Rosenfeldt, Diane
Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:24:07 -0700
Caroline -- Of course you are making the right decision for both you and Binxy. While money shouldn't have to be an object in pet care, it ALWAYS is, and between the high-quality food, the supplements and the vet visits, Binxy's care could eventually get costly, even if she's healthy now. My housemate and I both make reasonable lower-middle-class livings. When our Patches found us and tested positive, we couldn't abandon him, but in the long run would have had a hard time paying for his care, especially with 4 other cats needing vaccinations and their own care. (As it turned out, we didn't have a long run with him, just under two months.) And of course there's the emotional toll, which everybody here can relate to. Likewise, nobody can fault or second-guess you on your avoidance of vaccines. There's some scary literature out there on that issue, and my housemate and I have tried to avoid vaccinating our completely, forever indoor cats, or at least vaccinating as often as the law would like. As you say, closed system. Here are big vibes that you find a great forever home for this sweet baby. (If the Iowa contacts don't pan out, you might check out places like Best Friends -- other listmembers have had dealings with them and other sanctuaries and can fill you in on them.) Please let us know what develops! Diane R. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2008 2:17 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: A few more facts When I wrote in yesterday, I was more in panic mode and not necessarily thinking too clearly. I appreciate the advice from all of those who responded and felt I should fill in the picture a little more. I have also followed up on all of the Iowa contacts and hope something can develop there. I was also contacted by a gentleman from the list here, Gary, and if we can get the transportation coordinated, that looks to be the best yet. God bless those of you who have dedicated your life to helping these Felv kitties. I've realized more than ever why it is pretty unrealistic of me to keep her. The house in which I currently live is not mine---it is a shared housing situation while I wait for my name to come up on one of the lists for subsidized Senior housing to which I have applied. The rest of the house would appreciate their bathroom back, which my landlord has informed me about. Caring indefinitely for a cat (or possibly two) with a major disease such as this is totally unrealistic for a low-income Senior living on SS only. Reading about the numerous tests, supplements, treatments, etc. it is obvious how quickly things can add up. Realistically, it's just not manageable for me at all. For those of you in different circumstances, I think it's wonderful that you have chosen to use the resources you have to make a difference for these kitties. My cat has not been vaccinated for this and even if she were, the vaccine is generally 90% effective. Even tho Velvet is currently healthy, that may not necessarily be the case and could change rapidly at any time. She is a very Senior cat at 17 yrs. old and has outlasted her two other "sisters" even with a heart murmur. However, I could not live with myself if she were in the unlucky 10% and ended up with this disease due to my decision to expose her to it. I guess I could be faulted by some for her not being vaccinated, but that's just a result of my risk-benefits ratio evaluation of vaccinations for adult cats in general (kittens with undeveloped immune systems is a totally different scenario) With the accumulating evidence for the various cancers stemming from yearly vaccinations, I just felt that it was better for MY cats to by-pass being vaccinated for something they would not encounter. Other people do differently for their cats as is their right. For all the time I have had various cats over the years, they have always been totally indoor-only cats. It has always been a "closed system" The only way for them to be exposed to something is if I introduce it. And as unbelievable as it may sound, no cat of mine has gotten out of my door unawares even tho one was a dedicated escape artist who felt she just HAD to go thru every open door, even a closet door. :) Velvet has zero interest (I guess her time as a stray prior to the SPCA was enough of a trauma so the streets hold no allure.) The best and most realistic thing that I can do for Binxy is to make a reasonable attempt to find someone who can care for her and if that fails then be sure that she is euthanized peacefully via injection rather than that horrendous vaccuum chamber or gas which can cause such needless suffering. For me to do otherwise would be just plain foolish---I can't spend money I don't have to save one cat while there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of other healthy cats within an hours drive being euthanized every day for no reason other than no more room or no more time. I can't save all of them, but I can save one. This is why I don't adopt kittens--they have very little difficulty finding a home. Once they are past the cute stage, very few potential adopters want to deal with them. Anyhow, those are my thoughts after sleeping on it and thinking. I will do my best to find a caring and knowledgeable home for Binxy within the next week. That's the primary reason I wrote to this list. I think you folks who are raising these cats against great odds are wonderful, but I just don't have the resources to be able to manage it. But, I'm an optimist at heart and believe in the power of prayer and if it's meant to be, then it will happen. Thanks for caring. Caroline -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Access your email from home and the web This electronic mail transmission and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. They should be read or retained only by the intended recipient. 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