Pam,
I've done a lot of research myself and I asked my vet many questions. Here
is a link that was very helpful to me and I had my vet review this in case
she had a difference of opinion. This is very accurate information. I think
it will answer many of your questions. Here is the link:
http://www.wikifaq.com/Feline_Leukemia_FAQ#Is_there_any_risk_in_getting_my_cats_vaccinated.3F
I will say that it's not worth the risk getting your other cats infected to
socialize Poppy. She will be fine confined, just give her as much attention
as possible at least until she has been cleared of the virus (meaning she is
not permanently positive for leukemia).
Also, I am in the same boat as you. My kitten (Crash) that I fostered, then
adopted turned out to be FeLV negative this past Nov. 2010. On March 10,
2011 he had to be put down because he was in very bad shape. He was anemic,
had a hear murmur and his oxygen level was next to nothing. He was fine 2
days prior. I actually took him in because he did not have a bowel movement
in 2 days (we were treating him for diarrhea) and I just thought his new
food was working well. Now my Ragdoll cat is at risk because I did not get
him vaccinated against leukemia because he is strictly and indoor cat. So
far, he has been negative but will test again on May 9th. I so want to get
him another companion. It keeps him active and it's such a joy to watch to
kitties play. Had I known that Crash was contagious with leukemia, I would
have never exposed my other cat. This disease is fatal, with no cure. But I
will say that the vaccine is not 100% (but none of them are) effective at
all times, but it's better than not being protected at all.
I hope that Poppy's immune system clears the virus. You may also get her
siblings tested again to be safe and the mother as well.
Good luck! I hope this info helps!!
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "Pam Norman" <pam_nor...@charter.net>
To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 1:00 PM
Subject: [Felvtalk] Question re positives & negatives
I am trying to determine what to do with Poppy both now & when the IFA test
results come in. I've been reading & reading & from what I can gather, the
old dictums about NEVER havinig positive & negative cats even in the same
house has been abandoned. From what I have read, the general sense is that
it's fine for positives & negatives to be in the same home, but should be
separate so there is no chance of exchanging fluids such as with a bite,
but more importantly with mutual grooming. But I know also that some of
you have both positives & negatives really living together, not separate.
Right?
What about if I put Poppy in her condo in the spare bedroom & let me cats
visit, so at least she SEES other cats. What is she hisses & spits?
Would that have a chance of infecting any of mine who were nosing around
her condo? My feeling is that it would.
Also how effective is the vaccine these days? I know that some years ago
the figure was about 30% so I never had any of my cats vaccinated. Has
it been improved?
Right now we are still waiting for the IFA test for Poppy. And I guess she
needs retesting on that in at least a month. I do NOT want to keep her
alone until then. We have a sanctuary for her if she tests IFA positive
cause then we know that she is really positive. But the person who runs it
tells me that regardless of how she tests on the IFA, she HAS leukemia.
Period. And would go in with the positive cats. But my understanding is
that if she is IFA negative, she has a chance of fighting it off & putting
her in with the positives is giving up. I think she should only go in
with the positives if she tests IFA positive.
Can anyone help me sort this out?
Pam
_______________________________________________
Felvtalk mailing list
Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
_______________________________________________
Felvtalk mailing list
Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org