oh, sigh. do we (that's the collective we) have a basic primer on FeLV--about how many cats throw it off, how vaccinated cats living with positives stay negative, etc--that we can mail off to folks? the best friends' article on FIV is SO clear, so simple, and has saved SO many lives.... obviously, FeLV is not as simple, but if there was something we all had access to help make people come to reasoned decisions about the cats they so often love, i think it might help.... we shouldn't have to rewrite it individually each time.....
on saturday, i spent more than an hour on the phone with a vet from OH. she volunteers at a shelter that has actually KEPT two FeLV kittens for retesting--they're both close to being tested again, and she wanted to know about placement options, alternatives, etc. by the end of the conversation, she was seriously considering just taking the two babies home to her already-vaccinated household, and thanked me for both giving her information she had NOT had before, but also for confirming things she's suspected about how the virus actually works. there ARE people out there willing to listen and able to hear--i think it'd be great if we could work together to come up with something that we all could use.... i actually wrote up such a piece months ago for a couple of local rescues, but to be honest i don't even have the time to look for it now..... any suggestions? links? leads? On 8/29/05, Amy Wilkins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Yet again, somebody has contacted me about helping out > a leukemia positive kitty. Sorry to always be > dropping these on you guys but I just got married and > then came home and adopted 2 more cats (1 FIV+ and 1 > FeLV+) the next day. I'm out of room and I wanted to > write and see if anybody can take this cat. I'll set > up transport if anybody has room for him. > > Here is a copy of the e-mail I got about him. I also > have pictures of him that I will send to anybody that > is interested. I need to find somebody within a > couple days or she will be euthanizing him. He is in > Rochester, NY but I'm willing to set up transport up > to 8-10 hours away. > > (copy of e-mail) > > Dear Amy: > > Per Judy Newman's (Habitat for Cats?) request, I am > writing you to ask for your help, if you are able to > at all. You have no idea how much I appreciate the > work you do for animals. You are an angel. Judy > asked me to give you as much information about this > cat as I could. > > I have been feeding feral/homeless cats for over 3 > years now, every single morning at 5:30 am. (before > the owners get there, as they are not the nicest > people when it comes to compassion for these animals), > through rain and snow, behind Lorraine's Restaurant on > Culver and East Main. I have seen quite a few > different animals, but the one I am now speaking of > just came about last Tuesday. After putting the food > and water out, this cute cat let me come close to it, > then actually allowed me to scratch his head. As I > started to get up, he sidled up to my leg and started > to follow me back to my car. The next morning, I did > not see him, but on Thursday, with cage in the back > seat and a towel to grab it with, he allowed me to > pick it up and I brought it home to my back bedroom, > where, although a bit frightened, he let me pet him > and he gobbled up food. > > His demeanor is sweet. At first, I thought it > couldn't be homeless due to its sweet way, but the > greasy coat, and matted fur, and malnourished body > that the veterinarian told me told me this morning it > had, convinced me otherwise. At home I took a > washcloth and tried to bathe it the best I could. He > even has started to play with strings. > > I had made an appointment for it on Monday, today, the > 22nd of August for its shots and neutering. I have > six other cats whom I have rescued over the years. I > was planning on trying to find a home for this one > because as you know, its hard on the other cats in the > house - especially when they are all so territorial > already! I brought the homeless kitty in this morning > and the vet immediately called me to say they had it > tested and it has feline leukemia. Which broke my > heart. I called Humane Society as I have heard of > sanctuaries for these cats. They referred me to Judy > Newman. > > The reason this breaks my heart the most, is that this > cat is less than a year old, has very beautiful green, > loving eyes, purrs for me, plays with me, loves to be > held and rub his nose against your face. He is also > litter trained. He is like a black/brown striped > medium to long haired beauty. I love him already so > much, but know I can't keep him with the other cats in > the house. > > The vet did the neutering procedure this morning, and > gave him his rabies and distemper shot. They also > cleaned his mats out of fur. I had him scheduled for > 4 pm. to be put to sleep, but then received the call > from Judy an hour ago saying there may be hope, with > you. And I know that is a slight chance, but Amy, you > have no idea how much you have helped already, knowing > someone out there cares about something that they > haven't even seen. If you had by now, you would be in > love. He is just the sweetest. I called the vet and > asked them to give him the name "Homey" for now, so > that he at least will have had a name in his short > life. I just called the vet and told them I would be > picking up the cat today at 4pm, at least for a few > days, and am going to take him home and give him some > great meals and loving, until I hear back from you. > > > > > > > Amy Wilkins > Woof Wagon > www.woofwagon.com > > > > ____________________________________________________ > Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs > > > -- MaryChristine AIM / YAHOO: TenHouseCats MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ICQ: 289856892
