Feline Calicivirus- Highly Contagious,
Non-Preventable, & Highly Mutant
 So What Do We Do Now?

If you are looking for a more in-depth discussion of Feline Calivirus (FCV) and how to help kittens in an emergency dealing with Limping Calici, please click here now. This link has an emergency re-energizing recipe that has saved three litters of dying kittens so far, and counting. B vitamins are the most critical aspect of this recipe, we cannot stress that enough. Anemia is the killer in Feline Calicivirus- organ stress will make congestion and breathing issues worse, even though they get the most treatment first. Full disclosure- we never rely on Vitamin B-12 alone. We use raw chicken livers to provide full spectrum, species appropriate B vitamins to help red blood cells regenerate quickly. FeLife by Doc Clemens remedies can help reduce viral loads significantly, but must be administered 2-3 times a day for a week or so to see full effects. We also use this treatment protocol at the first sign of a seasonal flare-up in our adult cats too, especially after periods of household stress.

In addition to FCV causing anemia and early death in kittens, it’s important to understand that veterinarians rarely check for blood diseases in kittens after FCV is confirmed, and often miss a more immediate killer, Feline hemobartonellosis, or FHM. Typically once Feline Calicivirus is confirmed, no further tests are done. Yet, FCV may also be covering another, even more deadly bacteria. As we note in this article here: 

These are more rare forms of what comprises the term “cat flu.”
Mycoplasma, otherwise known as feline infectious anemia or hemobartonellosis (FHM) , is basically where a bacteria attacks the red blood cells. Anemia from this condition develops over time, and may not be readily diagnosed. For this condition, pale gums and jaundice are good indications your cat has a possible blood infection.

In other words, if you have kittens- even now in adult cats who are already sick- who test positive or your suspect are showing symptoms of FCV, there may be more serious underlying conditions at play which can quickly become emergencies, which is why we discussed this first. Do not delay giving nurturing, supportive treatments immediately if this is the case. (Most veterinarians are unfamiliar with treating either condition, and may resort to steroids and antibiotics and possible B-12 injections.) None of these conventional therapies saved our kittens in the past, which is why we wrote our own guide referenced above. However, you must do what you feel is best for your little ones. Our intent here is to simply offer what has worked for us over the past 5 years after nearly a decade of losing litter after litter of rescue and adopted kittens to FCV specifically. We are not licensed veterinarians.
Now, let’s dive in to how we got here with our cats and kittens, and how to move forward in the future.

As you can see, these illnesses can become complex quickly. And in an effort to reduce the suffering of our loved ones, we take them to the local veterinarian for vaccination. However, this presents a whole host of risks which can exacerbate any kind of latent infection already present in the gut.

See, FCV lives in the gut of about 35% of ALL cats on planet Earth, a conservative estimate. Mothers pass it to their babies in utero, and it depends on the health of the mother and father, number of litters she has had, and the babies’ overall immunity as to how FCV manifests in their bodies- if at all. Interestingly enough, hydroxychloroquine was one of the first preventatives given to cats in the late 1990’s to prevent FCV infection. It was highly effective, yet conventional veterinarians today have never heard of this option. We are told vaccines are the only preventative, which isn’t even true. At best, a non-infected kitten injected with FCV at the vet’s office will become a lifelong carrier, but a kitten already carrying FCV in the body who gets vaccinated runs a high risk of death within weeks of vaccination due to antibody enhancement.

Further, the past 10 years or so there has been a massive increase in the rise of Virulent Systemic Feline Calicivirus (VS-FCV). This highly mutant form of FCV kills about 85% of its hosts. Early treatment is paramount for survival. So why the sudden uptick in such a deadly FCV mutation? We offer our thoughts below- do your own research and put the puzzle pieces together!

The Problem with FCV Vaccines

 The Creation of Virulent Systemic Feline Calicivirus

There is a recently emerging strain, called virulent systemic calicivirus, that causes very serious swelling of the face, ulcerative skin lesions and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes). This strain of calicivirus is very contagious, the risk of death is very high. But this is not a comprehensive list, and there is currently no separate PCR test to distinguish this strain of FCV from others.

It is important to understand that this highly virulent strain was extremely rare prior to routine kitten vaccination for FCV within the past 10 years or so. The latest vaccine being administered contains at lest two strains of FCV, which only allows for more mutations and variants to emerge. It appears the vaccine is forcing the virus to mutate and become more virulent and aggressive.

Also note: although modified-live and inactivated vaccines are available against FCV, there is a significant rate of vaccine failure. Vaccinated animals are largely protected from acute disease symptoms, but are not protected against infection. Upon challenge, most vaccinates become infected and will secrete the challenge virus post-exposure, thus acting as transient virus reservoirs. In addition, vaccinated animals can become chronically infected. Although some vaccine failures can be explained by emergence of vaccine-resistant strains, it appears that the vaccine does not protect against development of the chronic carrier state. In addition, the modified live vaccines will occasionally cause mild disease symptoms in vaccinated animals. In the most recent outbreak of highly virulent FCV disease, prior vaccination did not protect against severe disease. There is an urgent need for better vaccines and a clearer understanding of the factors involved in virus immunity and persistence.

Not convinced yet? Take a look at the abstract for this study, where the famed Feline Coronavirus researcher, Dr. Niels Pedersen himself, was involved in fully FCV vaccinated cats dying from FCV :

Abstract

More(Panleukopenia Combo Vaccine) FVRCP Risks

Chronic Renal Disease:

Also, allergic reactions, while usually mild in nature, can occur with any vaccine at any time.  The more times we give a vaccine, the more likely an allergic reaction will occur.  If a cat has had an allergic reaction to a vaccine, you can be certain of an allergic reaction to subsequent vaccines. To prevent this, vaccination can be preceded by treatment with antihistamines or steroids, but can also lead to more severe and immediate side effects.  A cat who has had an allergic reaction to one vaccine is also more likely to have an allergic reaction to a different vaccine. Additionally, a mother cat will pass these antibodies to her kittens, further compounding the problem over generations. Successive allergic reactions tend to escalate in severity; a history of allergic reaction to a vaccine makes an anaphylactic reaction more likely.

Before we wrap up this article. we want to be clear- we are NOT trying to spread fear. Rather, we want to spread awareness on a serious health condition and give you some very important data we wish we had years ago. You are your cats’ and kittens’ greatest advocates, and you deserve to be fully informed on any healthcare decision you take on behalf of your loved ones. Your energy, your love, your support for yourself and your cats is everything. This information can feel heavy and even overwhelming, but we encourage you to use it as a springboard for more questioning and a deeper willingness to connect with your loved ones, cherishing every moment you have with them. We play music like this in our home regularly to help our cats and kittens relax through tough times, and it is calming for everyone. We have been through agonizing loss of life over the past 15 years with cats and kittens, and every one has brought us deep lessons of love, life, and truth. They are why we share our support with you today.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can support you and your loved ones in any way. FCV is not an easy illness to work through, especially in kittens.

All the best! From our surviving FCV kitten family to yours.