Testing Stray Before Intro to Home with Diabetic Cat (Lolly)

[Martha and Lolly (GA)]

Hi, Lolly has been OTJ for almost 4 weeks now, thanks to all the help we received on the Forum. We have a stray we are considering taking in. In the past, if I've taken in a stray, I would isolate the stray, then take him to to the vet to be checked out. The Vet checked for Feline Aids, and gave Rabies and distemper. Usually the stray would have to stay isolated a little longer while we waited for deworming/flea meds to work. I basically trusted the Vet to check what needed checking before introducing the cat to my brood.

Now that I have a diabetic cat with lower immunity (how true is this?) and I've seen how veterinary treatment is not always on the mark, I would like advice form the experts on how this cat should be tested/checked before/if I take her her. I can't spend tons, but I don't want to put my cats, including Lolly at risk.

Also, is it particularly dangerous to try to introduce the cat now, when Lolly is only 4 weeks out OTJ? Lolly knows the cat is in the house, she doesn't appear stressed, and has tolerated introductions before. She's the Queen, and that's that.

Thanks for any advice.

I would prefer not to take in another cat, and won't if not safe, but otherwise it's not a great outcome for her. "Lady" has been coming round the house on and off for a year. She is a TNR cat, as she has the clipped ear. With the cold weather, she started coming onto our porch to sleep, though she'd bolt in the morning and wouldn't let us close. We had 3 degree temps last week, very unusual for here, so I tricked her into a carrying case, and kept her in an isolated room. I was going to release her after the arctic freeze, but it's become pretty clear that she wasn't born feral at all, probably abandoned. After three days of cajoling, she's become friendly, though still skittish. Her adoption hopes are slim to nil, as I've tried to adopt out "normal" fosters before, without much luck. In fact no luck, they're my cats now.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

I would just isolate the stay in a room by himself for two weeks or to look for symptoms of problems.
I have not really head anything about diabetic cats having a lower immunity. They are more susceptible to urinary trcct infections because of the glucose in the urine. I would not suspect that with Lolly since she is OTJ and thus wold jabe glucose in the urine.
Yes, a new cat can stress Lolly and raise her BG. Just be slow.
Has Lolly has a companion before? If so how did she react?

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

You just want to have her fully vetted, which sounds like you did, treated for any possible transmittable things - fleas, worms, etc. before introducing her to the other cat(s) and sharing LB's where the other cats can pick up said things.

Usually deworming takes a couple weeks with follow up treatment to make sure they are 100% gone. As standard precaution, I would make sure those treatments are completed, flea treat your cat(s) and then work on introduction.

The isolation is also a good time, to get Lady to trust you and used to being inside, get the cats curious about each other - you can do scent swapping, etc. and test the waters on how easy the intro will be when you are finally ready.

An outside cat has more issues to overcome than one you adopt from a shelter. They learn to be more wary and have to fend for themselves. Don't rush the process and let it happen naturally. Trust your instincts and remember there is no right or wrong way of doing this. Let Lady dictate what she wants and when she is ready.

Good luck!

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

I've tried to adopt out "normal" fosters before, without much luck. In fact no luck, they're my cats now.

Hi Martha,

I SO hear you! I am also a member of the 'Failed Fosterers Club'....

I've gained another 3 cats in the past 7 months as a result of fostering...
First off I adopted two feral kittens that I was fostering. And now I also have an elderly cat who came here in early November as a temporary foster (prior to being rehomed) but then couldn't be rehomed after all because he was found to have stage 3 kidney disease. The organisation I foster for wanted to have him PTS, but I said I thought he still had some living to do, and have taken him on as a permanent foster... Like you said, I would prefer not to have taken in another cat. I find it quite hard work at times, and a big commitment. But it is very difficult when the prospects for the cat look poor unless we help them....

The latest failed foster cat, Elliot, stayed in the spare room for almost 2 months before I let him out into the rest of the house, but he was very poorly when he first came here and didn't mind being in a small space. Then, I'd just let him out for short periods, an hour or so; then half a day; and now he is with the other cats all day, but goes into his own room at night. I've always taken things super-slowly when introducing a new cat to the resident cats.

I'm in the UK, and here rescued cats are usually tested for FIV and FELV (and are usually wormed and treated for fleas/ticks) before going into foster care or being rehomed. And a brief period of 'quarantine' is essential, I think, to give time to see if anything else develops.

I have heard that older cats generally may have lower immunity. And I give my oldies krill oil and a little pinch of taurine every day to help strengthen their immune systems.

It sounds to me as though 'Lady' has been extremely lucky in finding you. I suspect you will keep her, and she will become part of your family. Bless you for caring for her, Martha. I know it's not always easy....

Hugs,

Eliz

 

[Martha and Lolly (GA)]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I SO hear you! I am also a member of the 'Failed Fosterers Club'....

Haha! I laughed pretty hard when I read that: "The FFC", that's me! Or rather, us, and probably a lot of others on this board-- good one, Elizabeth! And bless YOU for taking in all those kitties, particularly your CKD foster. That's tough.

Lolly and her brother are two survivors of a stray Mom, that just happened to stray into our garage. (the mom took off before even weaning her kits) I have to say, though, Lolly and Mickey were gifts from heaven. I've never, in my whole life, had cats quite as loving as these two. Then there is Nekko, definitely a dumpee , who literally blew onto the porch during a horrible wind storm; we had to dismantle the entire wood pile to get to where he had hid. Poor Zoey, at 2 mos, was sitting in the garden in the rain, under a bird feeder, just hoping a bird would plonk into her mouth. If she hadn't looked so miserable it would have been funny. Unfortunately, she wasn't "vetted" well- the vet (and I) missed her ringworm, now we all have it periodically, including my husband and me. Someone begged me to take Ninja for "just one week". The holy terror has been with us for 2 years now. Anything decorative is double sticky taped to it's shelf, table etc. Tigger is a 5.5lb runt that someone needed me to feed for a while, since the mother had rejected her... she's sitting next to me .. one year later, and now Lady.. aargh, seven cats!

Good news- Lady is FIV and FELV negative, vet says she looks very healthy, no fleas, but just found out she has hookworms. The vet prescribed 1 dose of Revolution (selamectin), which I just administered. The vet says Lady should be safe in 24 hours. Does that sound right to you? @Hillary & Maui (GA) said " Usually deworming takes a couple weeks with follow up treatment to make sure they are 100% gone". Hillary, do you think I have to keep Lady isolated two more weeks, with selamectin treatment? She's been isolated a week now. The other cats know she's here but don't seem to care. Lady definitely wants out. I was thinking a short meet and greet on the weekend. But worried about the worms now.

Hugs to you, Bertie, and all your FFs

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

If she's been treated, then they will be dying and coming out in the feces. Hopefully, all dead coming out, but always a chance of a live one. Just as extra precaution, you may not want them sharing a litter box just yet. I doubt the cats are going to lick each other's butts either.

Here this came from webmd -- http://pets.webmd.com/cats/worms-cats-infection-intestinal-parasites?page=2

Can I Catch Worms from My Cat?
Yes! A large number of roundworm eggs can accumulate where cats defecate. People, especially children, who ingest such eggs can develop serious health problems, such as blindness. In fact, roughly 10,000 children are infected with roundworms each year.

Hookworm larvae can penetrate human skin and cause lesions. And people can acquire tapeworms through the ingestion of an infected flea.

How Can I Prevent My Cat from Getting Worms?

• Keep your cat indoors to avoid exposure to infected cats, rodents, fleas and feces.
• Make sure your home, yard and pets are flea-free.
• Practice good hygiene and wear gloves when changing cat litter or handling feces. It’s also important to frequently dispose of stool.
• Ask your veterinarian to recommend an appropriate internal parasite treatment or prevention program for your cat.