Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
-Original Message- >From: Ardy Robertson <ar...@centurytel.net> >Sent: May 21, 2016 10:12 AM >To: felineres...@frontier.com, felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV > >Hi Lorrie -- I remember some of that -- my mom fed our cats from table food >as well. >Have a great day and keep up your great work!! >Ardy > > >-Original Message- >From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of >Lorrie >Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 4:03 PM >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV > >Hi Ardy, > >I don't think FelV is on the rise, I just think vets and pet owners are >becoming more savy about this virus. I've gotcha beat on age, as I'm 83, and >I've had cats my entire life. Back in the 1930's and 40's cats never saw >the inside of a vet's office, nor was pet food available. Our cat got >people scraps and whatever she caught outside. The first cat food I recall >was stinky, fishy stuff >called "Puss In Boots Cat Food". But I digress, I meant to say, >vets just didn't have the training and knowledge they have now and many cats >died without anyone knowing why. Now we test for FelV and yet the tests are >still inconclusive. >- > >Lorrie > >On 05-19, Ardy Robertson wrote: >> Wow - I am blown away by all of this..so really no test is >> reliable. My vet told me you test once and it may be unreliable so you >> test again 30 days later to be sure! Apparently you cannot ever be >> "sure". My vet also told me the vaccination for FeLV and FIP can be >> ineffective. So, basically any cat can have FeLV at any stage of their >> life, and testing is never a sure thing??? >> >> I am 65 and have never at any point in my life not had at least one >> cat, and usually two or three. With the exception of a few cats who My Mom used to cut up raw liver and kidney as treats for our Blackie. He died from kidney failure at 17, and the stupid Vet said it was her fault for feeding him those bits of kidney. I don't think she ever believed me when I told her it wasn't her fault. Margo >> had accidents when they were outside, all of my cats have always lived >> to be 19, 20, 21 - right in there. FeLV was never an issue that I knew >> of - do you all feel that FeLV is on the rise? >> >> Thanks, >> Ardy >> > >___ >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 ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
Hi Lorrie -- I remember some of that -- my mom fed our cats from table food as well. Have a great day and keep up your great work!! Ardy -Original Message- From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Lorrie Sent: Friday, May 20, 2016 4:03 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV Hi Ardy, I don't think FelV is on the rise, I just think vets and pet owners are becoming more savy about this virus. I've gotcha beat on age, as I'm 83, and I've had cats my entire life. Back in the 1930's and 40's cats never saw the inside of a vet's office, nor was pet food available. Our cat got people scraps and whatever she caught outside. The first cat food I recall was stinky, fishy stuff called "Puss In Boots Cat Food". But I digress, I meant to say, vets just didn't have the training and knowledge they have now and many cats died without anyone knowing why. Now we test for FelV and yet the tests are still inconclusive. - Lorrie On 05-19, Ardy Robertson wrote: > Wow - I am blown away by all of this..so really no test is > reliable. My vet told me you test once and it may be unreliable so you > test again 30 days later to be sure! Apparently you cannot ever be > "sure". My vet also told me the vaccination for FeLV and FIP can be > ineffective. So, basically any cat can have FeLV at any stage of their > life, and testing is never a sure thing??? > > I am 65 and have never at any point in my life not had at least one > cat, and usually two or three. With the exception of a few cats who > had accidents when they were outside, all of my cats have always lived > to be 19, 20, 21 - right in there. FeLV was never an issue that I knew > of - do you all feel that FeLV is on the rise? > > Thanks, > Ardy > ___ 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
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
I remember Puss-In-Boots, and Tabby but the name that came to mind first was "Orleans". I just looked for the label, and can;t find it, but it's listed, so it did exist. Probably way better than much of what we feed today... Margo -Original Message- >From: Lorrie <felineres...@frontier.com> >Sent: May 20, 2016 5:02 PM >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV > >Hi Ardy, > >I don't think FelV is on the rise, I just think vets and pet owners >are becoming more savy about this virus. I've gotcha beat on age, >as I'm 83, and I've had cats my entire life. Back in the 1930's and >40's cats never saw the inside of a vet's office, nor was pet food >available. Our cat got people scraps and whatever she caught >outside. The first cat food I recall was stinky, fishy stuff >called "Puss In Boots Cat Food". But I digress, I meant to say, >vets just didn't have the training and knowledge they have now and >many cats died without anyone knowing why. Now we test for FelV and >yet the tests are still inconclusive. >- > >Lorrie > >On 05-19, Ardy Robertson wrote: >> Wow - I am blown away by all of this..so really no test is reliable. My >> vet told me you test once and it may be unreliable so you test again 30 days >> later to be sure! Apparently you cannot ever be "sure". My vet also told me >> the vaccination for FeLV and FIP can be ineffective. So, basically any cat >> can have FeLV at any stage of their life, and testing is never a sure >> thing??? >> >> I am 65 and have never at any point in my life not had at least one cat, and >> usually two or three. With the exception of a few cats who had accidents >> when they were outside, all of my cats have always lived to be 19, 20, 21 - >> right in there. FeLV was never an issue that I knew of - do you all feel >> that FeLV is on the rise? >> >> Thanks, >> Ardy >> > >___ >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
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
Hi Ardy, I don't think FelV is on the rise, I just think vets and pet owners are becoming more savy about this virus. I've gotcha beat on age, as I'm 83, and I've had cats my entire life. Back in the 1930's and 40's cats never saw the inside of a vet's office, nor was pet food available. Our cat got people scraps and whatever she caught outside. The first cat food I recall was stinky, fishy stuff called "Puss In Boots Cat Food". But I digress, I meant to say, vets just didn't have the training and knowledge they have now and many cats died without anyone knowing why. Now we test for FelV and yet the tests are still inconclusive. - Lorrie On 05-19, Ardy Robertson wrote: > Wow - I am blown away by all of this..so really no test is reliable. My > vet told me you test once and it may be unreliable so you test again 30 days > later to be sure! Apparently you cannot ever be "sure". My vet also told me > the vaccination for FeLV and FIP can be ineffective. So, basically any cat > can have FeLV at any stage of their life, and testing is never a sure > thing??? > > I am 65 and have never at any point in my life not had at least one cat, and > usually two or three. With the exception of a few cats who had accidents > when they were outside, all of my cats have always lived to be 19, 20, 21 - > right in there. FeLV was never an issue that I knew of - do you all feel > that FeLV is on the rise? > > Thanks, > Ardy > ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
I can tell you this is my first cat with Felv. They say with the vaccine it is becoming less common, sure doesn't feel that way does it? Guinness world records recently announced the oldest living cat "Scooter" was 30 but he sadly passed away a few days after getting the title. The oldest recorded cat "Cream Puff" lived to be 38! I read they are doing some promising research on cats with FIP. I just hope it goes somewhere, and that they find something more promising for Felv someday. There is not nearly enough funding for kitty research. But they did find a human cure for hepatitis c which shows they can really do some amazing things, unfortunately research comes at a high price, it is like $100,000 for the medication and insurance is not covering it yet, which doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Wouldn't it be cheaper to cure it than treat it over the long haul? It is three weeks worth of pills and like a 96% cure rate. Crazy. Sent from my iPhone > On May 20, 2016, at 12:12 AM, Ardy Robertson <ar...@centurytel.net> wrote: > > Wow - I am blown away by all of this..so really no test is reliable. My > vet told me you test once and it may be unreliable so you test again 30 days > later to be sure! Apparently you cannot ever be "sure". My vet also told me > the vaccination for FeLV and FIP can be ineffective. So, basically any cat > can have FeLV at any stage of their life, and testing is never a sure > thing??? > > I am 65 and have never at any point in my life not had at least one cat, and > usually two or three. With the exception of a few cats who had accidents > when they were outside, all of my cats have always lived to be 19, 20, 21 - > right in there. FeLV was never an issue that I knew of - do you all feel > that FeLV is on the rise? > > Thanks, > Ardy > > > -Original Message- > From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of > Margo > Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 10:51 AM > To: felineres...@frontier.com; felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV > > Lorrie wrote" A positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the > virus all it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first > year." > > Or it seems that they can test negative, or "convert" to negative and yet > still carry the virus in a dormant state, and while they will test negative > by most means, may still re-convert to positive. > > Mako is 15. His mother was FeLV-. He was tested at 8 weeks when neutered, > and again at three months before he went into general population (he was not > adopted). Both times he was negative. He occasionally had bloodwork over the > years, and was negative in 2004 and in 2010 (when he blocked). In May of > 2013, I noticed his pupils were unequal, and since anisocoria can be > associated with FeLV, he was tested again. This time he was positive. He's > still (knocking madly on wood) here, but we're on a downhill slide. > > Gribble showed up in 2011 at about 8 months old. Negative. Re-test at 3 > months. Negative. Blocked, crashed Feb 2013. Diagnosed FeLV+ 3/2/2013. > > Both have also tested + by Elisa. > > So I don't trust any test. Nor do I believe that they are safe after a > certain age. > > JME, > > Margo > > > > -Original Message- >> From: Lorrie <felineres...@frontier.com> >> Sent: May 18, 2016 11:14 AM >> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV >> >> Hi Ardy, As you probably know we rescue and have 13 cats at home plus >> 28 more in our cageless sanctuary. Therefore we've had many cats who >> have tested positive for FelV. Most were kittens and they were >> isolated in our isolation rooms, and they seemed so playful and well I >> couldn't believe they had the FelV virus, then one by one at about >> 8 months old they suddenly started to get very sick. The longest any of >> these kittens lived was 1 1/2 years. They died of either anemia, >> cancer, or tumors, and had to be euthanized. Kittens seem to have a >> worse time with FelV than grown cats because the immune system of >> kittens is not fully developed, and they usually die. However, this >> isn't always the case. We have two grown cats who tested positive as >> kittens and lived many years. One is about 9 now and seems fine, the >> other one seemed fine and suddenly just died with no signs of illness >> at all. I do not know if these two cats converted back to negative or >> not, as they are/were sanctuary cats who were born of a feral mother, >> and they were very skittish. Only one of them was tested ag
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
Wow - I am blown away by all of this..so really no test is reliable. My vet told me you test once and it may be unreliable so you test again 30 days later to be sure! Apparently you cannot ever be "sure". My vet also told me the vaccination for FeLV and FIP can be ineffective. So, basically any cat can have FeLV at any stage of their life, and testing is never a sure thing??? I am 65 and have never at any point in my life not had at least one cat, and usually two or three. With the exception of a few cats who had accidents when they were outside, all of my cats have always lived to be 19, 20, 21 - right in there. FeLV was never an issue that I knew of - do you all feel that FeLV is on the rise? Thanks, Ardy -Original Message- From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Margo Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 10:51 AM To: felineres...@frontier.com; felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV Lorrie wrote" A positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the virus all it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first year." Or it seems that they can test negative, or "convert" to negative and yet still carry the virus in a dormant state, and while they will test negative by most means, may still re-convert to positive. Mako is 15. His mother was FeLV-. He was tested at 8 weeks when neutered, and again at three months before he went into general population (he was not adopted). Both times he was negative. He occasionally had bloodwork over the years, and was negative in 2004 and in 2010 (when he blocked). In May of 2013, I noticed his pupils were unequal, and since anisocoria can be associated with FeLV, he was tested again. This time he was positive. He's still (knocking madly on wood) here, but we're on a downhill slide. Gribble showed up in 2011 at about 8 months old. Negative. Re-test at 3 months. Negative. Blocked, crashed Feb 2013. Diagnosed FeLV+ 3/2/2013. Both have also tested + by Elisa. So I don't trust any test. Nor do I believe that they are safe after a certain age. JME, Margo -Original Message- >From: Lorrie <felineres...@frontier.com> >Sent: May 18, 2016 11:14 AM >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV > >Hi Ardy, As you probably know we rescue and have 13 cats at home plus >28 more in our cageless sanctuary. Therefore we've had many cats who >have tested positive for FelV. Most were kittens and they were >isolated in our isolation rooms, and they seemed so playful and well I >couldn't believe they had the FelV virus, then one by one at about >8 months old they suddenly started to get very sick. The longest any of >these kittens lived was 1 1/2 years. They died of either anemia, >cancer, or tumors, and had to be euthanized. Kittens seem to have a >worse time with FelV than grown cats because the immune system of >kittens is not fully developed, and they usually die. However, this >isn't always the case. We have two grown cats who tested positive as >kittens and lived many years. One is about 9 now and seems fine, the >other one seemed fine and suddenly just died with no signs of illness >at all. I do not know if these two cats converted back to negative or >not, as they are/were sanctuary cats who were born of a feral mother, >and they were very skittish. Only one of them was tested again and she >was still positive when spayed at two years old. >- > >FelV is a very complicated virus and we continue learn as much as >possible about it. With FelV I understand three things can happen. A >positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the virus all >it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first year. >- > >I don't recall saying "most cats have converted after some time", as >sadly "most' don't. I don't think anyone really knows why some cats >can live with the virus, others can convert, and some die. It's an >awful virus, and I'm sorry your Tigger was one of the cats who didn't >make it. > >Lorrie >- > >On 05-17, Ardy Robertson wrote: >>Hi Lorrie - if you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by "most cats >>you have taken in have converted after some time"? Does that mean they >>no longer have FeLV, and if so, what do you attribute that to? >> >> >>Thank you, >> >>Ardy > >___ >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 ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
Thank you Lorrie - for the clarification. With Tigger I really hoped he would either become negative or just a carrier and not actively ill after his interferon treatments, but that was not to be. I wish I had started him on Winstrol earlier. But you know, if I had not kept him because of him being positive (when he actually tested negative as a kitten), I would never have known the greatest love from a cat I have ever had. I have had cats my entire life and Tigger showed us so much love. Some people don't believe animals can actually care for humans, other than because they receive their care from their humans. We know that isn't true -- he loved us and we loved him. I'm so grateful to have had him for the time we did. Ardy -Original Message- From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Lorrie Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 10:14 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV Hi Ardy, As you probably know we rescue and have 13 cats at home plus 28 more in our cageless sanctuary. Therefore we've had many cats who have tested positive for FelV. Most were kittens and they were isolated in our isolation rooms, and they seemed so playful and well I couldn't believe they had the FelV virus, then one by one at about 8 months old they suddenly started to get very sick. The longest any of these kittens lived was 1 1/2 years. They died of either anemia, cancer, or tumors, and had to be euthanized. Kittens seem to have a worse time with FelV than grown cats because the immune system of kittens is not fully developed, and they usually die. However, this isn't always the case. We have two grown cats who tested positive as kittens and lived many years. One is about 9 now and seems fine, the other one seemed fine and suddenly just died with no signs of illness at all. I do not know if these two cats converted back to negative or not, as they are/were sanctuary cats who were born of a feral mother, and they were very skittish. Only one of them was tested again and she was still positive when spayed at two years old. - FelV is a very complicated virus and we continue learn as much as possible about it. With FelV I understand three things can happen. A positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the virus all it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first year. - I don't recall saying "most cats have converted after some time", as sadly "most' don't. I don't think anyone really knows why some cats can live with the virus, others can convert, and some die. It's an awful virus, and I'm sorry your Tigger was one of the cats who didn't make it. Lorrie - On 05-17, Ardy Robertson wrote: >Hi Lorrie - if you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by "most cats >you have taken in have converted after some time"? Does that mean they >no longer have FeLV, and if so, what do you attribute that to? > > >Thank you, > >Ardy ___ 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
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
Lorrie wrote" A positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the virus all it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first year." Or it seems that they can test negative, or "convert" to negative and yet still carry the virus in a dormant state, and while they will test negative by most means, may still re-convert to positive. Mako is 15. His mother was FeLV-. He was tested at 8 weeks when neutered, and again at three months before he went into general population (he was not adopted). Both times he was negative. He occasionally had bloodwork over the years, and was negative in 2004 and in 2010 (when he blocked). In May of 2013, I noticed his pupils were unequal, and since anisocoria can be associated with FeLV, he was tested again. This time he was positive. He's still (knocking madly on wood) here, but we're on a downhill slide. Gribble showed up in 2011 at about 8 months old. Negative. Re-test at 3 months. Negative. Blocked, crashed Feb 2013. Diagnosed FeLV+ 3/2/2013. Both have also tested + by Elisa. So I don't trust any test. Nor do I believe that they are safe after a certain age. JME, Margo -Original Message- >From: Lorrie <felineres...@frontier.com> >Sent: May 18, 2016 11:14 AM >To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV > >Hi Ardy, As you probably know we rescue and have 13 cats at home >plus 28 more in our cageless sanctuary. Therefore we've had many cats >who have tested positive for FelV. Most were kittens and they were >isolated in our isolation rooms, and they seemed so playful and well >I couldn't believe they had the FelV virus, then one by one at about >8 months old they suddenly started to get very sick. The longest any >of these kittens lived was 1 1/2 years. They died of either anemia, >cancer, or tumors, and had to be euthanized. Kittens seem to have a >worse time with FelV than grown cats because the immune system of >kittens is not fully developed, and they usually die. However, this >isn't always the case. We have two grown cats who tested positive as >kittens and lived many years. One is about 9 now and seems fine, the >other one seemed fine and suddenly just died with no signs of illness >at all. I do not know if these two cats converted back to negative >or not, as they are/were sanctuary cats who were born of a feral >mother, and they were very skittish. Only one of them was tested >again and she was still positive when spayed at two years old. >- > >FelV is a very complicated virus and we continue learn as much as >possible about it. With FelV I understand three things can happen. A >positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the virus all >it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first year. >- > >I don't recall saying "most cats have converted after some time", as >sadly "most' don't. I don't think anyone really knows why some cats >can live with the virus, others can convert, and some die. It's an >awful virus, and I'm sorry your Tigger was one of the cats who didn't >make it. > >Lorrie >- > >On 05-17, Ardy Robertson wrote: >>Hi Lorrie - if you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by "most cats >>you have taken in have converted after some time"? Does that mean they >>no longer have FeLV, and if so, what do you attribute that to? >> >> >>Thank you, >> >>Ardy > >___ >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
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
Hi Ardy, As you probably know we rescue and have 13 cats at home plus 28 more in our cageless sanctuary. Therefore we've had many cats who have tested positive for FelV. Most were kittens and they were isolated in our isolation rooms, and they seemed so playful and well I couldn't believe they had the FelV virus, then one by one at about 8 months old they suddenly started to get very sick. The longest any of these kittens lived was 1 1/2 years. They died of either anemia, cancer, or tumors, and had to be euthanized. Kittens seem to have a worse time with FelV than grown cats because the immune system of kittens is not fully developed, and they usually die. However, this isn't always the case. We have two grown cats who tested positive as kittens and lived many years. One is about 9 now and seems fine, the other one seemed fine and suddenly just died with no signs of illness at all. I do not know if these two cats converted back to negative or not, as they are/were sanctuary cats who were born of a feral mother, and they were very skittish. Only one of them was tested again and she was still positive when spayed at two years old. - FelV is a very complicated virus and we continue learn as much as possible about it. With FelV I understand three things can happen. A positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the virus all it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first year. - I don't recall saying "most cats have converted after some time", as sadly "most' don't. I don't think anyone really knows why some cats can live with the virus, others can convert, and some die. It's an awful virus, and I'm sorry your Tigger was one of the cats who didn't make it. Lorrie - On 05-17, Ardy Robertson wrote: >Hi Lorrie - if you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by "most cats >you have taken in have converted after some time"? Does that mean they >no longer have FeLV, and if so, what do you attribute that to? > > >Thank you, > >Ardy ___ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV
I have read when a cat first contracts the virus there is a chance they can fight it off and will no longer test positive, if it progresses to the I think bone marrow? Then they will not ever get rid of it. There are two tests one for if they have it and one for if they will always have it. -Original Message- From: Felvtalk [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Lorrie Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 11:14 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Cats with FelV Hi Ardy, As you probably know we rescue and have 13 cats at home plus 28 more in our cageless sanctuary. Therefore we've had many cats who have tested positive for FelV. Most were kittens and they were isolated in our isolation rooms, and they seemed so playful and well I couldn't believe they had the FelV virus, then one by one at about 8 months old they suddenly started to get very sick. The longest any of these kittens lived was 1 1/2 years. They died of either anemia, cancer, or tumors, and had to be euthanized. Kittens seem to have a worse time with FelV than grown cats because the immune system of kittens is not fully developed, and they usually die. However, this isn't always the case. We have two grown cats who tested positive as kittens and lived many years. One is about 9 now and seems fine, the other one seemed fine and suddenly just died with no signs of illness at all. I do not know if these two cats converted back to negative or not, as they are/were sanctuary cats who were born of a feral mother, and they were very skittish. Only one of them was tested again and she was still positive when spayed at two years old. - FelV is a very complicated virus and we continue learn as much as possible about it. With FelV I understand three things can happen. A positive cat can either convert to negative, or carry the virus all it's life and show no symptoms, or die, usually in their first year. - I don't recall saying "most cats have converted after some time", as sadly "most' don't. I don't think anyone really knows why some cats can live with the virus, others can convert, and some die. It's an awful virus, and I'm sorry your Tigger was one of the cats who didn't make it. Lorrie - On 05-17, Ardy Robertson wrote: >Hi Lorrie - if you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by "most cats >you have taken in have converted after some time"? Does that mean they >no longer have FeLV, and if so, what do you attribute that to? > > >Thank you, > >Ardy ___ 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
