Hi guys,
I have tried searching the forum for the answer but cannot find exactly what I'm looking for. There is so much info on the communicable cat diseases, but what I want to know is exactly *how* contagious they are?
A tiny, skinny, adult feral showed up at my house a couple weeks ago. In that short time, he's gone from exiting the yard at first sight of me, to eating from a dish when I leave, to eating from the dish in my presence. Just yesterday he came and rolled over on my foot briefly, almost as if to say thanks, before taking off. Today he has started crying at my back door for me.
I am so terrified of inadvertently tracking in some sickness or virus to my indoor cat. I recognize that these cat illnesses are often transmitted through saliva - but are there any that are more contagious than that? Like, can I carry anything in on my clothing or feet if the feral touches me? (Disclaimer: I've never been a cat person til a couple years ago when I took in my first stray cat, so my knowledge is still limited, forgive my ignorance.)
I take my shoes off at the door when I re-enter the house, run and jump in the shower, toss my clothes in the washing machine, and sanitize my shoes. I know this might be overkill but until I know the answer, I can't risk bringing anything in to my cat. This feral is an un-neutered male and has some battle scars.
Short answer - we just don't know. Thirty years I lost months of sleep because a vet told me that without a series of vaccines for hundreds of dollars, I was dooming my rescue to certain tragedy. That kitty lived to 16, and the first kitty to 21. Fast forward thirty years, thousands of dollars, and Niagara Falls worth of tears over lost cats and here's what I now believe. What we know about cat's health can fill a thimble. If that sounds jaded, search PubMed on any cat health issue and see how many studies are being done. Pitifully few. My personal experience is that either a cat has the good luck to come in to this world with an immune system strong enough to fight diseases, or they don't. So you're left with the impossible decision of saving a new one that faces possible death at a shelter or danger outside, or putting your existing cat at risk. It's a choice I struggle with every day and in my dreams at night, but after volunteering at a municipal shelter I have chosen to take in the new one, with any risk that brings. Some have had many good long years, others just a couple. It's an impossible decision and one every pet owner has to make for themselves. I'm sorry you're wrestling with this but I'm glad you found a forum of caring, experienced cat people.