I could cry for him.
There's no discharge this evening but he's so bunged up. Just like when a toddler has a heavy head cold - you'd rather have the flu yourself then see them go through it. And it's so sad that he can't purr, even though I can see him trying. The poor mite is so friendly and just wants cuddles and tickles all the time. He's the friendliest 'feral' you ever did see.
Gillian, there are so many strains of cat flu. A vacine can't cover them all. Some are truly evil and cause mouth ulcers, heart problems, etc., and in this area of Kent a rather nasty one is around and our vet has had to PTS several cats because of it. If a cat has been vacinnated, although it may not cover that particular strain, it does make recovery easier and harder for the bug to take a hold in the first place. It sounds like Gypsy was lucky she was vaccinated as she may not stood a chance.
We have been told by all our vets that cats/kittens with a history of flu, must never live with cats who haven't had flu. Although they recover the symptoms, there is still a chance they can 'shed' the virus and infect other cats. That's what seems to have happened to you, Caroline. We will only rehome fluey kittens if the new owners understand they cannot get another cat from another place. And although they seem to recover, it only takes a sudden change in their lives to cause stress and they break out in symptoms again.
One day, when I am leader of the world, ALL cat owners will be registered, the offer for sale of kittens will be illegal and all kittens won't be rehomed until they are neutered, microchipped and vacc'd.
