Vaccinated Cats Questions

Visitors ask questions about cats that have been vaccinated

Sneezing Kitten

I got a brand new kitten for Christmas. She's almost four months old. Ever since she's been living in my house, she keeps sneezing. Recently, I've been finding little puddles of clear liquid around my room. I haven't seen her leave these, so I don't know what part of her body they're coming out of. I was just wondering if you could help me out. Thanks!

~~Lauren

Expert Reply

Hi Lauren,

Has your kitten had her vaccinations for distemper? This will help protect her from contracting some of the fatal diseases out there. There could be many reasons for a kitten to sneeze. Cats can have allergies just as we do, but probably more common is for a cat to have an upper respiratory infection. Some breeds are more prone to these infections than others. For example, Persians have flattened faces, so this is a common ailment seen in that particular breed. I think the best thing for you to do would be to keep a sample of the clear liquid and to take it and the cat to your veterinarian for a check-up. The cat is likely due for shots anyway.

The clear puddles may be vomit. If that is the case, it may just be that your kitten is not reacting well to her diet and that may need to be adjusted.

Please check back and let us know what the vet says. Hopefully, it is something easily treated with the antibiotics. In the meantime, if you have other pets in your home, please keep the kitten separated.

~~Lori

Is Distemper Contagious to Vaccinated Cats

Ten days ago, we took a stray into our home, and we have nine other cats. Yesterday, this stray showed signs of either Panleukopenia or possible anal sac disease. I am not sure which it is, and our vet has not been able to correctly diagnose which at this early stage! However, the vet has given the stray a Noroclav injection. Starting tomorrow, we have to give him Clavaseptin. However, a local sanctuary has removed the stray from my home and is currently looking after it.

The stray had a discharge coming from his backside. He also had a 107 degree temperature. Thus we have washed all our clothes that we were wearing when we handled him. Our feeding bowls, litter trays, floors and carpets have either been washed or rubbed by hand using spoonfuls of Virkon that I received from the vet. However, last night, after the stray was taken away, I found an area in my house where I believe one of my other cats has had an abscess burst from its anal gland (the cat is ten years old and has always been extremely nervous and sprays a lot in our home). When I picked him up, he was sitting in a pool of clear liquid, but this liquid also had a yellowy-greenish paste present. I understand this could be anal sac discharge, and with the paste element in it - at its chronic stage. I found him sitting in this mess behind the settee, and I now believe the stray (kitten) may have sat in this liquid too and may have caught an infection from it.

I'm thinking that perhaps the kitten doesn't have Panleukopenia, but has caught an infection from sitting in this substance. I'm now keeping an eye on all my cats by checking litter trays for diarrhea and looking for vomiting and high temperatures/fevers. So far (touch wood), the only cat that shows signs of this is a very old cat (18 1/2 years old) - although he doesn't have a fever. He's a very run down cat and has always shown these signs (the vomiting of clear frothy bile and diarrhea) because he was diagnosed with kidney failure a while ago by my vet. Every month I'm just happy to have him still with us!

So my question is: is it possible for anal sac discharge at its chronic stage to show similar signs/symptoms as those of Feline Panleukopenia? All my cats have been vaccinated at some time in their lives with the Eurifel RCPFeLV vaccination, the last being about 3-5 years ago. You should know that my cats' ages range from 5 to 18. We think the kitten is about 16 weeks old, and we don't know if he had ever been inoculated. Please help because we are extremely worried that in having tried to do a good deed for this poor creature we could now lose all our cats. We are desperate for your help and advice, especially as to whether our own cats are safe having been inoculated at some stage of their lives.

~~Lisa

Expert Reply

Hi Lisa,

I'm so sorry that you are dealing with this. I understand your fear of losing all your cats to distemper. It is a fatal disease if contracted and is highly contagious. However, very young cats and very old cats are most susceptible to this disease. It is good that the other cats have all been vaccinated. That may help with the spread if that is indeed what your kitten has.

Washing bedding, carpets, food bowls and so on is a good start, but understand that this virus can remain in your home for up to a year. There isn't much you can do at this point but wait it out and hope the vaccinations hold out. I truly don't think all your cats will contract the disease, but your elderly cat may be most susceptible. Also, do not bring any new cats or kittens (or dogs) into your home for at least a year if it is found that the kitten did indeed have distemper. As I mentioned, the virus can remain in your home for quite a long while so it is best to avoid introducing any other pets to the disease.

I would also go ahead and take the cat with the discharge to the veterinarian. It sounds like he may need to have some medication for his anal sacs and perhaps have the fluid from them released by the vet.

Please check back, and let me know if the kitten did have distemper or if it was a false alarm.

~~Lori.