Re: FELV + kittens

[Nina]

Tonya, I just wrote the following to Lori direct..  I said pretty much the same things you did!  I hope she joins the list.  I'm in CA, but in So Ca.  I'm praying for her and those babies! Nina Hi Lori, I'm on Tonya's felv list, (btw you should join, if you want to help those kittens: http://www.felineleukemia.org/ ). First of all, thank you so much for rescuing these babies!  I'm not sure how you'll be able to give them up, (allergies, or no allergies), after being accepted as a furless mom!  I'm confused as to why your vet would mix the blood samples when testing.  It is not necessarily so that every kitten in the litter will turn up positive, just because one does, or because their mom does.  I rescued a litter of felv bottle babies and one of them tested negative, one hasn't been tested, but has remained asymptomatic for 2 years.  So if one of them is testing positive, you're dooming both without really knowing if they both are.  You can't know for sure if these guys will continue to test positive until they're older, especially with a "weak positive" result.  I understand the shelter's position, they don't have the room for healthy kittens and cats, let alone those that might have a serious problem.  Please join our list!  You'll meet so many wonderful, knowledgeable people who can assure you that these guys are worth saving! It doesn't sound like your vet has a lot of experience with felv, (at least not from his testing procedure).  You need to find someone, if he's not, that's willing to work with you.  The first thing I'd do is ask about Interferon A, it will help boost their immune system.  There's also something called Transfer Factor that might help with that.  Instead of the KMR, if you could make them homemade formula, it would be much better for them.  I'm attaching a recipe in case you're interested. Please let us know what you decide.  I'm pulling for those babies and for you! Nina catatonya wrote: Hi Lori, Well I'm in Georgia, so I doubt I'll be much help in placing them. :( I thought you might have got my email from one of the GA rescue groups I'm on. I think there's a chance that if they were just recently exposed they could fight off the felv. If they were born with it passed to them from their mother their chances of reverting to negative are not as good. I don't know if you know the circumstances involving their whereabouts and if their mother was positive. Several people on the list DO use the Transfer Factor and have had good results. It sounds like you're doing a great job with them. A few list members are in California and might come up with some leads for placement. You might consider going ahead and placing them on interferon. A lot of list members do that. It is not expensive and is easily administered to kittens. It can help prevent upper respiratory infections as well as helping with felv. Not to PRESSURE you or anything, but my 40 'something'best friend from high school that has never even been able to visit my house due to her severe cat allergies and asthma recently found a kitten. After a week of trying to find it a home I got a call that she was taking Allegra and keeping the kitten. lol. I don't know how she's dealing with it, but she is! She's actually enthralled because she's never had a cat before due to her allergies. (She has a house full of dogs and has always disliked cats. lol.) Good luck with your babies, and keep me posted! tonya --- Lori <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi Tonya, Of all the emails that I've sent out you are the only one who has taken the time and shown compassion for my dilemma. Thank you! Upon doing some research on the internet, I came across a "colostrum" unconventional medication called Transport Factor. I also switched the kittens back to Just Born Kitten replacement formula which has colostrum in it until I receive the Transfer Factor. http://www.homestead.com/Felinecompanions/TransferFactor.html They are doing so much better after nearly a week of bottle feeding, have most definitely gained weight and are moving about very well. They have no symptoms of illness. My goal is to have them well enough that they test negative so that I can adopt them out. Thank you so much in your offer to find a home for these cuties. I am attaching a picture although their faces are a bit dirty with formula. My daughter has named them Blake and Erin. Blake is the black one and Erin the tuxedo. They weighed 1/2 pound last Friday, October 7th and I believe they are at least 1 pound now and they are about 5 inches in length. I would still appreciate any other suggestions from your members. I am in Roseville, California east of Sacramento. I know there is an overabundance of kittens/cats but again, any help would be appreciated!!! Sincerely, Lori Serotta