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Dear Kristina:
I am so sorry you have encountered this situation,
but you have come to the right place. I adopted a FELV+ cat (Ms Slippers)
when she was only a year or so old. Although starving and emaciated
at the time, we had her spayed-- and within weeks she was a picture of
health. We also had another cat who was a couple of years older than
Slippers. His name is Sneakers -- and he was negative. Our vet
advised us to keep them apart until Sneakers had his FELV shot, then we had to
wait 2 more weeks until he had his booster. After that, we were told that
we could mix them--and we did. Although we lost Slippers after having her
less than a year, Sneakers is still with us and is still negative. Since
then, we have adopted 6 more cats (unfortunately we lost Raven in 2003 -- but
not to FELV). All our other kitties have tested negative.
It is my understanding that sometimes the tests for
FELV can give inaccurate results. I have not encountered this problem, so
I am probably not the person to give advise on this.
However, many people on this site do mix positive
and negatives--but like me, they probably have their negative kitties have the
shots first. You positive kitties, need to begin treatments to build their
immune systems. Many on this site, including myself, have used interferon,
Vitamin C and other immune boosters. I think some use L-Lysine,
although I did not, because by the time I had learned of these things, it was
too late for Slippers.
I am sure you will get great advise from others on
this site. Don't give up hope. Begin your immune treatments and get
you negative kitties the shots they need.
Occasionally, Slippers and Sneakers would eat from
the same bowls and drink from the same bowls and use the same litter
boxes--after Sneakers had his shots.
I am sure others will write in to help. Bless
you for keeping this precious little kitten and for being so wonderful with all
of you cats. They are truly precious.
Sincerely,
Chere
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 12:55
PM
Subject: New To This
I have just found out that my two kittens are
positive for feline leukemia. I adopted a kitten from an animal shelter in
Wisconsin that originally tested negative. But since then he has become
positive and has infected one of my older cats, who in the meantime has become
quite sick. It is devastating to me. BUT, I am trying to remain optimistic.
Therefore, I am trying to find out all I can.
First of all, I have three other cats, all of
which tested negative. I have to keep them separated now from my two "sick"
ones. Even though the little kitten I adopted in November has the virus, he
acts totally normal. The older kitten which is actually a year old now, is
sick. I've been giving the older one 3cc of Retrovir in the morning and in the
evening. I don't know what the side effects are to cats. I only received the
side effects for humans when I picked up the medicine at the pharmacy.
Is there any place you can recommend to me to find out more about the
side effects to cats? The side effects to humans don't look so good,
so I'm a bit worried about this medicine.
Second, as I have stated, I have to keep my cats
all separated. This is EXTREMELY hard. We were one big happy family. All of my
cats got along, cuddled, took care of the little ones, played together,
cleaned each other, and now I've had to tear up the family. The older ones in
the basement are wondering what's going on. I go down there to sit with them
and they just stare at me. It's kind of creepy. But they do thrive on the
attention once we get past the awkward moment. The kittens I keep
upstairs so that I can monitor them. The littlest one is constantly crying at
the door that separates them all. I've even caught the older one clawing at
the door today. It's really hard. Therefore, I was wondering, if after
the incubation period is over and the other older cats get retested and if
they still prove to be negative, then get their shots, could I put the family
back together again? Or is it better for me to find a new home for the ill
cats? I will die if I have to lose them. They are my babies. This
will be the third and fourth kittens I have lost in three years. But I need to
do what's best. I'd rather take care of the ill kittens myself than have the
cost burden and the stress go to someone else. I know I have a home for the
three older cats providing they stay negative. I just really want to try to
keep the family together. So, how effective are the
shots?
Third and final, the animal shelter that I
received the kitten from is trying to deny that it was their kitten. In a
sense, they told me that my vet tested incorrectly. Now I know that the
shelter is trying to do a good thing, but I feel they have a responsibility to
tell the other people who have adopted kittens or cats from the same group and
time period. They aren't listening to me. I've researched about the incubation
period and that maybe they should have held onto all the cats and kittens for
a few more weeks because it could sit dormant. They kept insisting that the
kitten tested negative; and I told them I know that, but..." We got no where.
Now what do I do? All my other cats have been tested twice a year for
everything. (I take them to the vet for even the slightest sniffle - I'm a
little protective). I need to know what do I do to get them to contact
the other people. I'm concerned that there are more Feline Leukemia cats out
there, more than that, I am sure of it and I think those people have a right
to know. So, what do I do? I was thinking about taking out a full
page ad in the Milwaukee Journal or contacting the Better Business Bureau. I
need to do something.
Sorry I took so much time, but I have many issues
and/or concerns. I don't know what to do. I've been reading a lot on the
internet, but I can't find the answer to these few things. I appreciate any
help/advice you could give me. Thank you.
Kristina
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