Can stress give a cat flu symptoms?

[Sootyca]

I think my Robbie had cat flu as a kitten - has never had an issue except he always has runny eyes.  Nothing causes it particularly, he just has them. Wouldn't swap him for the world though :D

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

My brother had a Maine Coon who was too nand had ulcers on his eyes

[Rosella moggy]

Your friend sounds like a good un 

[Dawn F]

they can get ulcers on the eyes if I remember rightly, it was a long time ago, Oscar and his brother were calici carriers

[jezebel]

The latest news is that the boy cat needs eye drops so is being kept at the rescue until Tuesday at the earliest. Don't know what the drops are for - or even if they're for one or both cats. From what I've heard, it seems difficult to get any real information from this rescue.

Anyway, my friend's hanging on - he's very taken with these two (I've seen pictures - they're gorgeous ginga ningas!). And he wouldn't dream of splitting them - it's both or none.

[Dawn F]

Oscar had had cat flu and when he was neutered the stress caused it to flare up, that said it never happened again

[Sue P (Paddysmum)]

The cat may be having an allergic reaction to something - could be food, or pollen, plants, perfume or cleaning products. 

If he took on both cats, it may be the rescue would assist with any vet checks/expenses which may prove necessary?  It does seem a shame to separate them, if it could be avoided.   

I still close my eyes tight when I think of how close we came to handing the Gurlies back, when we had a crisis of confidence and thought we were failing with them. 

As Rosella's said about Boris and Bobby, we wouldn't be without our Gurlies now, and the thought of them not being together makes me sad.

[Rosella moggy]

Our Bob was unwell when he were a young Un.  We had recurrences of cat flu over the next few years that were very worrying. A lot worse than lethargic with red runny eyes. 

Having said that this little fella needs a home just as much as his sister and we wouldn't be without our incredible Bob who is now a strapping 5 year old and strong as a horse.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Any problem from vacinations should have passed after a couple of days.

I think your friend should be very careful over this cat

[jezebel]

Thanks Gill, I never knew that.

I don't know if this cat has ever had cat flu, but I did find out he recently had some vaccinations so perhaps that caused a bad reaction.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Yes it definately can.

If a cat has had cat flu and apparently recovered this can come back if under extreme stress.

I have seen this happen at a rescue where a cat did not get on with other cats but as soon as theythought this cat had recovered they put it back with all the other cats and it was ill again.

[jezebel]

A friend of mine is interested in adopting two one-year old rescue cats (currently with a foster carer). He saw them for the first time today, and the female cat is fine but her brother is apparently a bit "fluey" - lethargic with red, runny eyes.

The rescue say their vet has checked him over and he's fine - they're putting his symptoms down to stress and are happy for him to be rehomed.

Could stress cause flu symptoms?

Understandably, my friend (who's never had a cat before) is wary of taking on a sick cat and asked me what he should do. I've told him to see how things are in 48 hours.