guessing from recieving a live vaccine as opposed to their first one which used a killed vaccine. This time the URI lasted about 2 and half weeks. Their appetite was fine so was their energy, they had eye and nose discharge, sneezing and somewhat of a stuffy nose, but overall worse and much longer than their first one. The vet didnt put them on antibiotics this time because she didnt think they needed it.
My vet said 99% of cats have been exposed to viruses and another vet said that 90% of cats have herpes. I read that mostly kittens have recurrences until their immune system is stronger. I really hope these kittens never get another URI.
My question is im not sure how and what i bring up with potential adopters. I feel like i have been scaring some of them away by saying they could have herpes or another virus that may come back someday. Any advice from fellow fosters would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

I'm not a foster, but an adopter. I think you should disclose for the kittys' own sake. Some adopters will take this sort of thing in stride. I would, I've been around animals forever. Some will be scared off, but for those people you probably want them scared off. If you don't scare them off, what is going to happen to the cat once the people who would have been scared off get it home and find out it is prone to URIs. Some will learn to deal, some will get rid of the cat in some ways that are not in the poor kitty's best interest.

You also gain points for being honest. I adopted my cat and she was given to me with, according to the rescue, a clean bill of health. And, in fact, there was nothing wrong with her. I now trust my rescue, maybe unreasonably, since it's easy to tell the truth about a well cat, but if I had gotten a supposedly healthy cat with health issues, even ones I could handle, I probably would not go to them again, or give money every year.

Contrast this with trying to adopt a dog for my mother. We went to another rescue and found a part pit bull we liked, advertised as friendly and never a problem. Get the dog home for a trial that we kind of forced them to let us have. Dog immediately took a dislike to my older, quiet, mild-mannered father and would come up behind him and bite him on the hand. That dog went back quickly and was put back in the adoption mode, again with NO indication that it might bite someone not bothering it. It was a beautiful dog and should have been labeled as challenging so that someone up to dealing with this dog could take her and give her a nice home.

I don't foster either, but I also have adopted cats. I agree with Ailish, honesty is the best policy for the future care of the kittens! Feline Herpes Virus is very common, as your vets said. Most cats have this virus, and antibiotics do not conquer viruses.

Your best bet is to provide information on feline herpes and FVR, so that the cat owner knows what to do to help the kitten get through it successfully.
Learn about how common it is, and then convey that to the worried new pet owners.
Ocular (eye) Herpes In Cats
Feline Herpes And Rhinotracheitis

Also, there are other URIs or URDs that are NOT herpes, so one always has to be aware of all of the possibilities. Kittens do need to build up immunities, and being with momma cat & her milk in the beginnings of their lives really helps. Are your fosters orphans, or did they have solid time being with momma at the start of their lives?

I agree with A ailish , continue to be honest about these kittens. Let the would be pet parents know that chances are, when their immune systems are strong, they will probably be fine, but that the chance of Herpes is there. I would also be sure to explain to them what Herpes is in cats. Make sure they realize that it's not contagious to humans or dogs, that most cats already have it, and that it's not the same as in humans, that it presents itself as URIs, usually during periods of stress or change. Some people hear "herpes" and think the worst because of what herpes means with humans.
I would rather see a kitten take longer to be adopted then to see the poor thing given back or worse "dumped" on the street because the people did not want to deal with it.
You're doing the right thing. I know I would like to be warned, even though it would not deter me. There are a lot of pet parents, like me, who will still take in a kitty with "potential" health issues. There are even many out there, who will seek out cats with special needs. They'll get their forever home soon enough.

Agreeing with everyone! I was told by the rescue that my cat had food allergies that had been taken care of with lots of vet care, and that they'd found a food that worked for her. The truth was that they didn't disclose the extent or the frequency of the symptoms, and they didn't bother to do the necessary vet care to diagnose her. Within a week of bringing her home, I had a cat in the hospital, close to death and $1500 in vet bills.

Your situation doesn't sound nearly as bad as this, but I'm just really firmly in favour about being super honest and detailed now. I'm glad I adopted her, because I have the means and the desire to take care of her and treat her, but it would have been nice to know what I was getting into.

PushPurrCatPaws said:

I don't foster either, but I also have adopted cats. I agree with Ailish, honesty is the best policy for the future care of the kittens! Feline Herpes Virus is very common, as your vets said. Most cats have this virus, and antibiotics do not conquer viruses.

Your best bet is to provide information on feline herpes and FVR, so that the cat owner knows what to do to help the kitten get through it successfully.
Learn about how common it is, and then convey that to the worried new pet owners.
Ocular (eye) Herpes In Cats
Feline Herpes And Rhinotracheitis

Also, there are other URIs or URDs that are NOT herpes, so one always has to be aware of all of the possibilities. Kittens do need to build up immunities, and being with momma cat & her milk in the beginnings of their lives really helps. Are your fosters orphans, or did they have solid time being with momma at the start of their lives?

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Hi, they were with the mom only for the first two weeks

Full disclosure is best, IMO. Our shelter gives a complete rundown of the cats'/kittens' known medical histories. The emphasis is on known, because some people will surrender a pet without admitting there is or was a health problem. Unfortunately, there are owners who'd rather give up a pet than pay vet bills. If the pet is adopted quickly, the shelter can be unaware of a problem when there are no acute symptoms.

MargoLane said:

I'm glad I adopted her, because I have the means and the desire to take care of her and treat her, but it would have been nice to know what I was getting into.

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I wish I had the means. I would like to adopt a FIV+ cat or two, but I know the vet bills could be higher. I am adamantly opposed to adopting beyond the ability to pay for needed vet intervention. Nothing drives me crazier than "I can't afford to take my cat to the vet." I have insurance on my one healthy cat so I feel I won't have to make a decision based on money. My rescue does a good job of educating about FIV, and I am ready to do it except for the potential money.

ailish said:

I wish I had the means. I would like to adopt a FIV+ cat or two, but I know the vet bills could be higher. I am adamantly opposed to adopting beyond the ability to pay for needed vet intervention. Nothing drives me crazier than "I can't afford to take my cat to the vet." I have insurance on my one healthy cat so I feel I won't have to make a decision based on money. My rescue does a good job of educating about FIV, and I am ready to do it except for the potential money.

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That's the best attitude to have. Only take on what you can manage. And that's why its a huge risk for the cat not to disclose; what if I didn't have the ability to manage her condition? It's expensive; medication, food and big bills every few months when she has a flare up. Most people don't, and many don't want to. She could have been put to sleep, put on the street or sent back to the rescue that wasn't treating her properly. All bad outcomes for the cat.

I agree 100% to disclose that the kittens had a URI, and what that could mean. I was looking for a gentler way to give the information so im not scaring people, i got alot of great input from peoples answers. I think i will probably give the worst case scenerio to people so there are no suprises later on. I dont believe their future owners will ever have extra medical bills, as whatever virus they caught has mild flairs. Thanks everyone for the great answers.